Memorandum of Understanding for Wildlife Monitoring with the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Armenia and the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the National Academy of Science of Armenia
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Environment, the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology and the Caucasus Nature Fund on 26 March 2024. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Deputy Minister of Environment, Aram Meymaryan, the Director of Zoology of the Hydroecology Scientific Center, Sargis Aghayan, and the Executive Director of Caucasus Nature Fund, Elizabeth Messud.
A 10-year biodiversity monitoring program was launched in Armenia in 2022, and, with the support of the Caucasus Nature Fund, all scientific research organizations across the country are coming together to carry out this important work. This is the second year that CNF has been cooperating with the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center of the Ministry of Environment and the Institute of Botany in order to monitor the flora of Armenia.
Prior to that initiative, there had been no systematic monitoring of flora and fauna in Armenia in the last thirty years, with the result that there is no accurate information on many vulnerable and indicator species.
The launch of the MoU with the Institute of Zoology allows work to begin in the monitoring of fauna in Armenia. In that regard, it is very important to choose the right species to target, as well as the scientists who will carry out the studies. CNF knows that the team of entomologists at the Institute of Zoology is strong and has many years of experience. The class of insects is very important from the point of view of fauna monitoring because they respond very quickly to biotic and abiotic changes in the environment.
The results of the monitoring will help our partners from Ministry of Environment in developing policy for the sector.
Prior to the signing ceremony, the Deputy Minister and the Executive Director of CNF got acquainted with the working conditions and activities of the scientific center of zoology and hydroecology, and also visited the zoological museum operating in the center.
