The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Environmental Project Implementation Unit (EPIU) of the Ministry of Environment of Armenia have successfully co-executed a two-day training on forest and landscape restoration. The training was organized as part of the "Forest resilience of Armenia, enhancing adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation" project. The project is co-funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Government of Armenia, the Austrian Development Agency, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - Italy, and the World Wildlife Fund Armenia.

The specific objectives of this two-day training were to introduce the concept, methodologies, and practices related to Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR), and to complement the theoretical thinking behind FLR with successful examples and best practices. Representatives of the Forest Committee of the Ministry of Environment of Armenia, “Hayantar” SNPO, civil society organizations and academia participated in the training.

Norbert Winkler-Rathonyi, FAO Project Lead Technical Officer, said: “The dependency of people in rural areas of Armenia on forests for energy and livelihood (i.e., beekeeping, non-wood forest products and fodder) requires new approaches that take account of the people’s needs when planning and implementing afforestation or other restoration activities. FAO’s project uses the new Forest and Landscape Restoration approach that helps Armenia to restore degraded landscapes by implementing practices that aim to balance the ecological, social and economic benefits of forests and trees for the people of Armenia.”

Pedro Pajares, FAO International Consultant, led the working sessions that focused on a wide range of aspects related to enhancing forest resilience. Participants were provided with detailed information and insights about the principles, cost, financing opportunities and monitoring of forest and landscape restoration. The training continued with discussing effective field restoration interventions. The working session covered topics like species selection, planting design, soil preparation, and post-planting interventions.

The training was a success, and the participants expressed their satisfaction with the knowledge and practical skills they acquired during the two-day event.

‘Forest Resilience of Armenia’ project

The project entitled ‘Forest resilience of Armenia, enhancing adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation’ is implemented by FAO and the Environmental Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Environment of Armenia. The project is co-funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Government of Armenia, the Austrian Development Agency, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - Italy, and the World Wildlife Fund Armenia.

Armenia is highly vulnerable to climate change.  The World Bank reports a clear increase in the annual number of extreme weather events (such as hurricanes, snow storms, and heat waves) data in recent decades. Current climate trends and projections for the country indicate future elevated average temperatures, precipitation and river-flow decreases, and snow cover reduction. At the same time, the population depends heavily on fuelwood, which puts forests that are sensitive to climate change under further stress.

This eight-year forestry project aims to increase forest cover in Armenia by 2.5 percent, and to reduce the fuelwood demand of rural communities by at least 30 percent. The project also works to increase the role of communities governing and managing natural resources, and to improve fuelwood management as well as the production of wood and non-wood forest products and services.

Two regions – Lori in the north, and Syunik in the south – are targeted. They were selected based on forest types, population density, local poverty levels, and exposure to climate change, in addition to the potential impact on important forest ecosystems.

The project represents a relatively new approach to sustainable forest management in Armenia, with the potential to act as a model for the entire country and to produce a paradigm shift towards low-emission development.