Posted on March, 10 2025
The workshop provided an interactive platform to discuss pathways for implementing KfW-supported biodiversity conservation and sustainable development activities in Armenia. Participants reviewed and deliberated on the operational plan, budget, the current situation in protected areas and neighboring communities, and the next steps for moving forward.
Among the distinguished attendees were Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment of RA; Frank Mörschel, Max Kasparek, and Zara Chatinyan from KfW; Giorgi Sanadiradze, Director of the WWF Caucasus Programme Office; Levon Aghasyan, Director of WWF Armenia; as well as representatives of the Ministry of Environment of RA and the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF).
The workshop commenced with welcoming remarks from Aram Meymaryan, Frank Mörschel, and Levon Aghasyan. Karen Manvelyan, Project Team Leader, and Gavin Bell, Chief Technical Advisor, presented the inception phase activities, provided an overview of the situational analysis results, and discussed planned actions regarding protected areas, ecotourism services, and conservation efforts.
Eddie Smyth, International Expert on Environmental and Social Issues, and Sergey Hovhannisyan, Community Engagement Expert, introduced the Environmental and Social Management Plan and the Community Engagement and Protection Framework, emphasizing key actions required for the project’s successful and ethical implementation.
About the Project
The €26 million grant for the Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development – Armenia project is the largest biodiversity conservation and sustainable development grant awarded to Armenia 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 serve as Implementation Consultants for the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Component of the project.
