Vayots Dzor is one of the regions where “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) project is being implemented. The goal of this project is to improve the livelihoods of Armenia’s rural population by conserving and sustainably using natural resources in the country’s mountain ecosystems. It is funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by the Caucasus and Armenian offices of WWF, in cooperation with the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO.
The LILA project operates in seven consolidated communities across Tavush, Lori, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik Regions. It has two components: environmental and economic. As key areas of activity, LILA focuses on sustainable and inclusive tourism and its related wild collection and food supply value chains. Additionally, by supporting local self-governments and national institutions in natural resource management and climate change resilience, the project creates an enabling environment for achieving environmental goals.
“Through the economic component, we support the creation of alternatives to traditional agriculture, and tourism has been selected as a priority direction. The philosophy of the environmental component is this: if communities are more developed and have alternative sources of income, the negative impact on the environment can be reduced. People who are economically more secure place less pressure on the environment. That’s why we are developing markets and also promoting environmental protection,” LILA Project Coordinator Nairi Yeritsyan noted.
As a result of the project, 20 tourism businesses—such as guesthouses, hotels, and tasting halls—and 10 local suppliers in the tourism and hospitality sector are now operating in the selected rural communities.
Every Cheese Has Its Customer: Arthur Nazaryan, Director of "ArtCheese"
In Yelpin Village, Vayots Dzor Region, Arthur Nazaryan—President of "Yelpin" agricultural cooperative—gives detailed explanations of the cheese-making process at “ArtCheese” tasting hall, from milk collection to aging and serving.
LILA project also emphasizes social and gender inclusivity, with a focus on promoting the involvement of women, socially vulnerable families, and marginalized groups in the development of agricultural tourism, to foster civic engagement and reduce poverty.
“The project has indicators and criteria we always consider. For example, the gender component, which means women and women entrepreneurs—especially in rural communities and the tourism sector—are given special attention,” LILA Tourism Component Lead Lilia Torosyan explains.
“I Paint in the Kitchen—with Flavors”: Mariam Simonyan, Co-Founder of "Sheram" National Cuisine
During our visit to “Sheram” national cuisine restaurant in Areni, the meal featured rosehip soup and dolma, prepared by co-founder Mariam Simonyan.
The founders of “Sheram” believe that tourists coming to Armenia want to taste local dishes, which is why they insist on serving food in the traditional way—not just for show, but with real authenticity. “We try to create a kitchen that offers high-quality traditional dishes, made using modern technologies and equipment,” they explain.
This article was prepared by EcoLur Informational NGO during their visit to Vayots Dzor Region from May 5–7 to present the outcomes of “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) project.
June 06, 2025 at 12:08