Nationally designated protected areas of the Republic of Armenia

Key messages

The total area of nationally designated protected areas currently covers 10 % of the terrestrial territory and inland waters of Armenia.

Armenia has made substantial progress in designating also Emerald sites. Total protected area including Emerald sites reached to 25.6 % of the country territory in 2017. With this areal coverage of protected areas, Armenia surpassed already Aichi biodiversity target 11, which aims to have 17 % of terrestrial and inland water areas under the protected area system by 2020.

Year Total area (ha)
1990 302000
1995 302000
2000 303000
2001 303000
2002 301000
2003 301000
2004 313000
2005 313000
2006 314000
2007 291000
2008 291000
2009 373000
2010 360000
2011 368000
2012 368000
2013 384000
2014 384000
2015 383200
2016 383100
2017 383100
2018 383100
2019 383100
2020 383100
2021 383100

Figure 1 - Change in the number and size of nationally designated protected areas in the Republic of Armenia (1990-2021)

Note: Since 2012, Armenia has been designating Natural Monuments (IUCN category III) in its nationally desginated protected areas system, which affected the immediate increase in the number of nationally desginated areas of the country.

(D1) Main indicators specially protected areas by categories and years provided by the ArmStat – The Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia

Type Area, ha
Nationally designated protected areas 383000
Emerald sites 346950
Country area not under protection 1430281

Figure 2- Share of protected areas of the territory of the Republic of Armenia (2018)

Note: Protected areas calculation includes both nationally designated areas and the Emerald sites

Armenia is a predominantly mountainous country, where the landscapes and ecosystems form a complex multi-functional system. Given the geographical features of the territory and the climatic conditions, the coutry has various ecosystem types, such as steppe, forest, mountain-meadow and water, the specific conditions of which have generated a rich variety of habitats for plant and animal species, a high level of endemism and rich agrobiodiversity. The richness of species in Armenia is also conditioned by the fact that Armenia is located in the intersection of important provinces of flora and fauna in the region, as well as being a crossroad on birds’ migration routes. As a  result, in the small territory of the country (about 2 847 000 ha) there are about 3 800 species of vascular plants, 428 species of soil and water algae, 399 species of mosses, 4 207 species of fungi, 464 species of lichens, 549 species of vertebrates and about 17 200 species of invertebrates.

Biodiversity conservation in Armenia is implemented mainly by establishing specially protected areas, where 60-70 % of the species composition of the flora and fauna is concentrated, including the overwhelming majority of rare, critically endangered, threatened and endemic species.

Analyses of the coverage of protected areas by ecosystem types show that protected areas are mostly covered by freshwater ecosystems (127 254.08 ha or 4.5 % of the total area of Armenia, 9  % of the protected areas system) but the majority of it falls on Lake Sevan (124 759.0 ha). Forest ecosystems cover 110 269.2 ha or 3.9 % of the total area of Armenia, and mountain-meadow landscapes cover 87 516.24 ha or 3.07 % of the total area of Armenia, of which 22.6 % falls in nationally designated protected areas. Similarly, steppe landscapes occupy 61 391.7 ha or 2.2 % of the total area of Armenia and 15.8 % of them are under protection. Semi-desert landscapes cover only 623.14 ha or 0.02 % of the total area of Armenia, which  are located within the existing protected area system of the country.

Armenia has made substantial progress in designating also Emerald sites. Total protected area including Emerald sites reached to 25.6 % of the country territory in 2017. With this areal coverage of protected areas, Armenia surpassed already Aichi biodiversity target 11, which aims to have 17 % of terrestrial and inland water areas under the protected area system by 2020.

Despite all efforts, the designation of protected areas is not solely a guarantee of biodiversity protection. Therefore, beyond this quantitative analysis, specific information on site management and quality would help to complete the assessment on Aichi biodiversity target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UN, 1992).

Year State reserves (Category Ib) ha National parks (Category II ) ha State preserves (Category IV) ha
1990 71000 150000 81000
1995 71000 150000 81000
2000 71000 150000 82000
2001 71000 150000 82000
2002 41000 178000 82000
2003 41000 178000 82000
2004 41000 178000 94000
2005 41000 178000 94000
2006 42000 178000 94000
2007 35000 166000 90000
2008 35000 166000 90000
2009 35000 226000 112000
2010 35000 221000 104000
2011 35000 237000 96000
2012 35000 237000 96000
2013 35000 237000 112000
2014 35000 237000 112000
2015 35500 233600 114100
2016 35500 233500 114100
2017 35500 233500 114100
2018 35500 233500 114100
2019 35500 233500 114100
2020 35500 233500 114100
2021 35500 233500 114100

Figure 3 - Progress in protected areas by nationally designated types in Armenia (1990-2021)

Data sources:

(D1) Main indicators specially protected areas by categories and years provided by the ArmStat – The Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia

Overall, protected areas are implemented under four different national desginations: (1) state reserves (Khosrov, Shikahogh and Erebuni); (2) national parks (Sevan, Dilijan, Lake Arpi and Arevik); (3) state preserves (a total of 27 state preserves); and (4) natural monuments (a total of 232 natural monuments).

A number of legal acts on flora and fauna, forests and protected areas have been developed and adopted with the aim of ensuring biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in the country. In addition, an action plan for implementing the programme of work on protected areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2012-2020, has also been developed with the following priorities: establishing and strengthening national and regional systems of protected areas and developing site-level management plans for state-owned reservations (MNP, 2012).

Since 2014 the focus has been mainly on the establishment of state preserves and national parks. In that context, Dilijan State Reserve has been developed as a national park, and the territorial share of the national parks in the nationally designated protected areas has been substantially increased.

Protected areas are state property and are managed by state organisations. In Armenia the management of protected areas is carried out by the Bioresources Management Agency of the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, Agriculture Scientific Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia and the A. I. Alikhanyan National Scientific Laboratory (the Yerevan Institute of Physics). However, the natural monuments, which are located on both state and community property, are still not properly managed due to the absence of respective management mechanisms (MNP, 2012).

On the other hand, the administrative organisation of some particular protected areas has also been modified in accordance with the needs of particular protected areas. For instance, the charter of Sevan National Park and the Managing Council of the Sevan National Park State Non-commercial Organisation was established and is chaired by Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister. The main objective of the Council is to improve and strengthen control of the restoration of ecosystems of Lake Sevan and its littoral areas, as well as to make the process of national park-related decision-making more transparent (MNP,2014).

 

Year State reserves (Category Ib) ha National parks (Category II ) ha State preserves (Category IV) ha
1990 71000 150000 81000
1995 71000 150000 81000
2000 71000 150000 82000
2001 71000 150000 82000
2002 41000 178000 82000
2003 41000 178000 82000
2004 41000 178000 94000
2005 41000 178000 94000
2006 42000 178000 94000
2007 35000 166000 90000
2008 35000 166000 90000
2009 35000 226000 112000
2010 35000 221000 104000
2011 35000 237000 96000
2012 35000 237000 96000
2013 35000 237000 112000
2014 35000 237000 112000
2015 35500 233600 114100
2016 35500 233500 114100
2017 35500 233500 114100
2018 35500 233500 114100
2019 35500 233500 114100
2020 35500 233500 114100
2021 35500 233500 114100

Figure 4- Nationally designated protected areas by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) management categories (1990-2017)

Data sources:

(D1) Main indicators specially protected areas by categories and years provided by the ArmStat – The Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia

Aligment of nationally desginated areas according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) management categories is more site specific. In that context, the majority of protected areas falls into the national park area (category II) and habitat/species management area (category IV) of the IUCN.

Designation type Total area (ha)
National designation PAs 383000
Overlap Emerald/National designation 0
Emerald network only 1033720

Figure 5- The spatial complementarity between European desgination (Emerald Network) and national desginations by share of terrestrial area (2018)

Data sources:

  • Data on Emerald sites provided by the Ministry of Environment (formerly the Ministry of Nature Protection) of Armenia under the ENI SEIS II East project activities
  • Roekaerts, M. and Opermanis, O., 2018. Status of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest in 2018, Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks 9th Meeting, T-PVS/PA (2018) 11, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. (accessed 15 March 2019)

The nationally desginated protected area system and the Emerald Network under the Bern Convention represent the two most important coordinated European networks of protected areas. The degree of overlap between nationally protected areas and Emerald sites (candidate or formally adopted sites) illustrates the extent to which a country has made use of nationally designated areas to underpin its Emerald designation and to what extent Emerald sites extend beyond national systems. In Armenia, there is not spatial overlap in the designation between protected areas and the Emerald sites and each designation type is established seperately.

The establishment of the Emerald Network started during 2007-2008 as part of the introduction of the Emerald Network programme in Armenia, according to the defined target of 10 % of sites to be included in the Emerald Network. The programme has resulted in the inclusion of 7.3 % (206 697.5 ha) of the country’s territory being described as Emerald sites (Khosrov Forest, Sevan, Lake Arpi, Khor Virap, Plane grove, Khustup, Erakhi range, Lori lake and Sjuniqi shibljak). The database and geographic information system (GIS) maps also have been developed for these areas. In 2013, the Khosrov Forest State Reserve was granted a European diploma by a special decision of the Committee of Ministers of Europe (Council of Europe, 2013).

Currently, a total of 14 sites are in the Emerald Network, consisting of 346 949.8 ha and corresponding to 12.2 % of the country’s territory. In addition, 23 potential sites have also been evaluated during 2017-2018 ,which cover 1 033 719.5 ha, corresponding to 36.3 % of the country’s territory (Roeakaerts and Opermanis, 2018). The development of the Emerald Network is a first step towards the creation of an ecological network in Armenia, provisioned by the Law on the specially protected nature areas of the Republic of Armenia. It is also a part of a national policy for joining international networks such as the Pan European Ecological Network (Council of Europe, 1979). In addition, Armenia is actively engaged in a number of international designations such as the pan-European biological and landscape diversity strategy, and the Ramsar Convention and the Bonn Convention, regarding important bird areas.

Figure 6- Nationally designated protected areas of the Republic of Armenia (2018)

Data sources:

Ministry of Nature Protection of Republic of Armenia, 2014. Strategy and state program of conservation and use of specially protected nature areas of the Republic of Armenia. Government decree N 1059-Ա, September 25, 2014, Yerevan.

Indicator definition

The proposed definition is a combination of the D1 UNECE Environmental Indicator and of the Streamlined European Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI) 007 indicator.

The indicator shows the terrestrial area protected in compliance with the national legislation and its development over time. It reflects both the extent of protected areas and their share in the total area of the country.

The indicator can be further broken down by IUCN management categories and by category of national designation (national park, strict nature reserve, protected landscape etc.). In addition, a sub-indicator showing the relation between nationally designated areas at national level and areas designated as Emerald sites can be developed.

Units

Area (ha) of nationally protected areas as a percentage of the country territory.

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Establishment of protected areas is a direct response to concerns over biodiversity loss, so an indicator of protected area coverage is a valuable indication of commitment to conserving biodiversity and reducing loss at a range of levels.

The indicator demonstrates the change over time in one form of protection afforded to components of biodiversity. It provides a measure of the response to the degradation of ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity in a country. It demonstrates the extent to which areas important for conserving biodiversity, cultural heritage, scientific research (including baseline monitoring of processes in the ecosystems), recreation, natural resource maintenance and other environmental values are protected.

This indicator is also a measure of the distance to the global target, i.e. the Aichi biodiversity target and shows the national contribution to the global network of protected areas.

Scientific references

  • Council of Europe, 2013. Adopted Resolutions on the award and the renewal of the European Diploma of Protected Areas in 2013, Resolution CM/ResDip(2013)2 on the award of the European Diploma of Protected Areas to the Khosrov Forest Reserve (Armenia), Strasbourg.
  • Dudley, N., (Editor), 2008. Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 86pp. WITH Stolton, S., P. Shadie and N. Dudley (2013). IUCN WCPA Best Practice Guidance on Recognising Protected Areas and Assigning Management Categories and Governance Types, Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 21, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xxpp. 978-2-8317-1636-7
  • MNP, 2012. Action Plan for Implementing the Programme of Work on Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity — Armenia, Bio resources Management Agency of the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, Report to CBD secretariat ( accessed 18 March 2019).
  • Roekaerts, M. and Opermanis, O., 2018. Status of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest in 2018, Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks 9th Meeting, T-PVS/PA (2018) 11, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. (accessed 15 March 2019)

Context description

National policy context

This indicator measures how much Armenia is contributing to protecting special protection areas on national, regional and global scales. It can assist in monitoring the efficiency of national policy and strategic development in the protected areas system of Armenia.

The action plan for implementing the programme of work on protected areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity 2012-2020 (the 25.09.2014 N1059-A Government decision) specifies the establishment and strengthening of national and regional systems of protected areas integrated into a global network as a contribution to globally agreed goals.

International policy context

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity aimed at the establishment and maintenance of comprehensive, effectively managed and ecologically representative national and regional systems of protected areas.

Targets

National targets

No target has been specified.

International targets

Under the CBD, the strategic plan for biodiversity 2011-2020 was adopted, which requires that, by 2020, at least 17 % of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 % of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes (Aichi biodiversity target 11).

Related policy documents

Methodology for indicator calculation

It is necessary for this indicator to have a database of all nationally protected areas in the country, including name of the protected area, date of establishment, protection regime in accordance with national legislation (and relevant international requirements), size and digital boundaries.

To break down results by IUCN management category, it is necessary for each protected area to be characterised according to the type of management applied, following the IUCN guidelines.

To assess the (spatial) complementarity between Emerald site designation and nationally protected areas, two datasets are necessary (to be overlaid): (1) spatial delineation of nationally protected areas; and (2) spatial delineation of Emerald sites (only candidate and officially designated Emerald sites to be considered).

The percentage of protected areas can be calculated by the formula:

Share of protected areas (%) = (total area of protected areas in hectares or km2/total area of the country in hectares or km2) × 100.

Protected area coverage can be calculated nationally and by sub-national administrative unit of terrestrial and/or marine area.

Methodology for gap filling

No methodology for gap filling has been specified.

Methodology references

  • In the Armenia context, the alignment of the nationally designated areas with the IUCN categories at the site level might be interpreted as the following:
  1. Khosrov forest and Shikahogh and Erebuni reserves correspond to category I.
  2. All existing four national parks of Armenia correspond to IUCN category II.
  3. Nature monuments of Armenia correspond to category III.
  4. Sanctuaries where species and their habitats are under specific conservation regimes

are in category IV.

  1. Categories V and category VI are not applicable to Armenia.
  • Dudley, N. (Editor) (2008). Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 86pp. WITH Stolton, S., P. Shadie and N. Dudley (2013). IUCN WCPA Best Practice Guidance on Recognising Protected Areas and Assigning Management Categories and Governance Types, Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 21, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xxpp. 978-2-8317-1636-7
  • EEA, 2005. EEA core set of indicators guide. EEA Technical report No 1/2005, ISBN 92-9167-757-4, Luxembourg.
  • EEA, 2018. Nationally designated protected areas. CSI 008, SEBI 007.
  • UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Data template – D1. Protected areas.
  • UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Description of D1. Protected areas.
  • UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Glossary of terms – D1. Protected areas.

Methodology uncertainty

The indicator ‘Progress in the designation of protected areas by IUCN categories over time’ could not be clearly defined, as many national protected areas may include a territory with several IUCN categories. A specific definition of the IUCN category is possible by a separate expert assessment.

Data sets uncertainty

The data set used in the indicator has large breaks in the time series. On the other hand, the procedure of data collection is not sufficiently clear. Therefore, the data in this indicator present high levels of uncertainty.

Rationale uncertainty

The indicator does not describe the quality of management or whether or not the areas are protected from incompatible uses. The indicator needs to be complemented by information on management effectiveness or funding or by other elements that would indicate the potential of the designated area to protect biodiversity.

  • (D1)Main indicators specially protected areas by categories and years provided by the ArmStat – The Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia
  • Data on Emerald sites provided by the Ministry of Environment (formerly the Ministry of Nature Protection) of Armenia under the ENI SEIS II East project activities
  • Roekaerts, M. and Opermanis, O., 2018. Status of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest in 2018, Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks 9th Meeting, T-PVS/PA (2018) 11, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. (accessed 15 March 2019)
  • World Bank, 2019. Land area (sq. km) database - Armenia

 

Metadata

Topics: biodiversity and ecosystems

Indicator code: D1

Tags: protected areas, Armenia

Temporal coverage: 1959-2018

DPSIR: response

Typology: descriptive indicator (type A – what is happening to the environment and to humans?)

Dates

Publication date:

Last modified:

Frequency of updates: every year

Contact and ownership

Contact: Ani Hambardzumyan

Bio-resources Management Agency of the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia

Short-term work

  • Implementation of the strategy and national action plan on development of the specially protected nature areas of the Republic of Armenia, 2014-2020 (adopted by the government in 2014).
  • Implementation of the strategy and state programme of conservation, use and reproduction of biological diversity in the Republic of Armenia (adopted by the government in 2015).

Long-term work

  • Implementation of the strategy and national action plan on development of the specially protected nature areas of the Republic of Armenia, 2014-2020 (adopted by the government in 2014).
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