The RA Ministry of Nature Protection, Foundation For The Preservation Of Wildlife and Cultural Assets /FPWC / with International Fund For Animal Welfare /IFAW/ organized a training-seminar on prevention of illegal trade in species of wildlife on February 23-27. Illegal trade of wild fauna species is the primary menace which has an essential impact on the extinction of wild fauna and flora species. This illegal kind of business having the circulation of million dollars corresponds to trafficking, drug trade and illegal trade of weapon. The main goal of the convention is preservation of endangered species of wild fauna and flora from overexploitation and the main problem is regulation of international trade of endangered species of wild fauna and flora having an objective to provide the survival of endangered species. The seminar on prevention of illegal trade in species of wildlife in Yerevan (February 23-27) involved state structures, NGOs and mass media. The topics covered information about the trade statues of wild species, crime against nature and corresponding sanctions, international conventions, intergovernmental legislations and inter-agency collaborations.  The seminar was conducted by the representatives of International Fund For Animal Welfare Mohamed Elsayed (Director of IFAW Middle East), Maria Vorontsova, (Director of IFAW the Russian Federation and in the CIS countries), Vivek Menon (Director of IFAW South Asia) and Charles Mck (Expert, Trainer). Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Khachik Hakobyan received IFAW trainers within the framework of the training February 25. Greeting the guests, he stated that as a result of the organized trainings required knowledge was rendered to corresponding specialists of relevant departments as well as due to mass media coverage public awareness of the problem was raised. Additionally, Deputy Minister attached importance to the follow-up of the cooperation directed to the problem solution. Khachik Hakobyan stressed that the event is the best example of efficient partnership between the RA Ministry of Nature Protection and NGOs. Director of IFAW of CIS and Russia Maria Vorontsova thanking the RA Ministry of Nature Protection for the support to organize the seminar, in her turn signified the role of the above mentioned partnership in fighting against illegal exploitation of Wild Fauna and Flora. Vivek Menon (Director of IFAW South Asia) mentioned that fight against contraband is essential for Armenia to protect its rich fauna and flora. Issues on events and further cooperation mechanisms directed to the protection of wildlife and prevention of illegal trade were discussed at the meeting. At the end of the meeting the Deputy Minister presented the guests with the RA Red Book hoping that due to the joint efforts, similar events and raised public awareness the book volume will be reduced in the future. The goal of the seminar was the mitigation of illegal circulation of wildlife and improvement the standards preserving animals through the upgrade of competences of the representatives of responsible structures. At the end of the training all the participants were handed participation certificates.