On 29 April 2025, Deputy Minister Mr. Ara Mkrtchyan opened the Third Steering Committee meeting for the “Forest Resilience of Armenia: Enhancing Adaptation and Rural Green Growth via Mitigation” project in Yerevan. The aim of the project is to cultivate 5000 ha of forest in Armenia particularly in Lori and Syunik regions of Armenia.
In the opening Mr Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment officially handed over the chairmanship of the Project Steering Committee to Ara Mkrtchyan. He stressed in his opening remark the importance of forests for Armenia as part of the mitigation of climate change and emphasized the importance of joint efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of Armenia’s forests.
In his remarks, FAO Representative in Armenia, Mr. Raimund Jehle, expressed his gratitude to the project’s donors and co-financiers for their continued support. He also underscored the strong and productive collaboration with the Environmental Project Implementation Unit (EPIU), the implementing partner, in advancing the project’s objectives.
The meeting served not only as a platform for technical discussions, but more importantly, as an opportunity to share key achievements and tangible results that mark an important step forward in sustainable forest management and climate resilience.
As part of the 2024 achievements, the successful production of 126,000 forest tree seedlings was highlighted—an important step toward advancing Armenia’s reforestation and biodiversity goals. Grown in regional nurseries, these seedlings supported timely afforestation activities across targeted areas.
Looking ahead, preparations for the 2025 planting season are already well underway, with 548,184 seedlings currently being cultivated.
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Progress was also noted on the National Forest Inventory (NFI). To date, 264 plots have been surveyed, representing 83.4% of the planned fieldwork. This critical initiative is generating valuable data to assess forest health, guide sustainable forest use, and support evidence-based policymaking.
In line with Armenia’s commitment to a greener and more efficient energy future, four national standards on energy efficiency were adopted, aimed at improving practices in both the public and private sectors. Vocational schools in Kajaran, Vanadzor, and Alaverdi were supported with welding equipment to enhance training in energy-efficient technologies, preparing the next generation of technical professionals.
The Steering Committee meeting facilitated an open exchange on implementation progress, enabling participants to critically assess challenges, review key achievements, and identify actionable steps to further enhance the project’s effectiveness and impact in the upcoming year.
FAO Representation in Armenia