Promotion of Eco-corridors and Sustainable Development

Project for creation and sustainable development of eco-corridors in Tavush marz

From September 2022,  the 2nd phase of the “Eco-corridors Project in the South Caucasus” program “Promotion of Eco-corridors in the Caucasus-2” started with the funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany through the KFW Development Bank.

The goal of the project in Armenia is to preserve ecological corridors in some marzes of the country, including Tavush marz (Gosh, Haghartsin, Teghut, Sevkar and Yenokavan), through the sustainable use of the natural environment and development of communities, contributing to the interconnection of protected areas and supporting the increase of ecological stability of communities. Residents of communities with eco-corridors are also involved in some activities using the “Participatory Financial Approach” (PFA) toolkit.

The goal of FPA is to create processes that are constructive, inclusive and participatory at the family, community and regional levels.

FPA engages the local population to solve their own development problems by themselves using direct financing, participation in competitions and financial rewards, training.

The program will provide an opportunity for community residents to participate in coming up with an idea, getting financial help and making that idea a reality.” It helps people identify and test development activities.

The program provides long-term financial resources for the management of community-based natural resources in ecological corridors and improves the socio-economic situation of local communities in these eco-corridors.

Within the framework of the project “Implementation of a participatory financial approach for social and economic development in Tavush”, creative contests of stories and pictures on the environmental theme “Our village and nature” were announced in Haghartsin, Teghut, Gosh, Sevkar and Yenokavan communities of Tavush marz.

The purpose of the contests was to involve the residents in awareness activities regarding ecological issues and sustainable development of the environment through a financial participatory approach and financial incentives in communities with ecological corridors.

In Tavush Marz, the program is implemented by “Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan” NGO.

According to age groups, the children presented thematic works, which were evaluated by a competition committee composed of industry experts. In the works, the authors expressed the nature of their community, the environmental situation, their dreams and messages to keep the environment clean and safe.

The presentation of the works submitted to the competition and the first community award ceremony took place in Haghartsin community. The children who submitted works that met the competition requirements received monetary prizes. Milena Aghajanyan, Stella Babinyan, Suzanna Aghajanyan and Erik Tsugunyan took the first places for the best short stories according to age classification. Gayane Gulinyan took the first place for the best picture.
The next award ceremony was held in Gosh community. Nare Grigoryan, Garnik Grigoryan, Narek Amirkhanyan, Emmanuel Minasyan, Mariam Grigoryan, Gohar Amirkhanyan, and Anahit Babinyan, Tehmine Vardanyan, Sergey Virabyan,Mariam Zakaryan, Ashot Amirkhanyan, Mariam Grigoryan received monetary incentive prizes for the best stories, according to age classification, by the competition committee made up of industry experts.

The next award ceremony was held in Sevkar community. For the best short stories, according to age groups, Aren Chibukhchyan took first place, Ani Baghinyan took second place, Hamlet Bejanyan, Ani Margaryan, Emma Pashinyan, Sonya Alaverdyan took third place. The first place for the best picture was taken by Maria Davtyan, the second place by Mane Alikhanyan, and the third place by Ruben Martirosyan.

“Our village and our nature” creative contest of stories and pictures on the environmental theme: HAGHARTSIN

“Our village and our nature” creative contest of stories and pictures on the environmental theme: GOSH

“Our village and our nature” creative contest of stories and pictures on the environmental theme: SEVKAR

“Our village and our nature” creative contest of stories and pictures on the environmental theme: TEGHUT