The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a three-day training course on producing high-quality forest plants, including tree and shrub seed collection and forest nurseries. The event was organized as part of the project entitled ‘Forest resilience of Armenia, enhancing adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation.’

Two theoretical and on-the-job training sessions were conducted in Kotayk and Lori regions. During the sessions, Rosa Colomer, FAO specialist on high quality plant material, introduced new procedures for seed collection and post-harvest seed treatment as well as up-to-date technologies and practices in nursery production and management.

Representatives of state and non-state actors, who play an active role in the country's forest management initiatives, participated in the sessions, as well as representatives of the Armenian academia, such as the Armenian National Agrarian University.

About the project

With a USD 10 million grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and USD 8.7 million in co-financing, the project stands to deliver long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits, leveraging resources and expertise from multiple actors, including the Government of Armenia, the Austrian Development Agency, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - Italy, the World Wildlife Fund Armenia, and FAO. The project goals will be realized by FAO jointly with the Environmental Project Implementation Unit under Armenia’s Ministry of Environment.

Two regions – Lori in the north and Syunik in the south – are targeted. The regions were selected based on indicators such as forest cover and types, population density, local poverty levels, as well as exposure to and the potential impact of climate change on their forest ecosystems.