43% OF ARMENIAN AREA EXPOSED TO DESERTIFICATION: NATIONAL FOCAL POINT OF UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION

13:20 March 18, 2015

EcoLur

“43% of the Armenian area is exposed to desertification,” UN Convention
to Combat Desertification National Focal Point Ashot Vardevanyan said.

The UN Convention to Combat Desertification was adopted in 1994, which
was signed by Armenia on 14 October 1994 and ratified on 2 June 1997.

This convention together with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity
and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are classified as
global environmental conventions.

“At first sight, it seems that the combat against desertification has
no direct relation with climate change, but if soil management is
correct and sustainable, it’s force both for society and ecosystem
preservation. Correct management means establishing green zones
wherever possible and carrying out construction where establishing
green zones is difficult. 80% of cultivated agricultural land areas
in Armenia need irrigation, but currently only about 50% is irrigated.

Irrigation system shall be available for all agricultural land areas.

EcoLur: What happens with this 30%.

A. Vardevanyan: It depends on destiny: either harvest will be available
or not. In 2007-2014 both positive and negative shifts occurred: among
positive shifts we can mention the expansion of specially protected
areas by 102,400 ha and perennial planters by about 4500 ha. Among
negative shifts we can mention the expansion of land areas allotted
for mining and soil management. Meadow lands have reduced by 5,800 ha,
plough lands – 4,600 ha and pastures by 64,100 ha.

EcoLur: To what extent have the mining areas increased?

A. Vardevanyan: Mining land areas account for 36,400 ha and they
increased by about 8000 ha within 7 years. It’s known that one
ha pollutes about 10 ha of adjacent area in case open pit mines
and tailing dumps. Out of 36,400 ha of land areas around 12000 ha
was allotted for mining enterprises, out which around 1500 ha for
tailing dumps.”

The material is prepared by ‘EcoLur’ Informational NGO under UNDP
Climate Change Program, within the framework of ARM-002/2015 Contract.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations, including
UNDP, or the UN Member States.