Armenia's Biodiversity and Ecotourism Potential in Protected Areas
1. Situation and Trends in
Tourism and Protected Areas:
Cases from Armenia
European Ecotourism Conference
Pjarnu, Estonia 26-30 of September
2010
Zhanna Galyan
Armenian Ecotourism Association
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3. Armenia in brief
29,743 square kilometres
The terrain is mostly mountainous
Тhe highest point - 4,095 metres
Тhe lowest point - 375 metres
The climate is highland continental
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6. Biodiversity
3,500 species of higher vascular plants
351 species of birds
83 mammals
8 amphibians, 53 reptiles, 31 fish
Around 17,000 species of invertebrates
Rich in endemic and rare species
One of the centres of origin for wild
progenitors of crops and livestock
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34. Is this the world's oldest shoe?
For lovers of fashion, it's the ultimate vintage
shoe.
The shoe was made from a single piece of
leather, tanned using vegetable oil, and shaped
to fit the wearer's foot
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-128
45. A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia
M.S. Adamian & D. Klem, Jr.
A richly illustrated book
depicting 346 species
Range distribution maps and
easy identification tips.
Text description of all
species along with 61 color
plates by distinguished bird
artists.
Detailed distribution map of
the location of еach bird
species and its abundance.
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47. www.armeniabirding.info
A new exciting website dedicated to the wild birds of
Armenia has recently been launched.
The authors of the project are freelance ornithologists:
Vasil Ananian (Armenia) and Chris Bradshaw (United
Kingdom)
48. A Field Guide to Butterflies of
Armenia - Coming in 2012
Field identification
guides for all 220
species recorded in
Armenia up to date.
15 new species and
subspecies will be
described.
Color plates will show
standard and rare
morphs.
50. If we succeeded in our
efforts to develop
ecotourism in protected
areas ?
Negative and Positive cases
51. Sevan National Park
Negative impacts of tourism
Infrastructure
The attitude of service providers
Behavioral patterns of tourists
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55. Khosrov State Reserve
Our suggestions to correct the itineraries to
avoid the migration corridors for endangered
plants and animals.
A typical case of Greenwashing
SOS Khosrov campaign
63. KHOSROV FOREST RESERVE
1. The visitor program is prepared
1. The visitor centre is constructed
staffed and fully operating
1. The camp site and 3 trails
1. The website www.khosrov.am is
running
1. Billboards, road signs, leaflet,
guidebook and documentary are
produced
1. Local guides are selected and
trained
1. National tour operators are involved
in cooperation
64. SHIKAHOGH RESERVE
1. The visitor program is prepared
1. The booklet, website
www.shikahogh.am, road signs and
billboards
1. The visitor part of the administration
building is renovated, furnished and
equipped
1. Filming of a documentary is ongoing
1. Selection and training of guides
1. FAM tours for tour operators and
journalists
65. Community-based tourism Projects in
close vicinity to protected areas
Aim to reduce exploitation of
conservation areas by supplying
local people with viable economic
alternatives
Are planned to be based on the
active creative involvement of
many people in all phases of
Ecotourism: planning,
development, management,
implementation and profit
distribution.
67. Bezoar goat observation site in
Shatin village
Renovated and furnished the B&B facility
Billboards and signs
The staff of B&B is trained
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74. Biodiversity Protection and
Community Development
3 communities located near protected areas in
southern Armenia: Arevik National Park,
Shikahogh Reserve and Gnishik Sanctuary
establishing B&B facilities
Alternative incomes to local people to avert
them from overexploitation of natural
resources
78. Involvement of local communities in
conservation and ecotourism in
Khosrov Reserve
establishment of a campsite in the buffer zone
billboards and road signs
tents, binoculars and spotting scopes for
visitors;
training of local people on nature conservation
and ecotourism
brochures and booklets on conservation and
ecotourism
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80. Strengthening the role of local IBA
(Important Bird Areas) caretaker
Visitor center at Dsegh IBA to promote
cooperation and build platform for local
community and stakeholders and contribute to
creation of alternative income source from
ecotourism development
Future plans - development of B&Bs
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84. ARMECAS
Our Mission: We are united to promote
ecotourism – the force that will contribute to a
better understanding of our natural and cultural
heritage and will provide revenue to the local
community sufficient for people to value and
therefore to protect the environment as a source
of income.
85. The major goals of ecotourism
development in protected areas :
Identify options for the integration into the
tourism business in order to get proper share of
tourism income
Effectively manage the tourism to minimize
the negative environmental impact
86. ARMECAS activities in this
context:
Assessment of potential. Advertisement
and marketing campaign: www.ecotourismarmenia.com;
eatsc.ecotourismarmenia.com
Elaboration, planning and sample study of ecotours.
Familiarization trips for national tour-operators
Ecotourism in the Specially Protected Natural Areas: Guide
for Planning and Management.
Ecotourism parts of the Management Plans for the Protected
Areas
Ecotourism Planning and Management Training for tourism
staff and/or managers of the protected areas.
87. Ecotourism in Protected Natural Areas.
Guide for Planning and Management
For planners and
managers of specially
protected natural areas
For the decision makers
in this field
Also useful for local
communities, private
tourism operators,
tourism accommodation
owners and others.
88. General Recommendations for
Ecotourism Development
Recommendations for policy makers and
development planners
Recommendations for PA management
Cooperation between conservation and tourism
business.
Recommendations for tourism businesses