The 3rd Roundtable of the Armenia Forest Alliance
On November 20, the 3rd roundtable discussion on Armenia’s forests was held under the auspices of the Forest Alliance of Armenia. Participants included Hambardzum Matevosyan, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister, Hakob Simidyan, Minister of Environment, Vladimir Kirakosyan, Head of the EcoPatrol Service, Sevak Markosyan, Director of the “HayAntar” SNCO, and other high-ranking officials. Representatives from organizations active in the sector, such as the SDC, EU delegation, GIZ, KFW, ADA, WWF, UN Development Program, National Agrarian University of Armenia, Institute of Zoology and Hydroecology of the NAS RA, A. Takhtajyan Institute of Botany, and others, also attended.
Hambardzum Matevosyan emphasized the Alliance’s crucial role during the meeting saying, “In addition to collective meetings, we hold individual ones to address urgent issues. I have visited the centers of member organizations, reviewed their work, and am inspired by the large-scale efforts made to achieve government-set benchmarks.”
Minister Hakob Simidyan praised the collaboration between the Alliance and the Ministry, noting its direct impact on Armenia fulfilling its international obligations. While acknowledging that progress is unsatisfactory, the Minister expressed hope that the discussion would align capacities toward achieving desirable rates of afforestation and restoration in Armenia.
Sona Kalantaryan, Program Director of FPWC, presented the findings of the Alliance’s study, “The Current State of Forest Landscape Restoration Initiatives in Armenia.” Key challenges include irrigation, pests and diseases, droughts, fires, extreme weather, terrain, soil quality, rodents, and greenhouse management. “Our goal in organizing this roundtable was to understand ongoing forestry restoration initiatives in Armenia comprehensively. This allows us to identify gaps and contribute more effectively to national objectives,” she noted.
Ruben Khachatryan, FPWC Director, showcased the foundation’s Target Planting Concept (TPC) method. Seedlings are grown from wild seeds and later reintroduced into the wild, contributing to forest restoration and serving as forage for wildlife.
According to Hayk Minasyan, President of the Board of "Shen" NGO, the organization has adopted a new approach: not only forest restoration but agroforestry. He explained, "Farmers are reluctant to plant trees on community lands and wait 30 years for results. We proposed an alternative solution: planting forests on community lands while enabling agricultural activities, allowing people to generate income in the meantime.
Ruzanna Arustamyan, Director of the ATP Charitable Foundation, mentioned in her speech that their organization focuses on three main areas: greening public spaces, environmental education, and afforestation. These activities have been carried out for 17 years across 21 communities in 4 regions of Armenia—Lori, Shirak, Kotayk, and Gegharkunik. “We have 4 nurseries in different regions and climatic zones, providing seedlings suitable for the specific areas. One of these nurseries spanned nearly 10 hectares and was established in 2005 in the village of Margahovit in the Lori region. Additionally, seedlings are grown in 113 backyard nurseries. ATP provides seeds, cuttings, and consultations, and later purchases the trees for public greening and afforestation projects. This process creates approximately 400 jobs annually, and around 8.8 million trees have been planted. This year, the annual afforestation volume has nearly tripled, reaching 800,000 trees, and next year we plan to plant 1 million trees,” she said.
André Gumuchdjian, the founding director of “My Forest Armenia,” emphasized the importance of the meeting in uniting efforts. He particularly highlighted the need for openness and transparency among stakeholders, stressing the importance of addressing not only successes but also challenges and obstacles. “In the forest restoration process, it is crucial to focus on improving quality rather than being satisfied solely with achieving quantitative targets,” he noted.
The "HayAntar" SNCO, which manages state forest lands, planned and has already completed around 256 hectares of afforestation work this year. Over the past five years, the SNCO has carried out afforestation on approximately 1,007 hectares. Sevak Markosyan, Director of the SNCO, also commended the role of the Forest Alliance, emphasizing that everyone shares the same goal: increasing forested areas.
About the Forest Alliance of Armenia:
The Forest Alliance of Armenia was founded in 2022 by "Armenia Tree Project" Charitable Foundation, “My Forest Armenia” NGO, and “Shen” NGO, later joined by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC). The Alliance aims to consolidate efforts for forest creation, restoration, and preservation while supporting government institutions.
The Alliance aims to promote the preservation and restoration of forests.
Its four priorities include:
Allocation of land for afforestation,
Protection and restoration of natural forests,
Preservation of forests planted during the Soviet era,
Prevention of wildfires in natural areas.
The Forest Alliance of Armenia advocates for forest protection and sustainable management while supporting the Armenian government in addressing challenges related to existing forest preservation and new forest creation. Alliance members emphasize the vital role of forests for humanity, including climate regulation, water supply, soil erosion prevention, biodiversity conservation, air purification, carbon absorption, and more.
