Situation and Trends in Situation and Trends in Tourism and Protected Areas: Tourism and Protected Areas:

Cases from ArmeniaCases from ArmeniaEuropean Ecotourism Conference European Ecotourism Conference

Pjarnu, Estonia 26-30 of September 2010

Zhanna GalyanArmenian Ecotourism Association

Armenia in briefArmenia in brief

29,743 square kilometres 29,743 square kilometres  The terrain is mostly mountainousThe terrain is mostly mountainous Тhe highest point - 4,095 metres Тhe highest point - 4,095 metres Тhe lowest point - 375 metres Тhe lowest point - 375 metres The climate is highland continentalThe climate is highland continental

BiodiversityBiodiversity 3,500 species of higher vascular plants3,500 species of higher vascular plants 351 species of birds351 species of birds 83 mammals83 mammals 8 amphibians, 53 reptiles, 31 fish8 amphibians, 53 reptiles, 31 fish Around 17,000 species of invertebratesAround 17,000 species of invertebrates Rich in endemic and rare speciesRich in endemic and rare species One of the centres of origin for wild One of the centres of origin for wild

progenitors of crops and livestockprogenitors of crops and livestock

Is this the world's oldest shoe? Is this the world's oldest shoe? For lovers of fashionFor lovers of fashion, it's the ultimate vintage , it's the ultimate vintage

shoeshoe..The The shoe was made from a single piece of shoe was made from a single piece of leather, tanned using vegetable oil, and shaped leather, tanned using vegetable oil, and shaped to fit the wearer's footto fit the wearer's foot

Read more: Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1285331/Is-world-oldest-shoe-5-000-year-old-leather-laced-boot-cave-Armenia.html#ixzz10B1XysD5http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1285331/Is-world-oldest-shoe-5-000-year-old-leather-laced-boot-cave-Armenia.html#ixzz10B1XysD5

Nature TrailsNature Trails

Nature Trail Panel: Yerevan-Nature Trail Panel: Yerevan-Geghard MonasteryGeghard Monastery

Nature Trail Panel: ARAGATSOTNNature Trail Panel: ARAGATSOTN

Nature Trail Panel: ARMASH IBANature Trail Panel: ARMASH IBA

Field Guides and Field Guides and other relevant sources other relevant sources

A Field Guide to Birds of ArmeniaA Field Guide to Birds of Armenia M.S. Adamian & D. Klem, Jr.M.S. Adamian & D. Klem, Jr.

A richly illustrated book A richly illustrated book depicting 346 speciesdepicting 346 species

Range distribution maps and Range distribution maps and easy identification tips. easy identification tips.

Text description of all Text description of all species along with 61 color species along with 61 color plates by distinguished bird plates by distinguished bird artists.artists.

Detailed distribution map of Detailed distribution map of the location of еach bird the location of еach bird species and its abundance.species and its abundance.

www.armeniabirding.infowww.armeniabirding.info A new exciting website dedicated to the wild birds of A new exciting website dedicated to the wild birds of

Armenia has recently been launched. Armenia has recently been launched. The authors of the project are freelance ornithologists: The authors of the project are freelance ornithologists:

Vasil Ananian (Armenia) and Chris Bradshaw (United Vasil Ananian (Armenia) and Chris Bradshaw (United Kingdom)Kingdom)

A Field Guide to Butterflies of A Field Guide to Butterflies of Armenia - Armenia - Coming in 2012Coming in 2012

Field identification Field identification guides for all 220 guides for all 220 species recorded in species recorded in Armenia up to date. Armenia up to date.

15 new species and 15 new species and subspecies will be subspecies will be described.described.

Color plates will show Color plates will show standard and rare standard and rare morphs.morphs.

416 pages, 650 photos. 390 pages, color & b/w photos

If we succeeded in our If we succeeded in our efforts to develop efforts to develop

ecotourism in protected ecotourism in protected areas ?areas ?

Negative Negative and and Positive Positive cases cases

Sevan National ParkSevan National Park Negative impacts of tourism Negative impacts of tourism

Infrastructure Infrastructure

The attitude of service providers The attitude of service providers

Behavioral patterns of tourists Behavioral patterns of tourists

Khosrov State ReserveKhosrov State Reserve Our suggestions to correct the itineraries to Our suggestions to correct the itineraries to

avoid the migration corridors for endangered avoid the migration corridors for endangered plants and animals. plants and animals.

A typical case of A typical case of GreenwashingGreenwashing SOS Khosrov campaign SOS Khosrov campaign

Dilijan National ParkDilijan National Park

Motorised quadricycle toursMotorised quadricycle tours Littered picnic places Littered picnic places Tree cutting Tree cutting

Vis vitaeVis vitae

WWF-Armenia WWF-Armenia ecotourism projects in ecotourism projects in

protected areasprotected areas

KHOSROV FOREST RESERVEKHOSROV FOREST RESERVE1. The visitor program is prepared

1. The visitor centre is constructed staffed and fully operating

1. The camp site and 3 trails

1. The website www.khosrov.am is running

1. Billboards, road signs, leaflet, guidebook and documentary are produced

1. Local guides are selected and trained

1. National tour operators are involved in cooperation

SHIKAHOGH RESERVE

1. The visitor program is prepared

1. The booklet, website www.shikahogh.am, road signs and billboards

1. The visitor part of the administration building is renovated, furnished and equipped

1. Filming of a documentary is ongoing

1. Selection and training of guides

1. FAM tours for tour operators and journalists

Community-based tourism Projects in Community-based tourism Projects in close vicinity to protected areasclose vicinity to protected areas

Aim to reduce exploitation of Aim to reduce exploitation of conservation areas by supplying conservation areas by supplying local people with viable economic local people with viable economic alternativesalternatives

Are planned to be based on the Are planned to be based on the active creative involvement of active creative involvement of many people in all phases of many people in all phases of Ecotourism: planning, Ecotourism: planning, development, management, development, management, implementation and profit implementation and profit distribution.distribution.

WWF Armenia - WWF Armenia - Community Based Community Based

ProjectsProjects

Bezoar goat observation site in Bezoar goat observation site in Shatin villageShatin village

Renovated and furnished the B&B facility Renovated and furnished the B&B facility

Billboards and signsBillboards and signs

The staff of B&B is trainedThe staff of B&B is trained

Biodiversity Protection and Biodiversity Protection and Community Development Community Development

3 communities located near protected areas in 3 communities located near protected areas in southern Armenia: Arevik National Park, southern Armenia: Arevik National Park, Shikahogh Reserve and Gnishik SanctuaryShikahogh Reserve and Gnishik Sanctuary

establishing B&B facilities establishing B&B facilities

Alternative incomes to local people to avert Alternative incomes to local people to avert them from overexploitation of natural them from overexploitation of natural resourcesresources

GEF small grants – GEF small grants – community based community based

projects:projects:

Involvement of local communities in Involvement of local communities in conservation and ecotourism in conservation and ecotourism in

Khosrov ReserveKhosrov Reserve establishment of a campsite in the buffer zone establishment of a campsite in the buffer zone billboards and road signs billboards and road signs tents, binoculars and spotting scopes for tents, binoculars and spotting scopes for

visitors; visitors; training of local people on nature conservation training of local people on nature conservation

and ecotourismand ecotourism brochures and booklets on conservation and brochures and booklets on conservation and

ecotourismecotourism

Strengthening the role of local IBA Strengthening the role of local IBA (Important Bird Areas) caretaker (Important Bird Areas) caretaker

Visitor center at Dsegh IBA to promote Visitor center at Dsegh IBA to promote cooperation and build platform for local cooperation and build platform for local community and stakeholders and contribute to community and stakeholders and contribute to creation of alternative income source from creation of alternative income source from ecotourism developmentecotourism development

Future plans - development of B&BsFuture plans - development of B&Bs

ARMECASARMECASOur Mission: Our Mission: We are united to promote We are united to promote

ecotourismecotourism – the force that will contribute to a – the force that will contribute to a better understanding of our natural and cultural better understanding of our natural and cultural heritage and will provide revenue to the local heritage and will provide revenue to the local community sufficient for people to value and community sufficient for people to value and

therefore to protect the environment as a source therefore to protect the environment as a source of income.of income.

The The major goalsmajor goals of of ecotourism ecotourism development in protected areas : development in protected areas :

Identify options for the integration into the Identify options for the integration into the tourism business in order to get proper share of tourism business in order to get proper share of tourism income tourism income

Effectively manage the tourism to minimize Effectively manage the tourism to minimize the negative environmental impact the negative environmental impact

ARMECAS activities in this ARMECAS activities in this context:context:

Assessment of potential. AdvertisementAssessment of potential. Advertisementand marketing campaign: and marketing campaign: www.ecotourismarmenia.comwww.ecotourismarmenia.com; ; eatsc.ecotourismarmenia.comeatsc.ecotourismarmenia.com

Elaboration, planning and sample study of ecotours. Elaboration, planning and sample study of ecotours. Familiarization trips for national tour-operators Familiarization trips for national tour-operators

Ecotourism in the Specially Protected Natural Areas:Ecotourism in the Specially Protected Natural Areas: Guide Guide for Planning and Management.for Planning and Management.

Ecotourism parts of the Management Plans for the Protected Ecotourism parts of the Management Plans for the Protected AreasAreas

Ecotourism Planning and Management TrainingEcotourism Planning and Management Training for tourism for tourism staff and/or managers of the protected areas. staff and/or managers of the protected areas.

Ecotourism in Protected Natural Areas. Ecotourism in Protected Natural Areas. Guide Guide for Planning and Managementfor Planning and Management

For planners and For planners and managers of specially managers of specially protected natural areasprotected natural areas

For the decision makers For the decision makers in this field in this field

Also useful for local Also useful for local communities, private communities, private tourism operators, tourism operators, tourism accommodation tourism accommodation owners and others.owners and others.

General Recommendations for General Recommendations for Ecotourism DevelopmentEcotourism Development

Recommendations for policy makers and Recommendations for policy makers and development plannersdevelopment planners

Recommendations for PA managementRecommendations for PA management Cooperation between conservation and tourism Cooperation between conservation and tourism

business. business. Recommendations for tourism businesses Recommendations for tourism businesses

Thank you for attention!Thank you for attention!