On November 12 in Vayots Dzor and November 14 in Syunik, two high-level consultative workshops were held within the “Biodiversity and Protected Areas” component of the Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development in Armenia program. The discussions focused on the establishment processes of the “Jermuk” and “Tatev” National Parks.
The workshops addressed key issues related to defining the boundaries of the parks, outlining future management models, and exploring opportunities for economic and tourism collaboration with local communities.
The Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO presented the successful experience developed under the economic component of the LILA project, specifically in advancing the value chain in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The outcomes of the LILA project demonstrate that fostering responsible tourism, mobilizing community potential, and applying integrated approaches to environmental conservation can simultaneously ensure effective management of protected areas and promote sustainable local economic growth.
We are confident that the best practices shared and the discussions held during these workshops will support the creation of sustainable and efficient management systems for the new national parks, strengthen community engagement, and stimulate joint development initiatives.
SDA NGO remains committed to supporting efforts that contribute to local economic development, environmental protection, and the promotion of responsible tourism.
Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia (LILA) project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by WWF-Armenia in collaboration with SDA NGO.