Bio-diversity

The core of the project is the set-up of an Eco-Training Center on communal land of Urtsadzor village. The village as well as the land belonging to the community is situated in the direct vicinity of the Khosrov Forest State Reserve. Although these communal territories have a high biodiversity value and form an important buffer zone for the reserve, the area s flora and fauna is suffering from destructive anthropogenic activities. The poor protection of the reserve s adjacent territories has a direct negative impact on the biodiversity in the protected area. The proposed Eco-Training Center aims to address this problem by serving the local community to improve the inhabitants skills to use the area s biodiversity resources sustainably. Moreover, as the village population suffers from poverty and migration due to lacking job opportunities, the Eco-Training Center will raise the local capacities to generate income based on environmentally friendly approaches and nature conservation (by offering trainings in eco-tourism, nature guiding, birding, sustainable practices in agriculture, etc.). The project will be implemented in close cooperation with Urtsadzor community and Khosrov Forest State Reserve administrations. In the long term perspective the primary objective is to involve the entire community in the management and protection of a large pristine area of communal land adjacent to the village and to Khosrov Forest State Reserve.

Armenia