The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in cooperation with the Office for the Implementation of Environmental Programs of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia, held a seminar in Goris, officially launching a program in the Syunik region that contributes to a comprehensive solution to the problem of land degradation in Armenia.
The three-year program "fulfilling commitments to prevent land degradation in Armenia through sustainable land management and restoration of degraded landscapes" is funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by FAO jointly with BC
The purpose of the seminar was to rally relevant stakeholders in the Syunik region to discuss the most effective options for implementing the above program.
Deputy Minister of Environment Tigran Gabrielyan noted in his speech that there is a wide range of effective cooperation between the Ministry and FAO. Referring to the government budget for 2021-2026. Speaking about the strategic programs of intersectoral development of environmental protection and food security, the Deputy Minister said that a large place is given to improving the balance of natural resources, ecological agriculture, reducing the negative impact on the environment, combating desertification and land degradation.
Assistant Representative of FAO in Armenia Gayane Nasoyan stressed the importance of the program in terms of contributing to the prevention of land degradation in Armenia and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. "Sustainable land management is the foundation for a better product, better nutrition, a better environment and therefore a better quality of life," Ms. Nasoyan said.
Anthropogenic causes include the use of inefficient agricultural practices, such as lack of crop rotation, inefficient use of irrigation methods, overgrazing on pastures and violation of plowing rules, illegal logging of trees, excessive use of groundwater (artesian wells), soil pollution, as well as mining, urban planning and road construction. In addition to the reasons listed, climate change also increases the risks to the country's agriculture, accelerating the process of land degradation.
To address the root causes of land degradation and address food security issues, this approach offers a comprehensive solution to problems by integrating sectors, engaging different stakeholders and working at different levels.
The seminar was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Environment, Economy, Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, structures financing and implementing the program, civil society, education and the private sector.
The program is expected to make a significant contribution to preventing land degradation in Armenia and improving sustainable land management.