In the fall of 2021, "Forest Sustainability of Armenia - Mitigation of Green Growth and Promotion of Adaptation in Rural Communities" project will be launched. It will be implemented in Lori and Syunik Regions, Armenia, where 49% of the forest fund of Armenia is located.
The program envisages expanding Armenia's forest cover by 2.5%, reducing the demand for firewood by 30% by increasing the efficiency of stoves, and strengthening the adaptive forest management toolkit. The actual duration of the project will be eight years, but as a result of the project implementation, the post-project period is expected to be twenty years, as Irina Ghaplanyan, Project's international expert on climate change, said during the expert round table on “Forest Problems and Solutions of Armenia Having a Climate Regulatory Role" held at EcoLur Press Club on May 3, 2021.
The project has several sources of funding. According to Irina Ghaplanyan, Green Climate Fund plans to provide a direct grant of $10 million, and several organizations are involved as co-financiers. These are the Austrian Development Agency, WWF, Italian Torciano community. The Armenian government participates by in-kind investment. "The total amount of the project constitutes around $18 million," Irina Ghaplanyan said. According to her, the implementing bodies will be the local FAO office and PIU of Environment Ministry.
According to Irina Ghaplanyan, the project has a number of components. "As a result of one component, three nurseries will be established during the first year, until the end of the year. These nurseries will produce climate-resistant planting material, cooperate with ArmForest staff, and increase their capacity. In the sixth year, it is planned that about 1,700 people, ArmForest employees, representatives of local communities, private sector NGOs, will take some courses on climate change and reforestation. During the seventh year - by the end of the year, it is necessary to have investments in 7,300 hectares of forest areas, out of which 5,700 hectares are intended for afforestation," she said.
"15 private companies specializing in various energy efficiency functions will have to produce wood-burning stoves by the end of the year in the fifth year. In the sixth year, at least 9,000 families will have energy-efficient firewood stoves in Syunik and Lori Regions,” Irina Ghaplanyan said. "During the seventh year, the program is expected to be completed. 300 thousand people from 207 communities will be informed, aware, will be able to properly apply the knowledge that is planned to be transferred to them during the project. During the eighth year, a system of monitoring and evaluation of the national forest will be established," Irina Ghaplanyan said.
May 20, 2021 at 15:55