The Armenian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Armenia) and the eco-patrol service of the RA Ministry of Environment are starting a new cooperation.
On June 11, 2024, Karen Manvelyan, Director of WWF-Armenia, and Vladimir Kirakosyan, Head of Eco-Patrol Service, signed a memorandum of understanding in Dsegh settlement, Lori Region, Armenia. WWF Armenia will contribute to the development of the capacities of the newly established eco-patrol service. For this purpose, within the framework of LILA project, WWF Armenia donated 3 all-terrain vehicles equipped with fire fighting equipment to the eco-patrol service. WWF Armenia will also donate fire-fighting equipment to the Eco-Patrol Service and train personnel.
"We are sure that this system will increase the level of protection of our forests," RA Environment Minister Hakob Simidyan noted.
Karen Manvelyan, Director of WWF -Armenia, noted that the goal of collaboration is to support the protection of both forest and specially protected areas of nature, as well as community lands. "We talk a lot about illegal logging, but fires cause greater losses. We have to fight against both of them," Karen Manvelyan outlined.
"Our goal is also to implement community protection, which is a new approach. Community-based environmental structures are being established. They are our partner organizations, to whom we provide technical and financial support at the initial stage, so that they acquire the ability to carry out environmental protection on their own," LILA Project Coordinator Naire Yeritsyan noted.
LILA also aims at mitigating the consequences of climate change and increasing adaptation. Deputy Regional Director of Swiss Cooperation South Caucasus Ursula Läubli noted that the climate factor should always be taken into account.
"We believe that in this region environmental protection and development of sustainable economic activity through tourism is very important and we believe that one cannot exist without the other. For this, we will invest 4.5 million Swiss francs in the next 9 years," Ursula Läubli highlighted positively evaluating the multilateral cooperation within the framework of this project.
June 13, 2024 at 15:25