The legislation regulating the field of environmental protection in the Czech Republic today allows this country to occupy a leading position in Europe in terms of biodiversity conservation. Grounds are laid within the frameworks of EU Twinning project “Strengthened protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in Armenia in line with European standards” to introduce the Czech experience here in Armenia.
In May 2022, Arman Avagyan, Deputy Director of Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center of RA Environment Ministry, Gegham Khachatryan, Head of Department of Biodiversity Control of RA Nature Protection and Mining Inspection Body, Andranik Gyonjyan, Researcher of Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of NAS RA, Arsen Gasparyan, Acting Director of Botany Institute after A. Takhtajyan, Lilia Torosyan, Head of Department of Science, Ecotourism and Eco-Education of "Khosrov Forest" State Reserve SNCO, Robert Alikhanyan, Head of Science, Monitoring and Tourism Department of "Dilijan" National Park, Manan Asikyan, Senior Laboratory Assistant of Zoology Department of Biology Faculty of YSU, Alik Malkhasyan, a zoologist of World Wildlife Fund Armenia (WWF Armenia) office, paid a familiarization visit to the Czech Republic within the framework of this project. The project is implemented in the partnership with the Czech Nature Protection Agency, and its staff had exchange visits to Armenia during the last months.
David Lacina, Director of Department of Special Nature Conservation, said in his conversation with EcoLur. "The visit has an educational purpose, to demonstrate how to improve the state of nature and make conservation in line with Czech standards," he said. He also mentioned that during the familiarization visit, they also learned new things from their Armenian colleagues.
Under Mr. Tomáš Růžička, Director of Department of External Relations, the main goal of the project is to improve Armenia's environmental laws. "I hope that we will be able to achieve long-term cooperation with Armenia. Applying the Czech experience in Armenia also stems from the agreement signed between Armenia and the EU," he said.
Andranik Gyonjyan, a researcher at Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of NAS RA, noted that the Czech Republic is one of the leaders in Europe in the field of environmental protection. “I hope that in the future we can apply the knowledge and experience gained in Armenia," he said.
Robert Alikhanyan, Head of Science, Monitoring and Tourism Department of "Dilijan" National Park, noted that within the framework of cooperation, he gained new knowledge on issues related to the type of management model of specially protected areas, as well as its changes, protection, and visitor awareness.
Getting acquainted with the Czech biodiversity, Arman Avagyan Deputy Director of Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center of RA Environment Ministry, noticed that it is more multi-layered in Armenia. "Our biodiversity is richer, we have a lot to preserve and be proud of,” he mentioned. According to Arman Avagyan, it is possible to localize and apply the new knowledge about the experience of monitoring by Czech partners in Armenia and have quite positive results.
Lilia Torosyan, Head of Department of Science, Ecotourism and Eco-Education of "Khosrov Forest" State Reserve SNCO, noted, “Our main problems are related to management. There are all the conditions here: the paths are marked, the employees are specialized, there is no problem of human resources. A lot of our research is not carried out or is incomplete because we don't have the right number of specialists,” she outlined.
Arsen Gasparyan, Acting Director of Botany Institute after A. Takhtajyan, “There are interesting approaches that are new to us, but can be applied in Armenia. We have very few specialists in the field of environmental protection, we do not train specialists in management of environmental protection, few have the desire to work in the field of environmental management. There is a gap in the educational program,” he said.
According to Manan Asikyan, Senior Laboratory Assistant of Zoology Department of Biology Faculty of YSU, the problem of applying the acquired knowledge and experience in Armenia may be related to the difference in mentality and national values.
Gegham Khachatryan, Head of Department of Biodiversity Control of RA Nature Protection and Mining Inspection Body noted, “We should primarily work with schools, and citizens should love nature. It will allow to change the attitude towards nature and will make the work of inspection bodies easier."
August 26, 2022 at 15:42