Ahead of the October 2026 UN Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (COP17), on August 3, EcoLur Informational NGO held an awareness-raising meeting in Vernashen settlement of Yeghegnadzor community, Vayots Dzor Region.
Norik Mkrtchyan, a Gladzor resident in Yeghegnadzor community and founder of Norturs Gastrobar, is convinced that the nature of Vayots Dzor Region is a crucial resource for tourism development. “The region’s further development should be based precisely on the conservation and proper management of this resource,” he said.
A geographer by profession, Norik Mkrtchyan has been engaged in tourism for many years. As part of his work, he introduces foreign tourists to Armenia’s nature, history, and culture. Norturs Gastrobar receives tourist groups, serves locally produced products, and organizes hikes, jeep tours, and visits to the natural and historical-cultural attractions in Vayots Dzor. “At the moment, I am engaged in tourism, and in this field it is very important to have our unique natural environment in as unspoiled and unpolluted a condition as possible. We have that now, but we see threats and there are risks,” Norik Mkrtchyan noted.
According to him, tourism is one of the rapidly developing sectors in Armenia, and this also increases our responsibility toward nature. He considers the purity of the region’s water, soil, and air to be one of Vayots Dzor’s main advantages. “These resources are facing a number of threats-climate change, inefficient management of water resources, and the expansion of mining. We need to take care of what we have as much as possible—without altering or polluting it, without damaging the subsoil, the land surface, the water, or the air. Because these are also important resources: the purity of our air, the purity of our water, and the purity of our soil. All of this gives us advantages,” he said.
According to Norik Mkrtchyan, pressures and risks associated with the use of natural resources are increasing in the region. In particular, he referred to discussions concerning the Gladzor polymetallic mine, emphasizing that local residents continue to resist these processes.
The Idea of Small Reservoirs as a Potential Nature Restoration Project
Instead of constructing a large reservoir, Norik Mkrtchyan proposes creating a sequential system of numerous small reservoirs. “Small reservoirs could be built on mountain rivers, streams, and brooks, forming a cascade-like system connected to one another. This would change the entire landscape and the entire microclimate, alter the relative humidity of the air, and thereby nourish the landscape,” he explained.
According to Norik Mkrtchyan, in spring, water from mountain rivers leaves the area within a short period of time, whereas a system of small reservoirs would make it possible to retain water in the landscape for a longer period.
Norik Mkrtchyan also emphasized the importance of Armenia hosting COP17. “It is very important that, during such a high-profile event, problems raised from the local level are brought forward, because solutions to local problems lead to resolving global problems. If we do not raise problems from the local level, those at the top already know both the problems at the grassroots level and the global problems, but they need to feel that the person living in the area, the person living on the land, has a clear understanding of what consequences these problems can have,” he said.
The project “Strengthening Civil Society Leadership and Biodiversity Governance Ahead of COP17 in Armenia” is implemented by EcoLur Informational NGO with the support of the Armenia office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the Heinrich Boell Stiftung Yerevan Office – South Caucasus Region.
August 25, 2026 at 14:20