Support Programme for Protected Areas Armenia SPPAArmenia Ramaz

��������� -���� (���� ) Support Programme for Protected Areas – Armenia (SPPA-Armenia) Ramaz Gokhelashvili SPPA-Armenia, International Team leader AUA Ecotourism Conference. April 2, 2016. Yerevan, Armenia

Content Ø Ø Ø General information Objectives Outputs Potential Investments in eco-tourism Cooperation with stakeholders: § Regional Advisory Board § Other options for cooperation

General Information SPPA-Armenia is a 5 years long programme cofunded with EUR 8. 25 mln by the German. Armenia Financial Cooperation through the KFW Development Bank. The Programme Execution Agency is Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia (Mo. NP). In order to support Mo. NP in effective implementation of this program, the consultant is selected and contracted, which is led by the GITEC Consult Gmb. H (Germany) in joint venture with ECO Consult Sepp & Busacker Partnerschaft (Germany) and in association with CONSECOARD LLC (Armenia).

Objectives The overall objective stands on two equally important pillars: • The improvement of natural resources and protected area management in PAs of Southern Syunik Marz without negatively affecting the livelihoods of the rural population • The improvement of the socio-economic situation of adjacent local rural communities without depletion of the natural resource base and biodiversity

Outputs 1. Selected PAs have all necessary planning documents 2. Selected PAs are recognized and have functional protected area management 3. Adjacent communities of Selected PAs benefit from investments in the socio-economic development 4. National PA system is strengthened 5. The sustainable financing of Protected Areas is supported

Time Schedule Date April, 2016 Major stages End of Inception Phase: 5 year work plan, investment plan, operational plan April 22, 2016 Inception Workshop May 2016 – June 2010 Implementation phase November. Development of operational plan for the following December each year and agreement/approval June, 2020 Programme ending: Hand over all documents, infrastructure and equipment to the Government of Armenia. Sustainable funding strategies are elaborated for all target PAs

Potential Investments in Ecotourism 1. Support in Regional Strategy Elaboration and Planning 2. New visitor services and products in PAs 4. Marketing for the region SPPA-Armenia in partnerships 3. Communities: FPA capitalization 5. Agriculture Production 6. Attract additional investors

Initial steps Under Output 1. Planning Investments Elaboration of an eco-tourism development strategy and plan for Southern Syunik Marz Ø Ø Assessment of development potential Strategy formulation Selection of priority tourism services and products Business plans for individual services/products § Investment needs, operation costs, income estimation, potential investors, etc.

SPPA-Armenia: Cooperation 1. Regional Advisory Board (RAB) – Syunik the institutional platform to: • Ensure application of participatory mechanisms in management of PAs in Syunik region • Assist, coordinate and monitor the socio-economic development programme at planning and implementation phases 2. Other options for cooperation • Joint activities (synergies) • Co-funding schemes • Any other proposed ideas

Thank You Very Much!