Published since 2005
Published on April 25, 2007
INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR OF WWF ARMENIA - MR. KAREN MANVELYAN
- -Mr. Manvelyan, most of our readers are not well informed about what WWF abbreviation stands for. Could you please briefly present what WWF is, when and how it was established and what are the main goals of the organization ? -Established in 1961, WWF-World Wildlife Fund is one the largest environmental conservation organization with an extensive experience in carrying out field projects related to sustainable nature resources management and protection of biodiversity. WWF currently runs about 700 field projects in close to 100 countries and employs over 5,000 people worldwide. WWF headquarters are located in Glend, Switzerland. WWFs overall mission is to stop the degradation of the planets natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by: Conserving the worlds biological diversity Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. -When did WWF start its activities in Armenia? -The secretariat for WWFs global conservation organization began its activities in the Caucasus in 1992 and extended its conservation work by establishing a local office in Yerevan, Armenia in 2001. As of November 2006, WWF-Armenia has been registered as an official branch of WWF and currently implements and coordinates more than 20 projects focused on environmental issues, and contributing to solution of socio-economic problems in rural areas. The vision of WWF-Armenia is to Keep Armenia Healthy and Beautiful for now and for generations to come. -Solving of regional ecological problems requires coordinated approach, in this respect how does WWF manage to implement unified regional environmental policy? -WWF initiated and coordinated the development of an Ecoregional Conservation Plan (ECP) for the Caucasus, a comprehensive strategy for the region that was endorsed by the Environmental Ministers of the South Caucasus countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) during the Ministerial Conference (Berlin, 2006). -At present, various parts of the World face different challenges in the area of eco-systems preservation, what are the specific issues that are urgent for Armenia and what are the conditions that caused emergence of those problems. -Armenia has a unique natural heritage, found in its rich biodiversity and picturesque landscapes. Our country is our national treasure that must be protected for present and coming generations. This is the responsibility of all Armenians to keep Armenia healthy and beautiful. The major threats to biodiversity in Armenia are tied to three broad root causes socio-economic, political and institutional. These include mining, illegal logging, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, overgrazing and over fishing, infrastructure development (pipelines, road construction, etc.), and pollution of rivers and wetlands. These threats lead to habitat degradation, decline of species populations, and disruption of ecological processes all contributing to an overall loss of biodiversity. WWF-Armenia strives to mitigate the impact of these threats in order to conserve rich biodiversity of Armenia. It has been carrying out projects such as promotion of sustainable resource use among local communities, conservation of Caucasian Leopard, recovery of Bezoar Goat in its natural range and others. -You mentioned several problems that are related to various areas of human life, which area is considered a priority for WWF Armenia? -WWF Armenia carries out its work in several directions. One of them is pure environmental protection, In this respect our Fund carries works aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, enhancing the habitat of flora and fauna, conserving priority biomes (forests, high mountains, wetlands), conserving threatened species (Caucasian Leopard, Armenian Mouflon, Bezoar Goat, etc.); We carry out also institutional development activities such as assisting the Government of Armenia to establish new protected areas and develop a protected area network (Econet) including reserves, national parks and others; Providing support for institutional strengthening and capacity building via consultancy and technical assistance to protected areas; Promoting alternative livelihood through sustainable use of natural resources and ecotourism development, thus contributing to income generation and poverty reduction and mitigation of threats to biodiversity; Promoting public awareness on environmental issues through environmental education, mass media and communications among all Armenians. Currently WWF-Armenia is also coordinating CEPF/WWF Grants Program designed to ensure that civil society is engaged in efforts to conserve biodiversity in the hotspots of the Caucasus region. -What organizations and Government Bodies are WWFs primary partners here in Armenia, Could you call those partnerships efficient ? -WWF-Armenia actively and efficiently collaborates with national authorities (Ministry of Nature Protection and Ministry of Agriculture), local administrations and communities, NGOs, scientific institutions, the international donor community, and other partners. Working from the grassroots to the governmental level assures that collaborative projects will yield the best solutions for nature conservation. - How do you see a role of business in environment preservation ? WWF believes that business, trade, and industry have a crucial role to play in supporting conservation efforts and promoting greater environmental responsibility for our planet. WWF strives to build environmental awareness by working with businesses to help improve their environmental performance, as well as boost their economic bottom line. Governed by the principle Good for the Earth, Good for Business, WWF-Armenia is committed to partnering with companies who are willing to become a WWF Conservation Partner.
© Panorama
Headlines for April 25, 2007THE WHITE HOUSE
Each year on this day, we pause to remember the victims of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, when as many as 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives in the final years of the Ottoman Empire, ...INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR OF WWF ARMENIA - MR. KAREN MANVELYAN
-Mr. Manvelyan, most of our readers are not well informed about what WWF abbreviation stands for. Could you please briefly present what WWF is, when and how it was established and what are the main goals ...CANDIDATES OPEN FUNDS TO ENGAGE IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN
One hundred thirty candidates are registered on the majority list and 72 of them have opened a pre-election fund. Money movements were not registered in only 2 out of those 72 funds. Ara Harutunyan, supervision ...SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF ITALY
Tigran Torosyan, speaker of the National Assembly, received today Masimo Lavetso Kasinely, newly appointed ambassador of Italy in the Republic of Armenia. Congratulating the ambassador, the speaker voiced ...AMERICAN DIPLOMAT URGES ARMENIAN CITIZENS TO CHECK THEIR REGISTRATION
The Central Election Committee received 10 computers as a gift from U.S. government 17 days before the elections. While signing a memorandum on cooperation with CEC, Anthony Godfrey, charge daffairs of ...SIX PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS WIN GRANTS FROM WORLD BANK
Today Yerevan Office of World Bank and Armenian Office of Foundation for Support to Open Society Institute announced results of competition for Small Grants 2007. Six public organizations are declared ...GODFREY EXPECTS POLITICAL WILL FROM AUTHORITIES
Anthony Godfrey, charge daffairs of U.S. ambassador in Armenia, voiced his belief at Central Election Committee today that sufficient conditions are created for free, fair and transparent elections. However, ...TOROSYAN SENDS CONDOLENCES TELEGRAMS ON YELTSIN’S DEATH
Today Tigran Torosyan, speaker of the Armenian parliament, sent condolences telegrams to Boris Grizlov, Russian State Duma chairman, and Sergei Mironov, Federation Council chairman, on Boris Yeltsins ...PRIME MINISTER MAKES NOTES IN MOURNING RECORD
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan visited today the embassy of Russia in Armenia and expressed condolences on first Russian President Boris Yeltsins death. Government press services report that the ...
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Today in Armenian history- 1828 Griboedov is appointed Russian ambassador in Persia.
- 1888 Death of novelist Raffi (Hakob Melik-Hakobyan) in Tbilissi (Georgia). He was born in 1835.
- 1918 The Turkish army re-occupies Ghars (Western Armenia).
- 1918 Stepan Shahoomyan creates and leads the Council of People's Commissars in Baku.
- 1959 Death of painter Hakob Kodjoyan. He was born in 1883.
- 1990 The Greek Parliament approves a law designating April 24 as Remembrance Day of the Armenian victims of the Genocide perpetrated by Turkey.
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