Hakob Simidyan, Minister of Environment of the RA, met with Veronica Garcia del Arco, Regional Director for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia at the KfW Development Bank; Katrin Buder-Pelz, Head of German Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Armenia; and other representatives of KfW.
The Minister welcomed the delegation's visit, expressing high appreciation for the long-standing, trust-based cooperation between Armenia and Germany in the environmental sector. He emphasized the importance of effective collaboration with KfW, noting that this partnership has not only contributed to the implementation of key nature conservation programs, but also laid the groundwork for expanding future initiatives.
Minister Simidyan also briefed the guests on Armenia’s preparations for the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). “Armenia is actively preparing to host the conference on all fronts. The National Biodiversity Strategy, aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, is in its final stage. This process is a key milestone in ensuring our effective participation and the successful organization of COP17,” noted the Minister.
Deputy Minister Aram Meymaryan presented the ongoing efforts related to the targets of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
The meeting also addressed current joint programs, the establishment of an Eco-Patrol Service under the Ministry of Environment of the RA, and a broad range of issues concerning the sustainable management of specially protected nature areas and forest resources.
The Minister updated his colleagues on the progress in expanding the Eco-Patrol Service: “I am pleased to note that while in our previous meeting with Ms. Garcia del Arco we discussed establishing a legal framework for the Eco-Patrol Service, today we can already say that the service is operational in practice. This marks a significant contribution to our nature conservation system,” said Hakob Simidyan.
During the meeting, Minister Simidyan also addressed the need to review the management model of the SNCOs responsible for specially protected nature areas, presenting planned reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and ensuring more effective area management.
The discussion also touched upon the “Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development in Armenia” grant program, currently one of the largest initiatives in the field.
The total budget of the program is €26.2 million, supporting actions focused on the preservation and sustainable management of specially protected nature areas, natural resources, and natural monuments, as well as the socio-economic development of communities adjacent to forests and initiatives to harness tourism potential.
 The “Support Programme for Protected Areas–Armenia” funded with €8.25 million from KfW, was also discussed. During the programme’s extension phase, the parties reviewed existing contracts and introduced new tools to ensure all components move toward completion. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continue their mutually beneficial cooperation in support of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable development of communities in Armenia.