Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Environment of the RA, received the delegation led by Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in Armenia.
During the meeting, issues related to the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), as well as new opportunities for cooperation, were discussed.
The COP17 conference will serve as an important platform for states and international organizations to discuss strategies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management. The parties agreed to actively cooperate in preparatory work for the conference, particularly in formulating its agenda and defining key priorities. In that process, the expert potential of the FAO was highlighted, and the willingness of cooperation was emphasized so that Armenia can present a comprehensive agenda.
The Ministry of Environment, in cooperation with the FAO, is implementing the “Forest Resilience of Armenia, Enhancing Adaptation and Rural Green Growth Via Mitigation” project. Key project targets include expanding forest cover by 5,700 hectares (an increase in total forest cover by 2% and by 24% of the RA national target), ensure sustainable management of at least 135,800 hectares, and increase carbon sequestration capacity by about 18.8 million tons of carbon over 20 years. In addition, the project aims to reduce emissions by about 200,000 tons of carbon.
Lori and Syunik Provinces were selected as the target areas of the project, based on the characteristics of forest ecosystems, population density and socio-economic status, as well as the severity of climate change impacts.
Discussions also covered the "Implementation of Armenia’s LDN Commitments Through Sustainable Land Management and Restoration of Degraded Landscapes" project. These works are vital for enhancing environmental protection and fostering the sustainable development of rural communities in Armenia.