On 27 October, during COP17 in Yerevan, a workshop will be held to explore how environmental democracy is reflected in Armenia’s protected area governance.
Speakers:
Aida Papikyan, Researcher, Acopian Center for the Environment at the American University of Armenia, Yerevan (Armenia)
Inga Zarafyan, President, Ecolur.org NGO, Armenia
Aida Papikyan, Researcher, Acopian Center for the Environment at the American University of Armenia, Yerevan (Armenia)
Inga Zarafyan, President, Ecolur.org NGO, Armenia
Two speakers will each present research on a different landscape:
Resource extraction: The reopening of the Amulsar gold mine brings the Bern Convention’s recommendations and Armenia’s biodiversity commitments into focus. The research examines questions about environmental impact assessment, the protection of Emerald Network sites and the planned Jermuk National Park, and the role of public participation in mining policy.
Protected areas: Lake Arpi National Park (LANP) offers vital insights into how Armenia manages #conservation, land rights, and rural community livelihoods. The research includes a multi-level analysis of international commitments, Armenian legislation, and the management framework governing LANP, to assess how environmental democracy is reflected in protected area governance.
By identifying both existing strengths and potential governance gaps, the presentations aim to contribute to the public debate surrounding COP17. They also highlight opportunities to advance equitable biodiversity governance in Armenia during its COP presidency, and to demonstrate national leadership by strengthening the governance foundations needed for effective biodiversity conservation.
Together, these two cases frame a central question for Armenia’s COP presidency: How effectively do our policy frameworks uphold environmental democracy across different landscapes?
Protected areas: Lake Arpi National Park (LANP) offers vital insights into how Armenia manages #conservation, land rights, and rural community livelihoods. The research includes a multi-level analysis of international commitments, Armenian legislation, and the management framework governing LANP, to assess how environmental democracy is reflected in protected area governance.
By identifying both existing strengths and potential governance gaps, the presentations aim to contribute to the public debate surrounding COP17. They also highlight opportunities to advance equitable biodiversity governance in Armenia during its COP presidency, and to demonstrate national leadership by strengthening the governance foundations needed for effective biodiversity conservation.
Together, these two cases frame a central question for Armenia’s COP presidency: How effectively do our policy frameworks uphold environmental democracy across different landscapes?
The event is open to the public and will take place on October 27, 2026, from 15:30 to 16:30 in Workshop Room 2, located in the COP17 Green Zone. The working language of the session is English. Please note that prior registration is required to access the Green Zone.
October 16, 2026 at 12:33