On 14 October 2011 the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus Armenian branch office organised the Expert meeting of the EU funded regional project “Identification and implementation of adaptation response to Climate Change impact for Conservation and Sustainable use of agro-biodiversity in arid and semi-arid ecosystems of South Caucasus” at REC Caucasus Armenian branch office.
Overall objective of the project is to build adaptive capacities in South Caucasus countries to ensure resilience of agro-biodiversity of especially vulnerable arid and semi-arid ecosystems and local livelihoods to climate change. The meeting was attended by all project experts selected.
The meeting was officially opened by Agro-biodiversity project national Team Leader Dshkhuhi Sahakyan. During the meeting, projects experts discussed project main activities, such as selection of vulnerable of arid and semi-arid areas, inventory of arid and semi-arid areas, elaboration of plan of activities for the resilience of the communities and their involvement into development plans of communities, development of methodology and introduction of public monitoring system for assessing ecosystem monitoring, development of methodology and introduction of public monitoring system for assessing climate change impact on ecosystem.
Based on interactive discussions, it was agreed and decided to start conduction of initial field visits to vulnerable arid and semi-arid areas selected, namely to Vayots Dzor and Ararat Regions. It was planned to begin surveys within the project in two villages of Sevakavan and Aghavnadzor.
Project experts Mr. Shahazizyan and Ms. Simonyan promised to help with maps, which will assist in conduction of studies in target areas. As for Climatic Maps, experts were agreed to apply to Hydro meteorological service of Armenia. At the end of the meeting, experts decided to start first field visit on 19th of October, 2011.
