Two-Day Workshop Held Under the BSLD Project’s Biodiversity and PAs Component

Posted on October, 17 2025

Two-Day workshop within the frameworks of Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development in Armenia (BSLD) project’s Biodiversity and Protected Areas Component

The meeting aimed to provide a platform for discussions on the feasibility of conducting an inventory of plant and animal species used for industrial or social purposes.

The event opened with remarks by Levon Aghasyan (Director, WWF-Armenia) and Sevak Baloyan (Head of the Bioresources Management Department of the Ministry of Environment of RA).

Karen Manvelyan, Team Leader of the BSLD project’s PAs component, presented the main goal of the workshop and delivered a presentation outlining the lists of widely used plant and animal species utilized for industrial or social purposes. He also presented the main objectives of the working groups.

Following this, a presentation was delivered by Aram Gevorgyan, who addressed the development of an integrated biodiversity information system (IBIS) for Armenia.

Participants were then divided into two working groups of zoologists and botanists to hold in-depth discussions. Each group subsequently presented the feasibility framework for conducting the inventory of widely used plant and animal species used for industrial or social purposes.

The second meeting day launched with a presentation by Karen Manvelyan, introducing the main goal of the workshop on the Red Book revision and the objectives of the working groups. Following further group discussions, participants presented their proposed research scopes and recommendations regarding the revision of the Red Data Books of Plants and Animals of Armenia.

The two-day meeting concluded with a summary of the agreed next steps presented by Karen Manvelyan, followed by closing remarks from Levon Aghasyan and Sevak Baloyan.

WWF-Armenia expresses its gratitude to all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions throughout the discussions.

The 26 million Euro grant for the "Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development – Armenia" is the largest grant given to Armenia for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of local communities by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is provided through the KfW Development Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia. WWF Armenia and WWF Caucasus are the Implementation Consultants for the Biodiversity and Protected Areas component of the project.

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