The extended session of the management board of the grant program "Strengthening the adaptation capacities of ecosystems and communities adjacent to the natural protected areas of the Republic of Armenia" took place, during which the planned and implemented works of the program were presented.
The goal of the project is to preserve the agricultural and natural ecosystems of the South Caucasus by improving the socio-economic conditions of the population, increasing the opportunities for additional income, increasing knowledge, awareness and management skills.
The program consists of 3 components:
- Implementation of common smart agricultural practices in degraded areas and buffer zones,
- Implementation and strengthening of smart technologies and value chains in vulnerable rural communities,
- Raising awareness, monitoring and decision-making capacity for climate-smart agricultural practices.
The project area includes Urtsadzor, Shaghap and Lanjanist administrative units of Vedi enlarged community of Ararat marz, Dilijan city of Dilijan enlarged community of Tavush marz, Aghavnavank, Khacharyat, Gosh, Haghartsi and Teghut administrative units, Margahovit administrative unit of Pambak enlarged community of Lori marz and Fioletovo community.
The goal of the project is to reduce the vulnerability of communities adjacent to the "Khosrov Forest" state reserve and the "Dilijan" National Park to climate risks.
In order to solve this problem, 35.8 km of cross-country roads were repaired and 9 watering points were built in pastures, 861 ha of degraded pastures, 96 ha of grasslands and 26 ha of arable land were improved (with compatible use of mineral and organic fertilizers), construction of 8700 linear meters of irrigation network, 3000 Construction of unheated greenhouses with a total area of m2, construction of 30 solar dryers for fruit drying, establishment of 9.5 ha orchards, establishment of 3.1 ha orchards, introduction of new vegetable varieties and hybrids on 3.4 ha area, installation of photovoltaic plants for operation of 2 pumping stations construction, creation of demonstration areas for the cultivation of medicinal plants with a total area of 1.2 ha, creation of 2 field schools, organization of courses to increase the awareness and knowledge level of the population, printing and distribution of publicly accessible booklets, creation of 9 eco-clubs.
The directions for involving new settlements in the program and using the saved funds were agreed with the Adaptation Fund. A decision was made to include Hovk and Dashtakar settlements in the program.
It is planned to use the saved funds for the purpose of construction of irrigation water lines, repair of roads in the middle of the fields and construction of irrigation point in pastures, unheated greenhouses and drying of fruits, construction of solar dryers, establishment of orchards.