What challenges we face today due to climate change, how to deal with climate change, how it affects the productivity of natural resources, particularly forage. On March 7, a course was held on these topics for local government representatives and residents of the beneficiary settlements of Vayots Dzor and Syunik Regions of "Living Landscapes of Armenia for Market Development" (LILA) project.
The Living Landscapes of Armenia for Market Development (LILA) project is implemented by WWF Armenia office in collaboration with the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO. The project is funded by the Swiss government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
In the welcoming speech, Project Manager Naire Yeritsyan, who represents WWF Armenia, spoke about the two main topics of the environmental component of the project. "Within the framework of this project, we are carrying out works related to climate change and sustainable management of natural resources. The aim of the course is to familiarize the beneficiaries with these two issues, to transfer practical knowledge. Climate change in Armenia is expressed by increasing temperature, decreasing rainfall and increasing frequency of extreme weather events. To face these challenges, we must fight against the causes to mitigate these changes and adapt to minimize their negative impact ," he noted.
Khachik Sahakyan, Director of "Armenian Center for Green Technologies"Foundation, addressed the causes and consequences of climate change during the course and presented examples of the use of renewable energy as a means of mitigating climate change.
Presenting climate change mitigation measures, he mentioned: "Steps that reduce CO2 gas emissions are needed, for example, the transition to renewable energy or waste reduction, reuse and recycling, the use of energy-efficient technologies, the regulation of the legislative framework, the introduction of resource-saving technologies and "smart" management systems."
Within the framework of LILA project, climate change mitigation measures are implemented in the target communities. Presenting these measures, Khachik Sahakyan noted that within the framework of LILA project, solar plants with a total installed capacity of 152 kW were installed in beneficiary settlements, including mobile hybrid plants, solar water heaters, roof repairs and thermal insulation were carried out, and an energy-efficient heating system was installed in one settlement.
Referring to the challenges of climate change, the speaker noted that dangerous hydro-meteorological phenomena are becoming more frequent, water resources are decreasing, forest and green areas are decreasing, and the balance of ecosystems is being disturbed. "As a result of climate change, a reduction in the area of agricultural crops and a decline in yields are predicted. Climatic changes will have three main effects on crops in Armenia: the cultivation zone of many crops is likely to shift upward along the vertical zonation of natural climate zones, high temperatures combined with high evaporation and reduced precipitation will lead to a decrease in the cultivation efficiency of many crops, and finally, changing weather conditions and their extreme manifestations can cause significant damage crops and agricultural lands ," he said, noting that all this leads to the problem of food security.
According to Khachik Sahakyan, plant care is a critical component of climate change risk management. "Under the conditions of this risk, one of the major problems of agriculture is the conservation of soil moisture and efficient use of irrigation water," he emphasized.
Gagik Tovmasyan, Head of Department of Plant Breeding and Soil Sciences of the National Agrarian University of Armenia, referring to the current state and problems of natural fodder management, pointed out the elemental and irregular traditional pasture use. “Possibility to ensure stable and effective governance is limited. The capacity of local governments and grazing farmers on sustainable management technological measures and effective practices is quite weak. All this, in turn, has led to the decrease in the productivity of fodder and the impoverishment of the quality of the vegetation," he said.
The expert presented the basics of effective management of natural forage herds, implementation of pasture rotation in the order of alternate grazing, keeping the standards of pasture use ( correct grazing dates, order, pig height, duration and periodicity) .
During the question-and-answer session, the attendees talked about negative phenomena caused by climate change in their communities, climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
According to Khachik Sahakyan, plant care is a critical component of climate change risk management. "Under the conditions of this risk, one of the major problems of agriculture is the conservation of soil moisture and efficient use of irrigation water," he emphasized.
March 25, 2024 at 11:10