18 villages have been included in Pambak consolidated community in Lori Region, Armenia. The population is mainly engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and beekeeping. The agricultural sector in the community is facing problems. The irrigation network is broken, grasslands and pastures are degraded. Climate change is a challenge.
The experts of "EcoLur" Informational NGO studied the climate, energy, land resources, forest, soil management, waste problems, subsidy and development programs in Pambak community.
EcoLur team held a meeting with active residents of Pambak community and representatives of the municipality to discuss the project of the information module developed by EcoLur "Problems and proposed measures of implementation of green energy and climate resilience policy in Pambak community, Lori Region, Armenia". The purpose of the document is to contribute to the full involvement of the community and the protection of its interests in the decision-making process regarding state policies in the climate and energy sectors, to support the social, ecological and economic development of the community to achieve climate justice and reduce energy poverty. "EcoLur" Informational NGO’s module entitled was developed with the funding of "EU4Climate" regional program with the support of the UNDP/GEF "Impacted communities and civil society organizations as participants in the introduction of socio-ecological culture in the energy and climate change policies of Armenia" Small Grants Programme.
Inga Zarafyan, President of "EcoLur" Informational NGO, noted that the Armenian government has adopted a number of resolutions related to climate change and energy, and these resolutions should be localized in the communities.
Victoria Burnazyan, Deputy President of "EcoLur" Informational NGO, noted that a package of legislative recommendations will be developed by the experts based on the studies, which will be presented to the Armenian government.
Analysis of the change in climatic conditions of Pambak community is not carried out at the official level: the residents themselves note the changes.
"In the past years, there was a drought, the natural springs dried up, the underground water decreased, there was no wheat, potatoes, consequently, the yield of household crops was very low. This year it's the opposite. There were so many rains that the potatoes and beans rotted in the soil and spoiled," Samson Ulikhanyan, Advisor to Head of Pambak Consolidated Community presented.
He mentioned that natural disasters affect the agricultural harvest and affect the quality of life of people.
"Last year, the hail caused a lot of damage, we didn’t have any harvest of nuts, which is a climatic problem," Pambak Resident said. "Due to heavy rainfall this year, the condition of bees is very bad, there is no harvest at all," Dzoragyugh settlement resident noted.
Animal husbandry is also affected by natural disasters. According to Samson Ulikhanyan: "We used to have 270 large cattle in Pambak settlement, this year we only have 70. A large part of the national population gives up animal husbandry, it has become unprofitable. The amount of grass has decreased."
Irrigation is a huge problem. "All villages have problems with irrigation water. Pambak waterline was built in the 70s and has never been repaired," Samson Ulikhanyan noted.
"If the issue of the irrigation network is solved, agriculture will also develop, people will start farming. There are smart cattle ranches, for example, in Margahovit, but it would be very good if they were in all villages and accessible to people," Samson Ulikhanyan said.
"Residents are aware of the threats from climate change, but they are not informed how to face them," Oleg Dulgarian, President of "Center for Community Mobilization and Support" NGO noted.
38% of the community's population is socially insecure, 8% is extremely poor. According to the employees of the municipality. "The residents are not solvent, and there is no vacancy in the forest. How can a villager heat his house..."
6 SHPPs with a total capacity of 31,049 kW are operated by the waters of the rivers and their tributaries flowing through the territory of Pambak community. According to the locals, hydropower did not justify itself. Instead, they consider wind energy to be promising.
Tourism is a perspective for Pambak community, which is developing year by year.
According to EcoLur experts, most of the community's problems can be solved within the climate change adaptation plan of Lori Region, which should be developed by the fourth quarter of 2025.
February 01, 2024 at 15:07