Enhancing the gender and agro-ecology aspects of the national biodiversity strategy of Armenia: Discussion ~ Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment

Enhancing the gender and agro-ecology aspects of the national biodiversity strategy of Armenia: Discussion

AWHHE organized a Round Table entitled “Integration of Gender Equality into the Management of Protected Areas and Agrobiodiversity within the Framework of the project “National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of the Republic of Armenia” on 8 May 2026. The aim of the Round Table was to facilitate discussions of the officially published national strategy on protected areas, with a particular focus on the gender dimensions and the promotion of agro-ecology in the frontline communities near the protected areas.

The Round Table brought together 24 participants representing the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Environment, International Organizations (FAO and WWF), academia (Armenian National Agricultural University), the Yerevan Aarhus center and civil society organizations.

The opening statements were done by Elena Manvelyan, Head of the AWHHE and Karen Khachatryan, Chief Specialist of the Department of Specially Protected Areas and Policy of the RA Ministry of Environment. It was noted that in the process of updating Armenia’s NBSAP, areas and adjacent communities gained particular importance. Their sustainability directly depends on the people living nearby. That is why agrobiodiversity and sustainable practices in surrounding communities are key to ecosystem conservation. Buffer zones, in particular agrobiodiversity within these zones, play a crucial role in reducing pressure on ecosystems, ensuring sustainable livelihoods, and strengthening food security. In Armenia, the sustainability of protected areas is possible only if local communities are not treated as subjects of restrictions, but as full partners and beneficiaries of biodiversity conservation.

Despite the significant role of women in agriculture, natural resource management, and the preservation of traditional knowledge, their contribution remains systematically underrecognized and insufficiently reflected in protected areas governance and policies. This reduces the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation measures and the resilience of communities. Thus, the policy objective is to ensure the full and meaningful participation of women in biodiversity and protected area governance through institutional, economic, and social mechanisms.

Alla Alexanyan, Head of Department of Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Studies briefed the current status of NBSAP, implementation and Armenia’s 7th National Report, ratification of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing by Armenia. Alla Aleksanyan noted that Armenia’s revised NBSAP (2025-2030) has been developed in line with the global framework, which aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2050 and address the global biodiversity financing gap.

Karen Manvelyan, representative of WWF-Armenia presented “Challenges and Opportunities on the Path toward Achieving the 30×30 Target in Armenia”. He presented an analysis of the current status of the 3 state reserves, 4 national parks, 27 state sanctuaries, and 233 natural monuments, as well as legislation, institutions, challenges and opportunities related to the management of Specially Protected Natural Areas. The Law of the Republic of Armenia on “Specially Protected Natural Areas” is currently under revision. There is an opportunity for:

Inclusion of IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape, which may be managed by state, community, or private organizations)
Additions regarding buffer zones, ecological corridors, and biosphere reserves
Provisions related to OECM (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures) areas
Development and approval of subordinate legislation on the creation, management, and sustainability of OECM areas.

He noted that through the reorganization of the forest lands of the Republic of Armenia and the establishment of national parks by incorporating these lands together with several sanctuaries and dendroparks, it would be possible to increase Armenia’s protected areas bringing the country closer to the 30% target.

Knarik Grigoryan, AWHHE expert, in her spoke about agroecology as a tool for biodiversity conservation in Armenia focusing on its integration into the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and Sustainable Development. She presented the information on agro-ecology, its definitions, methods of application, and the major problems for Armenia. She made recommendations for development of agro-ecology based on AWHHE experience in Kotayk and Lori provinces of Armenia noting that the strategy creates good conditions for crop diversification, use of traditional varieties, sustainable low-intensity practices, agroforestry (in mountainous areas), rangeland management, and minimizing pesticide use. Such practices are already being partially implemented, but their use needs to be expanded.

Hayarpi Grigorian, Head of the Department of Science and Ecotourism Development of the “Reserve Park Complex” SNCO presented “Agrobiodiversity in buffer zones of protected areas as a key to reducing pressure on ecosystems”. The following are under the jurisdiction of the “Reserve Park Complex” SNCO: 1 reserve, 4 sanctuaries, 4 dendroparks and 1 forest park. The main goal of the organization is to preserve biodiversity, to protect rare and endangered species and to conduct scientific work.

She noted that the “Erebuni” reserve is a unique center for the conservation of wild wheats, three species of wild wheat known to science grow together here, and xerophytic and rare plants of the Ararat Valley are preserved. It is one of the most important ecological areas in Armenia, a center for the conservation of the wild wheat gene pool of global importance, and an important scientific and educational platform. In her conclusion, she emphasized that the conservation and continued study of the reserve are of great importance for biodiversity conservation, agricultural security, environmental education, and the development of science.

Emma Anakhasyan, Head of the Environmental Health Department of AWHHE presented “Mainstreaming gender equality in the management of protected areas and agrobiodiversity within the framework of the “National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of the Republic of Armenia”. She reflected women’s roles and responsibilities mentioning that they are in direct contact with nature, and they may therefore have a wealth of knowledge about local species, their uses and management. This is why the Section C of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework includes a section on gender (T22, T23) and states that the successful implementation of the framework depends on ensuring gender equality, empowering women and girls, and reducing inequalities. She mentioned that the Armenian NBSAP can be considered as gender responsive as it includes a target on ensuring gender equality in biodiversity conservation (T 30 of NBSAP), specifically, by 2030, ensure gender-balanced decision-making and promote women’s leadership and representation in biodiversity conservation. Sub-targets are:

1 Conduct an analysis of legal gaps and institutional capacities that hinder women’s participation in the biodiversity sector.
2 Introduce incentives for women’s participation in protected areas and ecopark services and legal regulations that encourage women’s participation.
3 Promote the preservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge on biodiversity, the main bearers of which are women.

At the end of the Round Table, recommendations were presented on strengthening the integration of gender components into the national strategy on protected areas within the framework of the NBSAP, including proposals for possible by-laws.