Video on wild plant harvest in Armenia

Wild Plant Harvest in Armenia features five individuals who harvest wild plants sustainably, promoting economic well-being while ensuring biodiversity protection and advancing cultural preservation and innovation.

The five heroes and their stories are:

1. Gnel Nazanyan, who, inspired by the healing powers of wild plants, founded Darman (meaning cure), a natural tea collection and production company that is now exporting to many countries

2. Nazik Hovhannisyan, who collects wild edible plants and uses them the whole year-round to offer good nutrition to her family

3. Satenik Khachatryan, who, with the help of her sister Azatuhi, teaches children to recognize wild plants through new educational methods at their summer agricultural camps

4. Nune Sarukhanyan, who encourages rural communities to transition away from large-scale wild harvest and move toward cultivation

5. Ani Harutyunyan, who explores traditional wild plants in a new light in her experimental kitchen–Arm Food Lab

The film is produced by the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian for the Environment as part of its GATES project, a collaborative 4-year project (2018-2021) between the Center and the University of Hohenheim (UHOH) supported by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

 

 

EU-funded 17 Million Euro ILIAD Project Launched

On February 1, 2022, a consortium of 56 international partners, which includes the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment, kicked off the €17 million ILIAD project funded by the European Union (EU). The consortium partners are from 18 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

ILIAD will develop and launch a Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO) that will provide highly accurate predictions of future developments at global seas. The virtual representations of the sea will integrate and extend existing EU earth observing, modeling digital infrastructures and computing facilities to provide highly accurate predictions of future developments.

ILIAD has been awarded the funding as part of the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the umbrella of the €1 billion European Green Deal.

The AUA Acopian Center, hosting the project at AUA, is one of the key partners, leading the policy impact component as well as participating in citizen science, capacity building, and the educational activities of the project. AUA’s Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) will support the business development and entrepreneurship modules, while the AUA Open Center for Artificial Intelligence Solutions will contribute to data analytics and modeling, as well as machine learning components of the project.

ILIAD will develop virtual models designed to accurately reflect changes and processes accruing at the ocean. ILIAD will commercialize an interoperable, data-intensive, and cost-effective model, capitalizing on the explosion of new data provided by many different earth sources, modern computing infrastructure, including the Internet of Things, social networking, Big Data, cloud computing and more.

“ILIAD takes on complex, global challenges and brings together expertise from multiple disciplines from around the world to address them,” says Alen Amirkhanian, director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. “The AUA Acopian Center will lead the ILIAD global team on using the technologies developed to advance environmental and sustainability policy goals. We will also be involved in citizen science, capacity building, and educational parts of the project. Importantly, the Center brings a multidisciplinary team of AUA researchers and experts from EPIC and Center for Artificial Intelligence Solutions to work on the technical and business challenges.”

The ILIAD consortium will combine high-resolution modeling with real-time sensing of ocean parameters, advanced algorithms for forecasting of spatio-temporal events and pattern recognition. The virtual representations will consist of several real-time to near-real-time digital replicas of the ocean.

ILIAD will also create a marketplace to distribute apps, plug-ins, interfaces, raw data, citizen science data, synthesized information, and value-added services in combination with the ILIAD DTO. The project partners include industrial companies, end users, academic institutions, research and technology developers and private firms.

“The development of innovative methods in open frameworks and platforms is needed to enable meaningful and informative model evaluations and comparisons for many large Earth science applications from weather to climate,” said Bente Lilja Bye, CEO of BLB and the scientific manager of ILIAD.  “The ambitious ILIAD project aims to build on the assets resulting from two decades of investments in policies and infrastructures for the blue economy to contribute towards a sustainable ocean economy.”

“Our aim is to assemble as broad and as diverse as possible, a user community of existing and new users, who will use the project’s innovative technological solutions to address future challenges,” said Professor Georgios Sylaios from the Democritus University of Thrace, who is the operational manager of ILIAD. “By combining a large amount of diverse data in a semantically rich, and a data-agnostic approach that allows simultaneous communication with real-world systems and models, we will enable researchers to develop what-if scenarios and analyze the impact of measures to prevent and adapt to climate change.”

For more information https://ocean-twin.eu/

News coverage: https://newsroom.aua.am/2022/02/01/eu-awards-17-million-euros-iliad-project-digital-twin-of-the-ocean/

Collabs test 1

PERITIA Lecture Series

PERITIA դասախոսություններ

PERITIA քննարկումներ@AUA

Copernicus Assisted Environmental Monitoring Across the Black Sea Basin – PONTOS

PERITIA – Policy, Expertise, and Trust in Action

Հայաստանում վայրի բույսերի հավաքի կարգավորում

Our Planet – Elementary Level English Textbook

Հայաստանում կանաչ լաբորատորիա 2019

Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia

enviroLENS

Sulfur Cycle in the Water Column of Lake Sevan

RESPONDRONE ծրագիր

Wildfire Prevention Workshop

Թափոնների կառավարումը Հայաստանում

Թափոնների քանակի և բաղադրության ուսումնասիրություն

Visualizing, Analyzing & Sharing Your Geospatial Data with ArcGIS Online

ՄԱԶԾ Շրջակա միջավայրի կրթության վերաբերյալ էլեկտրոնային դասընթացի պատրաստում

Հյուսիսային լուծումներ կայուն քաղաքների համար

Community Awareness Raising Events

«Բնական միջավայրը և ես» ծրագիր

Բնապահպանական կրթության ցանց (ԲԿՑ)

GAtES – «Հայ-գերմանական ցանց՝ էկոհամակարգերի ծառայությունների բարելավման նպատակով ԱՏՀ հանրային մասնակցության խթանում՝ որպես կենսաբազմազանության պահպանման և կայուն զարգացման ապահովման միջոց»

ՃԱՐՏԱՐԱԳԻՏՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԵՎ ԿԱՅՈՒՆՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՄԱՍԻՆ ԴԱՍԸՆԹԱՑՆԵՐԻ ԵՐԵՎԱՆՅԱՆ 5-ՐԴ ՇԱՐՔԸ

Միջոցառման մասին (Օրակարգ)

Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանը (ՀԱՀ) և Հայաստանի ազգային պոլիտեխնիկական համալսարանը (ՀԱՊՀ) համատեղ անցկացրեցին Ճարտարագիտության և կայունության մասին դասընթացների երևանյան 5-րդ շարքը: Դասախոսներն էին՝

Պրոֆեսոր Մարինա Վ. Շիտիկովայի դասընթացը տեղի ունեցավ 2018 թվականի մայիսի 3-ին ՀԱՀ-ում: Այն ներառում էր հետևյալ թեմաները՝

Օր՝ Մայիսի 3, 2018

Վայր՝ 133W, ՀԱՀ

Դասընթացին մասնակցությունն անվճար էր և բաց՝ հետազոտողների, ճարտարագետների, տնտեսագետների, մանկավարժների և քաղաքականություն մշակողների համար:

Դասախոսների մասին

Պրոֆեսոր Մարինա Վ. Շիտիկովա

Պրոֆեսոր Մարինա Վ. Շիտիկովան Ռուսաստանում Վորոնեժի Ճարտարապետության և քաղաքացիական ճարտարագիտության պետական համալսարանի Շինարարական մեխանիկայի բաժնի դասախոս է: 1982 թվ-ին Վորոնեժի Քաղաքացիական ճարտարագիտության ինստիտուտից ստացել է քաղաքացիական ճարտարագիտության մագիստրոսի կոչում, իսկ 1987 թվ-ին՝ Շինարարական մեխանիկայի ասպիրանտի աստիճան: 1995 թվ-ին նրան շնորհվել է Պինդ մարմինների մեխանիկայի գիտությունների դոկտորի աստիճան Ռուսաստանի գիտությունների ակադեմիայի Մեխանիկայի խնդիրների ինստիտուտից: Նույն թվականին Մ. Շիտիկովան սկսել է դասավանդել  Վորոնեժի Ճարտարապետության և քաղաքացիական ճարտարագիտության պետական համալսարանում: 1994 թվ-ից ի վեր հանդիսանում է Ամերիկայի ակուստիկ հասարակության անդամ, իսկ 1995-ից սկսած՝ «EUROMECH, GAMM»-ի, «ASME International»-ի և «Կանայք գիտության և կրթության մեջ» ռուսական ասոցիացիայի անդամ: Մ. Շիտիկիվան ունի շինարարական մեխանիկայի, տատանումների, ալիքային պրոցեսների դինամիկայի և ակուստիկայի վերաբերյալ մոտ 300 տպագրված աշխատանք: Նրա կենսագրությունը ներառվել է «Who’s Who in the World», «Who’s Who in Science and Technology», «2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century» տեղեկատուներում: Ամերիկյան կենսագրական ինստիտուտից ստացել է «1997 թվականի Տարվա կին» հուշամեդալ: 1998 թվ-ին Շիտիկովան արժանացել է գիտությունների բացառիկ երիտասարդ դոկտորների Ռուսաստանի նախագահի կրթաթոշակային: 2009-2014 թ.թ. հանդիսացել է Վորոնեժի Ճարտարապետության և քաղաքացիական ճարտարագիտության պետական համալսարանի Միջազգային կրթության և համագործակցության բաժնի ղեկավար: 2007-2008 թ.թ. Շիտիկովան եղել է Տեխասի Ռայս համալսարանի Fulbright կրթաթոշակառու: 2017 թվ-ից ի վեր ղեկավարում է Վորոնեժի Ճարտարապետության և քաղաքացիական ճարտարագիտության պետական համալսարանի Պինդ նյութերի և կառուցվածքների դինամիկայի միջազգային հետազոտական կենտրոնը: Համաձայն «2016 Web of Science records»-ի Շիտիկովան համարվում է բազմիցս մեջբերված հետազոտող, ով մեխանիկայի ոլորտում ամենաշատ մեջբերված հետազոտողների 1 %-ի շարքում է:

Պավել Վ. Մոնաստիրևը

Տեխնիկական գիտությունների դոկտոր, պրոֆեսոր

Հանդիսանում է Տամբովի պետական տեխնիկական համալսարանի Ճարտատապետության, քաղաքացիական ճարտարագիտության և տրանսպորտի ինստիտուտի տնօրեն:

Public Talk on Public Participation GIS and Ecosystem Services

Back

An introduction to a new cooperation project between the AUA and University of Hohenheim (Germany) The ecosystem services concept has become a key tool in strategies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, effective in terms of raising public awareness on the environment and its values as well as informing, planning and decision-making. Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) approaches to ecosystem services are a particularly vibrant field at the international level as they allow integrating information on perceived ecosystem services with biophysical data (e.g. on biodiversity, erosion processes) and expert-based management plans. The new project GAtES, a four year cooperation between AUA and University of Hohenheim (Germany), is taking up these new ideas. It aims at supporting the Armenian academic community in acquiring knowledge on the ecosystem concept and PPGIS-based methods and how they can be used in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Download presentation

Click here to watch the video recording of the talk.

 

 

Training on Ecosystem Services and Public Participation GIS

About GAtES | Training on Ecosystem Services and Public Participation GIS

 

The University of Hohenheim (UHOH) and the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment are organizing a training on Public Participation GIS for Ecosystem Services within the framework of the GAtES Project. The training will be held September 24-28, 8:30-12:00 at AUA.

The training is led by Professor Claudia Bieling, Unhiversity of Hohenheim, and Dr. Maria Garcia-Martin, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (see bios below). It will cover the following topics:

 

The lectures will be supplemented by practical work on:

 

Dates: 24-28 September, 2018

Hours: 8:30 – 12:00

Venue: American University of Armenia, 40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave, Yerevan 0019

Working language: English

 

About the Trainers

Professor Claudia Bieling

Claudia Bieling holds the Chair of Societal Transition and Agriculture at the Institute of Social Sciences in Agriculture, University of Hohenheim, Germany. Her work is rooted in transdisciplinary sustainability research and focuses on the interface of ecological and social dimensions in land-use and food systems. She works with the concepts of cultural landscapes and social-ecological resilience and draws on empirical research experience in a variety of collaborative projects (with a focus on Central and South-Western Europe). Claudia Bieling publishes extensively on land management and sustainability and edited two books with Cambridge University Press (“Resilience and the Cultural Landscape” in 2012, “The Science and Practice of Landscape Stewardship” in 2017). She serves as an associate editor for the journal “Conservation Letters”. Claudia Bieling holds a postdoctoral degree (“Habilitation”) in Landscape Management and a PhD in Forest and Environmental Policy (both from University of Freiburg, Germany). She received her Diploma (equivalent to M.Sc.) in Forest Sciences from University of Göttingen, Germany.

 

Researcher María García-Martín

 

 

 

 

María García-Martín is a postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Social-Ecological Interactions in Agricultural System at the Universities of Göttingen and Kassel. She also collaborates with the Chair of Societal Transition and Agriculture at the University of Hohenheim in the DAAD funded cooperation project GAtES (German-Armenian Network on the Advancement of Public Participation GIS for Ecosystem Services as a Means for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development).

She holds a degree in Geography, a Master in Land Planning and Sustainable Local Development (Geography Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), and a PhD in Landscape Sustainability (Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg).

 

Training on Ecosystem Services and Public Participation GIS at AUA

Back

The University of Hohenheim (UHOH) and the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment organizes a training on Public Participation GIS for Ecosystem Services within the framework of the GAtES Project. The training will be held September 24-28, 8:30-12:00 at AUA.

The training is led by Professor Claudia Bieling, Unhiversity of Hohenheim, and Dr. Maria Garcia-Martin, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (see bios below). It will cover the following topics:

 

The lectures will be supplemented by practical work on:

 

Dates: 24-28 September, 2018

Hours: 8:30 – 12:00

Venue: American University of Armenia, 40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave, Yerevan 0019

Working language: English

Cost and qulifications: Participation is free of charge but subject to candidate qualifications and space availability. Qualifications include knowledge of natural resourses management; background in environmental protection; interest in public participation questions, interested in doing research; strong knowledge of the English language.

 

About the Trainers

Professor Claudia Bieling

Claudia Bieling holds the Chair of Societal Transition and Agriculture at the Institute of Social Sciences in Agriculture, University of Hohenheim, Germany. Her work is rooted in transdisciplinary sustainability research and focuses on the interface of ecological and social dimensions in land-use and food systems. She works with the concepts of cultural landscapes and social-ecological resilience and draws on empirical research experience in a variety of collaborative projects (with a focus on Central and South-Western Europe). Claudia Bieling publishes extensively on land management and sustainability and edited two books with Cambridge University Press (“Resilience and the Cultural Landscape” in 2012, “The Science and Practice of Landscape Stewardship” in 2017). She serves as an associate editor for the journal “Conservation Letters”. Claudia Bieling holds a postdoctoral degree (“Habilitation”) in Landscape Management and a PhD in Forest and Environmental Policy (both from University of Freiburg, Germany). She received her Diploma (equivalent to M.Sc.) in Forest Sciences from University of Göttingen, Germany.

 

Researcher María García-Martín

 

 

 

 

María García-Martín is a postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Social-Ecological Interactions in Agricultural System at the Universities of Göttingen and Kassel. She also collaborates with the Chair of Societal Transition and Agriculture at the University of Hohenheim in the DAAD funded cooperation project GAtES (German-Armenian Network on the Advancement of Public Participation GIS for Ecosystem Services as a Means for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development).

She holds a degree in Geography, a Master in Land Planning and Sustainable Local Development (Geography Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), and a PhD in Landscape Sustainability (Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg).

 

Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիա 2018

Հայնրիխ Բյոլ հիմնադրամի Հարավային Կովկասի տարածաշրջանային գրասենյակը և Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանի (ՀԱՀ) Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնը համատեղ կազմակերպում են «Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիա 2018»-ը «Երիտասարդությունը և կայուն էներգետիկայի զարգացումը գյուղական համայնքներում» խորագրի ներքո:

Sustainable Energy Academy 2018

Sustainable Energy Academy 2018 is jointly organized by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation. This year’s theme is “The Youth & Civil Society Action towards Sustainable Energy in Rural Communities”. The aim of Academy 2018 is to empower community youth and citizens to seek sustainable energy solutions to improve their lives while protecting the environment.

Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիա 2018

Sustainable Energy Academy 2018

Sustainable Energy Academy 2018 is jointly organized by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation. This year’s theme is “The Youth & Civil Society Action towards Sustainable Energy in Rural Communities”.

Կապ

Ակադեմիաի մասին | Մենթորների դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը՝ նախագծային առաջարկների մշակում |  Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը ՝ նախագծերի իրականացում | Եզրափակիչ փառատոն | Նյութեր |  Կապ

 

Ինչպես կապվել

«Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիա 2018»-ի վերաբերյալ ընդհանուր հարցեր

Նորայր Բենօհանյան

Էլ. հասցե՝ [email protected]

Հեռ՝ (+374 55) 19 57 13

 

Ճամբարակի դասընթացին մասնակցելու համար՝

Կարեն Բալյան

Էլ. հասցե՝ [email protected]

Հեռ՝ (+374 96) 080850

Նյութեր

Ակադեմիաի մասին | Մենթորների դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը՝ նախագծային առաջարկների մշակում |  Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը ՝ նախագծերի իրականացում | Եզրափակիչ փառատոն | Նյութեր |  Կապ

Մենթորների դասընթաց

 

Դասընթաց «Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը դեպի կայուն էներգետիկա գյուղական համայնքներում»

 

 

 

Եզրափակիչ փառատոն

Ակադեմիաի մասին | Մենթորների դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը՝ նախագծային առաջարկների մշակում |  Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը ՝ նախագծերի իրականացում | Եզրափակիչ փառատոն | Նյութեր |  Կապ

Փառատոնը կլինի «Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիա 2018»-ի եզրափակիչ ​​միջոցառումը: Փառատոնը տեղի կունենա 2018թ. նոյեմբերի 24-ին Ճամբարակում: Խմբերը կներկայացնեն իրենց կատարած և ավարտված ծրագրերը պաստառներով կամ տեսանյութերով: Մասնակցության վկայականները կհանձնվեն փառատոնի ընթացքում:

«Երիտասարդության և քաղաքացիական հասարակության գործողություն»՝ նախագծերի իրականացում

Ակադեմիաի մասին | Մենթորների դասընթաց | ԴԵրիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության դասընթաց | «Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը՝ նախագծային առաջարկների մշակում |  Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը ՝ նախագծերի իրականացում | Եզրափակիչ փառատոն | Նյութեր |  Կապ

Նախագծերի առաջարկները կգնահատվեն Դրամաշնորհային հանձնաժողովի կողմից: Լավագույն առաջարկները կստանան փոքր դրամաշնորհ նախագծերի իրականացման համար: Հաղթող թիմերը կհայտարարվեն 2018թ.-ի հոկտեմբերի 21-ին: Յուրաքանչյուր խումբ մոտավորապես չորս (4) շաբաթ կունենա նախագծի իրականացման և ավարտին հասցնելու համար, մինչև 2018թ.-ի նոյեմբերի 18-ը: Ծրագրերը կներկայացվեն «Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիա 2018»-ի Եզրափակիչ փառատոնում, որը տեղի կունենա Ճամբարակում:

Դասընթաց «Երիտասարդություն և քաղաքացիական հասարակություն»

Ակադեմիաի մասին | Մենթորների դասընթաց | ԴԵրիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը՝ նախագծային առաջարկների մշակում |  Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության՝ նախագծերի իրականացում | Եզրափակիչ փառատոն | Նյութեր |  Կապ

«Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը դեպի կայուն էներգետիկա գյուղական համայնքներում»
դասընթացը
կայուն էներգետիկայի ոլորտում կազմակերպվում  է Գետիկի հովտի շրջանի և շրջակա համայնքների երիտասարդների, քաղաքացիական հասարակության և բնակիչների համար: Դասընթացը տեղի կունենա 2018թ. սեպտեմբերի 15-ից 16-ը Ճամբարակում: Դասընթացը ներառելու է նաև գաղափարներ մշակելու նիստեր, որտեղ մասնակիցները կարող են մտածել և քննարկել կայուն էներգետիկայի վերաբերյալ լուծումների այն գաղափարները, որոնք կարող են իրականացվել իրենց համայնքներում:

Դասընթացի եզրափակիչ նիստի ընթացքում մասնակիցները խմբերի կբաժանվեն նախագծային առաջարկների մշակման աշխատանքների համար, և յուրաքանչյուր խմբին կմիանա մի մենթոր: Մենթորների դերը կայուն էներգետիկայի վերաբերյալ նախագծային առաջարկների մշակման ընթացքում մասնակիցներին ուղղորդելու և  աջակցելու մեջ է: Մենթորներին կտրամադրվի ուղևորափոխադրում  դեպի Ճամբարակ և հետ, ինչպես նաև հյուրանոցային կացություն:

Գետիկի հովտում  անցկացվող «Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիա 2018»-ի տեղային համակարգողն է Ճամբարակ զարգացման հիմնադրամը:

Ճամբարակի դասընթացին մասնակցելու համար կապ հաստատեք Պրն. Կարեն Բալյանի հետ՝

Էլ. հասցե՝ [email protected]

Հեռ՝ (+374 96) 080850

 

Ճամբարակի դասընթացի օրակարգը՝ օր 1 և օր 2

Ամսաթիվ՝ սեպտեմբերի 15 և 16

Վայր՝ 73 Գարեգին Նժդեհ, ք. Ճամբարակ

Մենթորների դասընթաց

Ակադեմիաի մասին | Մենթորների դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության դասընթաց | Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը՝ նախագծային առաջարկների մշակում |  Երիտասարդության և քաղհասարակության քայլը՝ նախագծերի իրականացում | Եզրափակիչ փառատոն | Նյութեր |  Կապ

 

«Մենթորների  դասընթաց»-ը տեղի է ունեցել 2018թ. օգոստոսի 24-ին և 25-ը, ժամը 10:00-ից 16:45-ը Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանում: Դասընթացի նպատակն էր պատրաստել մասնակիցներին՝ հետագայում ուղղորդելու  և օգնելու համայնքների երիտասարդներին կայուն էներգետիկայի վերաբերյալ նախագծային առաջարկների մշակմանը հարցում: Առաջարկները, որոնք մշակվելու են, կարող են ներառել լուծումների լայն շրջանակ, այդ թվում՝ շենքերի էներգաարդյունավետություն, արևային ջրատաքացուցիչների տեղադրում, վառարանների էներգաարդյունավետության բարձրացում, համայնքային էներգիայի բարելավման կարիքների գնահատում, համայնքային շենքերի էներգետիկ աուդիտի և այլ թեմաներ:

«Մենթորների  դասընթաց»-ին մասնակցել են նրանք, ովքեր մասնակցել են 2016 կամ 2017 թվականների Ակադեմիաների դասընթացներից որևէ մեկին,: Երևանից դուրս բնակվողներին տրամադրվել է ուղևորափոխադրում և հյուրանոցային կացություն:

«Մենթորների դասընթաց»-ը հաջողությամբ ավարտածներին կտրվի մասնակցության  վկայական և նրանք կհրավիրվեն, որպես նախագծային առաջարկների մշակման մենթոր, ծրագրի հաջորդ դասընթացին, որը տեղի կունենա 2018թ. սեպտեմբերի 15-ից 16-ը Ճամբարակում:

 

«Մենթորների  դասընթաց»-ի օրակարգը՝ օր 1 և օր 2

Ամսաթիվ՝ օգորստոս 24 և օգոստոս 25

Վայր՝ Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարան

Լուսանկարներ՝ Օր 1Օր 2

Wrap-Up Festival

About | Mentor Workshop | Youth and Civil Society Workshop | Youth and Civil Society Action – Project Proposal Development | Youth and Civil Society Action – Project Implementation | Wrap-Up FestivalResources |  Contact

The Wrap-Up Festival will be the culminating event for Sustainable Energy Academy 2018. The festival will be held in Chambarak on November 24. The groups will present their implemented and completed projects through either posters or videos. Certificates of Participation will be given during this Festival.

Վերականգնվող էներգիա և կայուն լուծումներ

Աշխատաժողովի մասին (օրակարգ

Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանը (ՀԱՀ) և Հայաստանի ազգային պոլիտեխնիկական համալսարանը (ՀԱՊՀ) հյուրընկալել է Ճարտարագիտության և կայունության մասին դասընթացների երևանյան շարքիչորրորդ մասը։ Դասախոսությունների շարքը տևել է երեք օր, այն վարել է «Գեորգե Ասաքի» Յաշիի տեխնիկական համալսարանի (Ռումինիա) պրոֆեսոր՝ Մարիուս Կոստել Բալանը։

Աշխատաժողովը տեղի է ունեցել ապրիլի 17-ից 19-ը, 15:15-18:30 -ը և ներառել է հետևյալ երեք թեմաները․

 

Ամսաթիվ՝ ապրիլի 17-19, 2018թ
Ժամեր՝ 15:15-18:30
Վայր՝ Փարամազ Ավետիսյան մասնաշենք, Ակիան ցուցասրահ, Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարան, Մ. Բաղրամյան պող. 40, Երևան, 0019

Մասնակցությունն անվճար էր: Դասընթացները նախատեսված էին ինժեներների, տնտեսագետների, դասախոսների և որոշում կայացնողների համար:

 

Նյութեր

Լուսանկարները կարող եք գտնել այստեղ:

Խոսնակի մասին

Մարիուս Կոստել Բալանը դասախոս է «Գեորգե Ասաքի» Յաշիի տեխնիկական համալսարանի քաղաքացիական շինարարության և շինարարական ծառայությունների ֆակուլտետում: Նրա մասնագիտացումը ներառում է սառնարանային սարքավորումների տեղադրում, ջերմային պոմպեր, վերականգնվող էներգիա, ինտերիերի հարմարավետություն և շինարարական ծառայություններ շինհրապարակում:

 

 

(*) Ճարտարագիտության և կայունության մասին դասընթացների երևանյան շարքը բաղկացած կլինի մի քանի միջոցառումներից, որոնք տեղի են ունենալու 2017 և 2018 թթ.-ի ընթացքում: Շարքը իրականացվում է «Էրազմուս+» MARUEEB ծրագրի շրջանակներում: Հայաստանում ակադեմիական գործընկերներն են ՀԱՀ-ը և ՀԱՊՀ-ն:

 

Ավելին իմանալու համար այցելեք http://acenew.aua.am/hy/projects/marueeb և http://marueeb.ru/

 

Construction Ecology and an Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Volume Method

About the event (Agenda)

The American University of Armenia (AUA) and the National Polytechnic University of Armenia (NPUA) hosted the third set of lectures in the Yerevan Series on Engineering and Sustainability*. The lectures will last five days and will be delivered by Senior Lecturer Julia Lednova from the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (Russia) and Prof. Giuliano De Stefano from the University of Campania (Italy).

The workshop, which lasts from April 9-13, 2018, 14:30-17:45, will cover two topics:

Dates: 9-13 April, 2018
Hours: 14:30 – 17:45
Venue: Building 2, Room 2431, National Polytechnic University of Armenia, 105 Vahan Teryan st., Yerevan 0009

Participation is free of charge. Open to engineers, economists, educators, and policymakers.

About the speakers

Julia Lednova

Julia Lednova is a senior lecturer of the Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Ecology, at the Civil Engineering Institute of the Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University.

 

 

 

Giuliano De Stefano

Dr. Giuliano De Stefano is associate professor of Fluid Dynamics at the Engineering Department of the University of Campania (Italy). He received the MS degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Naples “Federico II” (1994), and the PhD degree in Aerospace Sciences and Technologies from the Second University of Naples (1998). Prior to becoming a faculty member in 2001, he was Research Fellow (1999) and Assistant Researcher (2000) at the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering of the Second University of Naples.

Dr. De Stefano conducts research in the general area of Computational Fluid Dynamics, with a particular focus on turbulent flows. He has been contributing to the development of finite-volume methods and wavelet-based computational methodologies for the simulation of turbulent flows for almost 20 years. Dr. De Stefano is the author of more than 60 peer-reviewed journal and international conference publications.

(*) The Yerevan Series on Engineering and Sustainability has a number of talks and workshops planned for 2017 and 2018. The Series is offered within the frames of the Erasmus+ MARUEEB Project. The academic partners from Armenia are AUA and NPUA.

For more information visit http://acenew.aua.am/projects/marueeb and http://marueeb.ru

Ջերմափոխանակման հիմունքներ, էներգաարդյունավետության տնտեսական վերլուծություն և վերականգնվող էներգիայի տեխնոլոգիաներ

Աշխատաժողովի մասին (օրակարգ)

Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանը (ՀԱՀ) և Հայաստանի ազգային պոլիտեխնիկական համալսարանը (ՀԱՊՀ) հյուրընկալել են Ճարտարագիտության և կայունության մասին դասընթացների երևանյան շարքի* երկրորդ մասը։ Դասախոսությունների շարքը տևել է հինգ օր, այն վարել են Ջենովայի համալսարանի (Իտալիա) պրոֆեսորներ՝ Ջիովաննի Թանդան, Վինչենցո Բիանկոն և Մարկո Ֆոսան։

Աշխատաժողովը տեղի է ունեցել մարտի 19-ից 23-ը, 14:00-17:15-ը և ներառել է հետևյալ երեք թեմաները․

Ամսաթիվ՝ մարտի 19-23, 2018թ
Ժամեր՝ 14:00 – 17:15
Վայր՝ Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարան, Մ. Բաղրամյան պող. 40, Երևան, 0019

Մասնակցությունն անվճար էր: Նախնական գրանցումը պարտադիր էր։ Գրանցումն ազատ էր ինժեներների, տնտեսագետների, դասախոսների և որոշում կայացնողների համար:

Վինչենցո Բիանկո՝ http://www.dime.unige.it/en/users/vincenzo-bianco

Մարկո Ֆոսա՝ http://www.dime.unige.it/en/user/101

Ջիովաննի Թանդա՝ http://www.dime.unige.it/en/users/giovanni-tanda

 

(*) Ճարտարագիտության և կայունության մասին դասընթացների երևանյան շարքը բաղկացած կլինի մի քանի միջոցառումներից, որոնք տեղի են ունենալու 2017 և 2018 թթ.-ի ընթացքում: Շարքը իրականացվում է «Էրազմուս+» MARUEEB ծրագրի շրջանակներում: Հայաստանում ակադեմիական գործընկերներն են ՀԱՀ-ը և ՀԱՊՀ-ն:

 

Ավելին իմանալու համար այցելեք http://acenew.aua.am/hy/projects/marueeb և http://marueeb.ru/

 

 

 

GAtES – German-Armenian Network on the Advancement of Public Participation GIS for Ecosystem Services

GAtES – German-Armenian Network on the Advancement of Public Participation GIS for Ecosystem Services

GAtES – Հայ-գերմանական ցանց՝ էկոհամակարգերի ծառայությունների բարելավման նպատակով ԱՏՀ հանրային մասնակցության խթանում՝ որպես կենսաբազմազանության պահպանման և կայուն զարգացման ապահովման միջոց

Project Title:
German-Armenian Network on the Advancement of Public Participation GIS for Ecosystem Services as a Means for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development (GAtES)

Project time period:
2018-2021 (four years)

Lead Partner:
University of Hohenheim (UHOH)

Armenia Partner:
American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment

Funding Agency:
Financed through DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Project Description:
Starting in 2018, the University of Hohenheim (UHOH) and the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment are collaborating on a 4-year academic exchange program funded by the DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service. The project’s full title is the German-Armenian Network on the Advancement of Public Participation GIS for Ecosystem Services as a Means for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development. Expediently, the acronym GAtES is used to refer to the project.

Internationally, Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) approaches for ecosystem services have become particularly vibrant academic and practitioner fields as they allow for integrating information on perceived ecosystem services with biophysical data (e.g. on biodiversity, erosion processes) and expert-based management plans. The GAtES project supports the AUA faculty and researchers in acquiring knowledge on the ecosystem services concept and PPGIS-based methods and how they can be used in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. A better understanding of ecosystem services and PPGIS approaches will enable AUA faculty to embed these concepts in their certificate and minor programs in Environmental Studies. AUA researchers will furthermore develop a critical appraisal of PPGIS-based approaches and concepts as well as an ability to apply them in their own research projects. UHOH faculty and students, on the other hand, will–by applying the ecosystem services framework in a post-Soviet context–gain experience in international cooperation and develop strategies for advancing biodiversity conservation for forests and pastureland.

The specific activities of the GAtES project include:

Project Background:
Armenia is a global hot-spot of biodiversity. While the country boasts a high level of flora and fauna biodiversity, its rich natural capital is under a multitude of anthropogenic pressures originating from mining, livestock farming, logging, water overuse, and more. Forests and pasturelands are especially affected. Degradation of these ecosystems goes along with a loss of ecosystem services, including provisioning (e.g. timber, food, medicines), regulating (e.g. water storage, erosion control) and cultural services (e.g. cultural heritage, ecotourism).

The ecosystem services concept has become a key tool in strategies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, effective for instance in terms of raising public awareness for the environment and its values as well as informing planning and decision-making. In recent years, the Armenian government has taken some steps to harness the ecosystem services framework for sustainable development. The concept, however, is still a novel in the country and the Armenian education and research sector is largely disconnected from the developments in the global scientific community. This project will, in part, address this gap, esp. with regard to integrating interests and concerns of local stakeholders into biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation.

 

 

 

Էկոտուրիզմը Հայաստանում Համաժողով 2018

ՄԱԶԾ բնապահպանական կրթության վերապատրաստման դասընթացների փաթեթներ

Sustainable Energy Academy

 

 

 

Դեպի 100% վերականգնվող էներգիա, հունիսի 1, 2017, 9:30-13:3

Դեպի 100% վերականգնվող էներգիա


Հանրային դասախոսություն և աշխատաժողով

Հյուրընկալվող բանախոս՝ Վերոնիկա Ռոքա, ԱՄՆ Հավայիի նահանգի վերականգնվող էներգիայի ծրագրի ղեկավար
Օր՝ հունիսի 1, հինգշաբթի, 2017թ.
Վայր՝ 208Е լսարան, Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարան (Բաղրամյան 40)
Հայերեն- անգլերեն թարգմանություն
 
ԱՄՆ Հավայիի նահանգը նպատակ է դրել 100% վերականգնվող էլեկտրականության արտադրություն ունենալ մինչև 2045թ-ը: Մեր բանախոս Վերոնիկա Ռոքան պատասխանատու է առաջնորդելու նահանգի էներգետիկ կառավարման գրասենյակը՝  այս նպատակին հասնելու համար: Բանախոսը կներկայացնի իր փորձը և շարունակական մարտահրավերները նման ամբիցիոզ նպատակի հասնելու ճանապարհին, նորարարների և գործարարների դերը այս գործում, ինչպես նաև նման ամբիցիոզ մոտեցումների կիրառման հնարավորությունը Հայաստանում:

Դասախոսությանը կհաջորդի աշխատաժողով, որի մասնակիցները կբաժանվեն 2 խմբի: Առաջին խումբը կքննարկի գործարարների դերը 100% վերականգնվող էներգիայի արտադրություն ունենալու գործում, 2-րդը՝ նման նպատակը Հայաստանում իրականացնելու հնարավոր մարտահրավերները և հնարավորությունները:

Միջոցառումը կազմակերպվում է ՀԱՀ Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնի, ՀԱՀ Ձեռներեցության և նորարարական տեխնոլոգիաների կենտրոնի (EPIC), Հայաստանի ազգային պոլիտեխնիակական համալսարանի (ՀԱՊՀ) և ԱՄՆ Պետքարտուղարության Օրենսդրական ոլորտի մասնագետների ծրագրի (Professional Fellows Program/PFP) շրջանավարտի հետ համատեղ՝ «Վերականգնվող էներգիան՝ էներգետիկ անկախության և տնտեսական զարգացման բանալի» ծրագրի շրջանակներում, որի նպատակն է փոխանակել գիտելիքներ էներգետիկ կառավարման ոլորտում իրականացվող քաղաքականության, ռազմավարության, ծրագրերի և նախաձեռնությունների մասին:

Մասնակիցները նաև կծանոթանան նոր ինժեներական ծրագրերին վերականգնվող էներգիայի, ռեսուրսների կառավարման և զարգացման մասին, որոնք սույն թվականի աշնանը կդասավանդվեն ՀԱՀ-ում և ՀԱՊՀ-ում:

Հավելյալ տեղեկության համար այցելեք http://acenew.aua.am կայքը կամ զանգահարեք +374-60-612520:
 
Միջոցառման օրակարգը

09:30-10:00Գրանցում
10:00-10:15Բացման խոսք
Ալեն Ամիրխանյան, ՀԱՀ Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոն
Արամ Գևորգյան, Հայաստանի ազգային պոլիտեխնիկական համալսարան
Նունե Սաքանյան, PFP շրջանավարտ
10:15-11:00Դեպի 100% վերականգնվող էներգիա, բանախոս՝ Վերոնիկա Ռոքա
11:00-11:15Սուրճի ընդմիջում
11:15-12:30Աշխատաժողով
Խումբ Ա: Գործարարների դերը 100% վերականգնվող էներգիայի անցման գործում
Խումբ Բ: Մարտահրավերները/հնարավորությունները 100% վերականգնվող էներգիայի անցմանը Հայաստանում
12:30-13:00Խմբային զեկույցներ և քննարկում
13:00-13:30Հավանական շրջայց ՀԱՀ-ում (EPIC լաբորատորիաներ, արևային էներգիայի սարքավորումներ)

 

 

Summer Course: Urban Environmental Mapping: Field Application of Sensing and Visualization Tool

July 6-26, 2017

Summer 2017: Urban Environmental Mapping: Field Application of Sensing and Visualization Tool

AUA Ecotourism Conference 2017

ՀԱՀ Էկոտուրիզմը Հայաստանում համաժողով

ՀԱՀ Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնի ու Հայկական բնապահպանական ցանցի կողմից իրականացվող «Հազարտերևուկ» նախագծի կայքի շնորհանդեսը

Հայնրիխ Բյոլ հիմնադրամը և ՀԱՀ Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնը անցկացրին 2016թ. Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիան

Յակոբեան կենտրոնի մրցանակակիր օնլայն ատլասները

ՀԱՀ Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնի տնօրեն Ալեն Ամիրխանյանը նշանակվել է ՀՀ բնապահպանության նախարարի ավագ խորհրդական

Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիայի շրջանակում ավարտվեց Կալավանի դպրոցի ջերմամեկուսացման նախագիծը

Էկոտուրիզմը Հայաստանում

ԲՆԱՊԱՀՊԱՆԱԿԱՆ ԿՐԹՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ ԵՎ ՀԱՍԱՐԱԿՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՀԵՏ ԿԱՊԵՐ

«Հազարտերևուկ» նախագիծ

էներգաարդյունավետ շենքերի նորարար տեխնոլոգիաների մագիստրոսական ծրագիր ՌԴ և ՀՀ համալսարանների և շահագրգիռ կողմերի համար՝ «MARUEEB»

Կայուն էներգետիկայի ակադեմիա

Սևծովյան ավազանի երկրների շենքերում էներգաարդյունավետության ծրագիր (BSBEEP)

Ուսումնական շրջայց Հայաստանում շենքերում էներգաարդյունավետության, վերականգնվող էներգիայի և այլ էկո լուծումների վերաբերյալ

Երևան, Հայաստան – Ժամանակակից էներգաարդյունավետության լուծումներով ճարտարապետության օրինակներ տեսնելու նպատակով արտերկիր մեկնելու ժամանակները անցյալում են: Սույն թվականի մայիսի 18 – 22-ին Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանի Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնը ՀՀ էներգետիկայի եվ բնական պաշարների նախարարության հետ համատեղ իրականացրեցին ուսումնական շրջայց Հայաստանում շենքերի էներգաարդյունավետության, վերականգնվող էներգիայի և այլ էկո-լուծումների վերաբերյալ: Ծրագրի մասնակիցների 15 հոգանոց խումբը ներառում էր հանրային ծառայողներ, շինարարներ, գիտական աշխատողների և ՀԿ-ների անդամներ Հայաստանի Սյունիքի մարզից։ Միջոցառման նպատակն էր գիտելիքի ստեղծումը և մինչ այժմ երկրի ներսում ունեցած հաջողություններին նոր ընթացք տալը:
«Առ այսօր Հայաստանում մենք ունենք մի շարք հաջողություններ և լավագույն կիրառումներ կապված կառուցված միջավայրում էներգաարդյունավետության, վերականգնվող էներգիայի և ընդհանուր էկո-լուծումների հետ: Հաջողություններ, որոնք ճանաչվել են համաշխարհային հավաստագրեր տրամադրող գործակալությունների կողմից»,– նշում է ՀՀ էներգետիկայի և բնական պաշարների փոխնախարար պրն. Հայկ Հարությունյանը:
Ազգային շրջայցի նպատակն է մասնակիցներին ցույց տալ շենքերում էներգաարդյունավետության լուծումների հաջողված իրականացումները կամ փորձերը, ինչպես նաև, օգտագործելով այս ազգային շրջայցը, լրատվամիջոցների օգնությամբ շենքերում էներգաարդյունավետության վերաբերյալ իրազեկման մակարդակի բարձրացումը՝ ազգային և տեղական մասշտաբով: Ուսումնական շրջայցի մասնակիցները նաև այցելեցին ՄԱԿ-ի զարգացման ծրագրի փորձնական շենքեր, Ավետիսյան դպրոցը և Դիլիջանի միջազգային դպրոցը, Գյումրու Կարիտաս վերականգնողական կենտրոն, ինչպես նաև Նուբարաշենի թափոնակուտակիչում կենսագազի հավաքման և այրման կայան:
«Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանի և առհասարակ համալսարանների դերը պետք լինի հավաքել այս փորձերն ու դասերը և դարձնել դրանք օգտակար և հասանելի հանրության համար»,- նշում է ՀԱՀ Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնի տնօրեն պրն. Ալեն Ամիրխանյանը: Ուսումնական շրջայցը կազմակերպվել է ԵՄ Սևծովյան ավազանի շենքերի էներգաարդյունավետության նախագծի շրջանակներում, որի նպատակն է տեղական վարչական կարողությունների ամրապնդման միջոցով ստեղծել ուժեղ ռեգիոնալ գործընկերություն և համագործակցություն Սևծովյան ավազանի երկրների միջև շենքերում էներգաարդյունավետության ոլորտում, որը տեղական և գլոբալ առումով խոշոր բնապահպանական և տնտեսական ազդեցություն ունի:

Ծրագրի կայքէջը՝ այստեղ։

Էներգիայի արդյունավետ կառավարման արդյունքում ՀԱՀ-ը ամռանը 34%-ով կրճատել է էլէներգիայի սպառումը

Երևան, 2016թ. նոյեմբերի 11-2016թ.-ի հուլիս ամսվա ընթացքում էլէներգիայի տնտեսմանն ուղղված միջոցառումների արդյունքում հաջողվել է ամռանը սպառված էներգիայի ծավալները նախորդ տարվա նույն ժամանակահատվածի համեմատ կրճատել 34%-ով:

Խնայված էներգիայի ընդհանուր արժեքը կազմել է $4500 (50,102 կվատ): Սա համարժեք է 12,5 տոննայով ածխածնի արտանետումների նվազեցմանը: «Այս քայլն ընդգծում է էներգիայի արդյունավետ կառավարման նշանակությունը: Թեև շենքերում էներգաարդյունավետ տեխնոլոգիաների առկայությունը կարևոր է, սակայն նույնքան կարևոր է՝ ինչպես են շենքերը շահագործվում և կառավարվում»,-նշել է ՀԱՀ փոխնախագահ Պր. Աշոտ Ղազարյանը:

Հուլիս ամսվա ընթացքում դադարեցվել է Փարամազ Ավեդիսէան շենքի արևմտյան թևի դասասենյակների օդորակումը: Փոխարենը շահագործվել են Փարամազ Ավեդիսէան շենքի արևելյան թևի և ՀԱՀ-ի հիմնական մասնաշենքի դասասենյակները: Նաև միջանցքներում և որոշ ընդհանուր օգտագործման տարածքներում նվազեցվել է հովացման աստիճանը՝ առանց հարմարավետության վրա ազդելու:

PAB electricity consumption

ՀԱՀ «Սննդային շղթան դպրոցի բակերում» ծրագիրը փորձարկվել է Երևանի երկու դպրոցներում

Potential for Eco-friendly Agriculture in Armenia

Բնապահպանական կրթության (ԲԿ) և կայուն զարգացման կրթության (ԿԶԿ) սեմինարների շարք

Սեմինարների շարք՝ «ՀՀ օրենսդրությունն ու նախադպրոցական և միջնակարգ կրթությունը»

EEN half

Սեմինարնեիր շարք՝ «ՀՀ նախադպրոցական և միջնակարգ կրթության պետական ծրագրի ձևավորումը»

EEN_Seminar Series_2015 (First Talk) Final

Municipal Waste Management in Armenia: Opportunities for Business Growth and Environmental Protection

Sanitek_AUA_Poster

The Austrian Government Activities in Agriculture Development and Environmental Protection, by Mr. Martin Ledolter, Managing Director Austrian Development Agency (ADA)

ADA talk at AUA, Sept 28

“Young Naturalists”_Evaluations

Young Naturalists_Evaluations

Policy Informed by Integrated Modeling: Case Study of Baltimore-Washington Region

Integrated Modelling Informing Policy

Applications of Weight-of-Evidence Approach in Environmental Quality Assessment

Applications of Weight-of-evidence approach in environmental quality assessment

Ecotourism in Armenia

 

 

 

 

 

Master Degree in Innovative Technologies in Energy Efficient Buildings for Russian & Armenian Universities & Stakeholders – «MARUEEB»

The 1000 Leaf Project

Environmental Education and Youth Outreach

EEN logothumbnailThe aim of establishing the Environmental Education Network (EEN) is to contribute to the efforts of RA Government in promoting and ensuring environmental education at all school levels and at communities. The EEN is a unity of more than fifteen civil society, governmental, educational and international organizations, whose main goal is to contribute to the efforts of Armenia in promoting and ensuring environmental education at all school levels and communities. By having the Memorandum of Understanding signed by all of the EEN members, Armenia undertakes an action of improving the environmental education, with the help of additional knowledge and exchange of experience.

The activities of EEN are fully in line with the Government of Armenia’s 2011-2015 National Plan on Establishment of a Universal and Integrated National System for Environmental Education, Upbringing and Awareness and with the Agreement on Cooperation among the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Country Office in Armenia on the Integration of Environmental Education into Secondary School System of the Republic of Armenia as well as with the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) strategy.

In addition to the previously mentioned advantages, the establishment of EEN promises a potential for further improvement, which firstly implies growth of the number of the contributing parties.

The creation of EEN has been supported by the Norwegian Embassy Small Grants Program 2014, European Union supported civic society capacity building program of the UNDP GEF Small Grants Program, UNICEF, GIZ, WWF and OSCE.

Below are the founding members of EEN:

 

Seminar series on Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

Part 1. Fundamentals of Armenia’s Education System

Tuesday, Feb 10, 18:15-19:30
TOPIC: Curricular Principles of Armenia’s K-12 Education. SPEAKER: Melanya Davtyan, National Institute of Education, RA Ministry of Science and Education

Tuesday, Feb 17, 18:15-19:30
TOPIC: Armenian Legislation and K-12 Education. SPEAKER: Karen Melkonyan, Teachers’ Professional Development Division, Education Projects PIU, RA Ministry of Science and Education

Part 2. Existing situation and gaps in Armenia’s education system with respect to EE and ESD. Also learning from national and international best practices.

Tuesday, March 6, 16:00-18:00
TOPIC: Armenia’s International Obligations and Activities on EE and ESD. SPEAKERS: Karine Danielyan, Gayane Poghosyan, Anahit Gasparyan, Robert Stepanyan

Tuesday, March 17, 16:00-18:00
TOPIC: EE & ESD: International Experience with Effective EE and ESD in K-12 Education. SPEAKER: Being finalized

Tuesday, March 31, 16:00-18:00
TOPIC: Armenia’s integration of EE and ESD in K-12 Education. SPEAKER: Being finalized

Tuesday, April 14, 16:00-18:00
TOPIC: Role of Civil Society in EE and ESD Policy, Curriculum Development and Delivery. SPEAKERS: Being finalized

Part 3. Recommendations for greater integration of EE and ESD in Armenia educational system

Tuesday, April 28, 16:00-18:00
TOPIC: Armenia’s Legislative Gaps and Directions Forward with Respect to EE and ESD. SPEAKER: Karen Melkonyan, Teachers’ Professional Development Division, Education Projects PIU, RA Ministry of Science and Education

Tuesday, May 5, 16:00-18:00
TOPIC: NEXT STEPS: Enhancing the role of EE and ESD in Armenia’s K-12 Education. SPEAKER: Melanya Davtyan, National Institute of Education, RA Ministry of Science and Education

«Սննդային շղթան դպրոցի բակերում» ծրագիր

2016 Summer Graduate Course at AUA: GIS and Environmental Analysis

ENV 320 – Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Analysis (2 units)

Instructor: Arthur Dolmajian

Class Schedule: MWF, 18:00 – 21:00, May 23 – June 10

Pre-requisites: None

NOTE: This course satisfies the AUA graduate degree environmental requirement

Course Description: The course aims to introduce and develop introductory and intermediate skills in application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to visualize, analyse, and interpret relationships, patterns, and trends in the fields of environmental and public health as well as sustainable agriculture and transportation. GIS as a tool, however, is applicable to a wide variety of fields and industries, including marketing, logistics, urban development, and so on.

Forty (40) seats available. Open to AUA and non-AUA community:

First AUA Ecotourism Conference Convened 500 Participants from across the Country

Երևանի «Կայուն էներգետիկայի զարգացման գործողությունների ծրագիր». Խոսում են Երևանի համալսարանական ուսանողները

80 ուսանողներ մտքեր փոխանակեցին Երևանի «Կայուն էներգետիկ զարգացման գործողությունների ծրագրի» շուրջ (ԿԷԶԳԾ)

Հինգ համալսարաններ ներկայացնող ավելի քան 80 ուսանողներ հավաքվել էին Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանում (ՀԱՀ)՝ քննարկելու Երևանի «Կայուն էներգետիկ զարգացման գործողությունների ծրագիրը», որը սահմանում է այն ուղիները, որոնց միջոցով քաղաքապետարանը կկարողանա 20 տոկոսով կրճատել էներգիայի սպառումը և ածխածնի արտանետումները 2020թ-ի դրությամբ։ Ուսանողների մտքերը հաշվի են առնվել Երևանի ԿԵԶԳԾ-ում, որը հաստատվել է քաղաքի ավագանու կողմից և ներկայացվել է ԵՄ Քաղաքապետերի դաշնագրին։ Երևանը Հայաստանի այն 13 քաղաքներից է, որոնք միացել էն կլիմայի և էներգիայի վերաբերյալ ԵՄ Քաղաքապետերի դաշնագրին և այն 7 հայկական քաղաքներից մեկն է, որն արդեն ներկայացրել է իր ԿԵԶԳԾ-ն։ Երևանի ԿԵԶԳԾ-ի մշակման աշխատանքները ղեկավարում էր «Էներգախնայողության աջակցման հիմնադրամի» (ESF-Հայաստան) հիմնադիր տնօրեն, մեր գործընկեր Աստղինե Պասոյանը։ Երևանի ԿԵԶԳԾ-ի պատրաստման աշխատանքները ֆինանսավորվել են ՄԱԿ-ի զարգացման ծրագրի հայաստանյան գրասենյակի կողմից։ 

80 University Students Discuss Yerevan’s Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP)

More than 80 students from 5 universities gathered at AUA to discuss Yerevan’s Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), which identifies ways in which the municipality can reduce its energy use and carbon emissions by 20% by the year 2020. Input from students was used in the final draft of the Yerevan SEAP, which has been approved by Yerevan Municipality’s Council of Elders and submitted to the EU Covenant of Mayors. Yerevan is one of the 13 Armenian cities joining the Covenant of Mayors and one of the 7 in Armenia to have submitted its SEAP. Leading the development of the Yerevan SEAP was our adjunct faculty member, Ms. Astghine Pasoyan, in her capacity as the founder and director of the Foundation to Save Energy. Preparation of the Yerevan SEAP was funded by the United Nations Development Programme in Armenia.

zYerevan SEAP Workshop Announcement Sept 16 (Armenian)

Էկոտուրիզմով կամ ընդհանուր տուրիզմով զբաղվող կազմակերպություններ

Միջազգային կազմակերպություններ

 

Ազգային կազմակերպություններ

 

AUA Ecotourism Conference

 

 

 

 

GIZ Reintroduction of the Brown Trout in Armenia’s Rivers

Reintroduction of the Brown Trout in Armenia’s Rivers Studied by AUA Acopian Center for the Environment

image004Overfishing in the 1990s has led to a collapse of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta morpha fario) stocks throughout Armenia. This species, once available abundantly in all of Armenia’s provinces, is currently found in fewer than 20% of surveyed rivers. To determine the suitability for its reintroduction, the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment with support from GIZ, the German Organization for International Cooperation, has conducted an extensive survey of physical and chemical properties of 22 rivers and streams in 7 provinces of Armenia.

“The results of the survey are promising,” says Dr. Karen Aghababyan, chief scientist of the AUA Acopian Center and the study’s principal investigator. “Most rivers studied are suitable for reintroduction of the species. Their oxygen and pH levels were within the range preferred by the Brown Trout, and most sites had appropriate levels of ammonia and carbon dioxide, as well as enough benthic invertebrates to serve as food for the reintroduced fish,” explains Dr. Aghababyan.

In addition to scouting river sites, the AUA Acopian Center researchers found an appropriate brood stock with which to populate the rivers in question. To this end, the Center has collaborated with a fish farm that had Brown Trout captured wild in the Arpa River in 2009. This trout, which has not interbred with other fish species and has not gone through artificial selection, caries all the genes of the wild population and is suitable for introduction into the native stocks.

For many decades, the Brown Trout has been a staple fish in diets worldwide. In most parts of the world, Brown Trout is interbred with local populations, resulting in fish that is genetically different from their ancestors. Very few places on Earth are home to genetically pure Brown Trout. Armenia is one of these places, its mountainous rivers providing protection from interbreeding with non-indigenous species.

A successful reintroduction of a fish species needs more than adequate water conditions and pure breed. “We also need to ensure that the site is protected from poachers. Communities close to these fish populations have to have economic incentive to protect them. Local stewardship of the fish stock has to be worked into the reintroduction,” says Dr. Aghababyan.

Batumi Raptor Count and AUA Acopian Center Continue to Partner

AUA Acopian Center for the Environment continues its cooperation with the Batumi Raptor Count (BRC) by developing and delivering environmental education programs to youth from all parts of the Caucasus. This year, Hasmik Ter-Voskanyan (in August) and Siranush Tumanyan (in September) led youth groups, including some from Armenia.

In early September, Dr. Karen Aghababyan, AUA Acopian Center chief scientist, attended the International Batumi Bird Festival organized by BRC. During his visit, Dr. Aghababyan discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation between the organizations through development of nature-based tourism as well as strengthening environmental-education and bird-monitoring programs.

“This is a relationship we want to develop further,” says Alen Amirkhanian, director of the AUA Acopian Center. “Batumi provides an unparalleled setting in the Caucasus to educate and conduct research on the environment. Importantly we are able to do this jointly with people from all parts of the Caucasus and Europe. Developing this type of cooperation is essential for addressing environmental protection needs,” says Amirkhanian.

BRC is a vital nature conservation program in the region. It monitors the more than 850,000 birds of prey that migrate through the “Batumi Bottleneck” every fall. It also works to protect the birds from illegal shootings and trappings, practices that continue to this day.

Batumi is a Black Sea coastal city in the Ajara region of the Republic of Georgia.

 

Human Carnivore Conflicts in Armenia: Baseline Study

image003The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, in cooperation with the UK-based Fauna and Flora International (FFI), has launched a baseline study to better understand human-wildlife conflicts and approaches to mitigating them.

The abundance of livestock and other foodstuff, coupled with proximity to wildlife habitats, makes villages vulnerable to animals like wolves and bears. Often the threat is not physically against humans but against their economic assets. Wolves kill sheep, cows, and fowl, while bears damage fruit trees, destroy beehives, and deplete honey supplies. Over time these can take a heavy economic toll on villages that are surviving on meager means.

Before suffering heavy economic damage, however, villagers typically resort to killing the wolves or the bears, dealing a blow to an already tattered ecosystem. According to official statistics, 170 wolves have been killed during just three months of 2012.

FFI has been involved in human-wildlife conflict mitigation projects for many years, working extensively in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and, most recently, in the Republic of Georgia. Through a program that combines direct intervention, raising awareness, and market-based innovation, the FFI initiative has seen a marked improvement in the attitudes of livestock farmers towards wolves.

The AUA ACE researchers, all AUA students, are led by Dr. Karen Aghababyan, AUA ACE chief scientist, in studying nine rural communities across Armenia as well as the habitat conditions of the wildlife.

The project, expected to be completed by end of this year, will not only give students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field, but will also contribute to finding solutions to preserving biodiversity while ensuring economic wellbeing in rural communities.

WASTEnet – Կենցաղային կեղտաջրերի բնական մաքրման համակարգեր

Տևողություն՝ հուլիս, 2013 – հունիս 2015

image002

Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանը հանդիսանում է WASTEnet Սևծովյան ցանցի գործընկեր, որը «BLACK SEA BASIN 2007-2013» ծրագրի շրջանակներում խթանում է կենցաղային կեղտաջրերի բնական մաքրման համակարգերի ներդնումը:

Ծրագրի նպատակն է շահադրդել սևծովյան մասնակից երկրների տեղական և տարածաշրջանային կառավարման մարմիններին ստեղծել և կիրառել կենցաղային կեղտաջրերի մաքրման բնական համակարգեր: Սա կկատարվի շրջակա միջավայրի պահպանությանն ուղղված ռեսուրների և հմտությունների փոխանակման, ինչպես նաև թափոնների և կենցաղային կեղտաջրերի մաքրման բնական համակարգերի կառավարման և տեխնոլոգիաների նորարարական լուծումներին ուղղված համագրոծակցության խթանմամբ:

Սկիզբ՝ հուլիսի 1, 2013

Ավարտ՝ հունիսի 30, 2015

Այցելեք ծրագրի կայքը՝ http://www.waste-net.info/

 

Զեկույցներ և կրթական նյութեր

 

Conferences

1st International Scientific Conference on “Sustainable Solutions to Wastewater Management Maximizing the Impact of Territorial Co-operation, June 19-21, 2015, Kavala, Greece

If you are a participant of the 1st “International Scientific Conference on “Sustainable Solutions to Wastewater Management”, please visit here for more information about accommodation.

SUAFRI-EPC: Supporting the Uptake of Agri-Food Research Results into Innovation with EPC countries

The overall aim of the SUAFRI-EPC project is to bridge the gap between Agri-Food research and innovation in Eastern Partnering Countries (EPC) by bringing together all actors of the knowledge value chain and raising their awareness on how to uptake research results into innovation. SUAFRI-EPC is supporting the Agri-Food sector and community in EPC by developing the basis for an efficient “Research to Innovation – R2I” process with the support of European partnering specialists.

The project will consist in the following activities:

The SUAFRI-EPC project aims also to cooperate with other European projects and initiatives targeting EPC countries, under ‘Cluster joint activities’. Cluster activities will consist in organising and contributing to joint events, exchange of information, and support current projects targeting EPC countries.

Pilot Project in Armenia: Production methods to optimize economical and environmental sustainability in aquaculture and apiculture sectors

This pilot project aims to develop new production methods in aquaculture and apiculture in order to optimize production costs and increase environmental sustainability. It will be implemented via training and exchange of experts between the American University of Armenia (AUA) and the Danish company Dianova.

During the first year, the activities will be focused on the topic of sustainable aquaculture. The Danish experts will organize a number of training sessions on water recirculation systems, monitoring of effluents from aquaculture facilities, disease monitoring and control systems, and quality parameters.

During the second year, the team will continue its work on aquaculture but will also exchange on apiculture topic related to the production of honey. The interest of AUA is to learn more on the formalization of existing practices on prevention of bee diseases; and the creation of guideline for honey processing.

Related articles: http://newsroom.aua.am/2014/10/19/acopian-center-works-with-danish-consultants-on-aquaculture/

Visit Project Website: http://suafri-epc.eu/

ԲՆԱՊԱՀՊԱՆԱԿԱՆ ԿՐԹՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ ԻՐԱԿԱՆԱՑՆԵԼՈՒ ՓՈՔՐ ԾՐԱԳՐԵՐԻ ՄՐՑՈՒՅԹ

Երևանյան վեց դպրոց ավարտեց ՀԱՀ Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնի «Բնական միջավայրը և ես» ծրագիրը

Կանաչ ճարտարապետություն դասագրքի կազմի ձևավորման մրցույթ

UNDP-GEF “Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings” project is publishing a textbook for architecture and urban-planning students on environmentally responsible and energy-efficient building design.  The lead author of the textbook is Alen Amirkhanian, director of AUA Acopian Center for the Environment.

Young architects and graphic designers are invited to submit designs for the cover of this textbook. The cover includes front cover, cover spine, and back cover.  Download Detailed Instructions here.

«Շենքերի էներգետիկ արդյունա­վետու­թյան բարձրացում» ՄԱԶԾ-ԳԷՖ ծրագրի շրջանակներում հրատարակվելու է դասագիրք ճարտարապետության և քաղաքաշինության գծով մասնագիտացող ուսանողների համար՝ շրջակա միջավայրի հետ համահունչ և էներգաարդյունավետյան տեսանկյունից արդյունավետ շինությունների դիզայնի վերաբերյալ:  Գրքի գլխավոր հեղինակը հանդիսանում է ՀԱՀ Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոնի տնօրեն Ալեն Ամիրխանյանը:

Երիտասարդ ճարտարապետները և գրաֆիկական դիզայներները հրավիրվում են ներկայացնելու իրենց առաջարկները դասագրքի շապիկի ձևավորման վերաբերյալ:  Շապիկը ներառում է առջևի կազմը, ամրացման եղանակը, և հետևի կազմը: Մանրամասն ուղեցույցը ներբեռնելու համար սեղմեք այստեղ:

 

extended

 

 

 

 

 

ENV 202 – ԲՆԱՊԱՀՊԱՆԱԿԱՆ ԾՐԱԳՐԵՐ բակալավրի դասընթաց

Սկսած 2016թ.-ից՝ ՀԱՀ-ը բակալավրի ուսանողների համար առաջարկում է նոր «Բնապահպանական ծրագրեր» կոչվող առարկա։ Բարձր կուրսերի համար նախատեսված այս դասընթացը պատրաստված է այնպես, որ ուսանողները ձեռք բերեն ավելի խորը ընկալումներ և կարողություններ բնապահպանական ծրագրերի նախագծման, իրականացման և գնահատման վերաբերյալ։

Ծրագրերը կարող են լինել տեխնոլոգիաների, բնագիտության, պահպանման, կառավարման, վերականգնման, գովազդի կամ մարկետինգի, կրթության և այլ հարակից ոլորտներում։

Դասընթացը շեշտը դնում է տվյալների հավաքագրման և վերլուծության վրա՝ նպատակ ունենալով գնահատել ծրագրի գաղափարների հաջողության և ազդեցության աստիճանը։ Դասընթացի ժամանակ ուսանողները կնախագծեն ծրագիր և կիրականացնեն այն։ Բնապահպանական ծրագրերի տեսակները կտարբերվեն՝ կախված ուսանողների և դասախոսական կազմի միջև համաձայնությունից։

Ծրագրերը կարող են նաև առնչություն ունենալ հետևյալ թեմաների հետ․ Մաքուր տեխնոլոգիաներ, ՏՏ, արբանյակային, հեռահար զոնդավորման լուծումներ շրջակա միջավայրի պաշտպանության հարցում, այլընտրանքային տրանսպորտ, մաքուր տրանսպորտ, վերականգնվող էներգիայի արտադրություն և էներգաարդյունավետություն, ջրի կայուն օգտագործում, կոշտ թափոնների կառավարում, կայուն գյուղատնտեսություն և սննդի արտադրություն, հանքարդյունաբերական աղտոտման կանխարգելում և կառավարում, անտառների պաշտպանություն, կառավարում և վերականգնում, գետավազանի պաշտպանություն, կառավարում և վերականգնում, օդի որակի պաշտպանություն, կառավարում և վերականգնում, բուսական և կենդանական աշխարհի մշտադիտարկում, պահպանություն և վերականգնում։

Կայուն էներգետիկ համակարգեր Հարավային Կովկասում. իրականությու՞ն, թե պատրանք

Invitation 25Feb-2016_AR

Water Treatment and Re-Use for “Near Zero-Discharge” Aquaculture Facilities

Flier_Dr. Natella Mirzoyan

Linda Shahinian, a Native Angeleno, Contributes Her Talents to AUA’s Acopian Center for the Environment

AUA Acopian Center for the Environment Director Interviewed in Civilnet Reportage on Green Architecture.

AUA ACE’s “Edible” School Yards Program Being Piloted in Two Yerevan Schools

Two AUA Faculty Members Write a Textbook on Green Architecture

WORK STUDY ANNOUNCEMENT for the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA ACE)

2 Work Study Positions for GIS Database Development and Mapping of Red Book Species

AUA Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA ACE) is preparing GIS maps on natural resources and natural assets of Armenia, including the flora and fauna in Armenia’s Red Books. The Center is seeking a GIS work study student to assist with this mapping.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The student(s) shall:

EXPECTED DELIVERABLE(S):

QUALIFICATIONS

HOURS: 20 hours per week, with flexible schedule.
DURATION: 1 month with possible extension
COMPENSATION: AUA’s prevailing work study rate
HOW TO APPLY: All interested students should send their motivation letter, recommendation letter from AUA GIS faculty or staff, and CV to [email protected]. In the subject area of the email specify GIS Work Study Program.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, November 16, 16:00
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Aghavni Harutyunyan, Phone: (+374) 60 61 26 93, E-mail: [email protected]

WORK STUDY ANNOUNCEMENT for the AUA Center for Responsible Mining (AUA CRM)

The Mining Legislation Reform Initiative (MLRI), a project of the AUA Center for Responsible Mining (AUA CRM), conducts analysis of Armenia’s laws and regulations in an effort to draft, propose, and ensure adoption of legislative and regulatory reforms that enables mining in Armenia to bring maximum benefit to the country outweighing its many costs. As a part of this effort, AUA CRM has established a work study program to integrate law students into MLRI’s work and mission. Participating students will work under the guidance of the AUA CRM director, MLRI manager and MLRI legislative analyst.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The student(s) shall:

EXPECTED DELIVERABLE(S):

QUALIFICATIONS

HOURS: 20 hours per week, with flexible schedule.
DURATION: 3-6 months with possible extension.
COMPENSATION: AUA’s prevailing work study rate
HOW TO APPLY: All interested students should send their motivation letter and CV to [email protected] and [email protected]. In the subject area of the email specify AUA CRM Work Study Program.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 16:00, November 18, Wednesday.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Meri Galstyan, (+374) 60 612 776, [email protected]

Risk Assessment and Best Practices in Mine Waste Management

National Capacity Building

The Power of Partnerships: American Trends that Entrepreneurs around the World Can Use for Profit, People and the Planet

The Power of Partnership_Final

OZONE: All There Is between You and UV

International Day of Ozone, final

OZONE: All There Is between You and UV

Բնապահպանական կրթություն իրականացնելու փոքր ծրագրերի մրցույթ

The Power of Partnerships: American Trends that Entrepreneurs around the World Can Use for Profit, People and the Planet

National Study Tour in Armenia Organized by AUA ACE Featured in the TREC Danube

Armenia’s Tourism Competitiveness: Exploring Links with Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability

Computational Design with Grasshopper, July 24-25, 2015, 11am-9pm

Computational Design with Grasshopper

ComputationalDesignGrasshopper_poster

Designing with Data

DesigningWithData_poster

Designing with Data, July 20, 2015, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Environmental Internship Announcement – Summer 2015

ORGANIZATION: Environmental Law Resource Center of YSU Faculty of Law

POSITION TITLE: Intern

Inters are sought for each of the following activities: 

1. Assist in development of a glossary of environmental legal terms, assist in schematic development of an online platform for public participation in environmental decision-making, including:

For glossary:

2. Assist in preparation of legal opinions on draft legal acts/legislation related to the environment:

The interns will get specific assignments on one of the topics above, based on their professional background and interests.

HOURS:  Flexible schedule

REQUIREMENTS: 

Applicants should:

COMPENSATION:  Not paid.

HOW TO APPLY:  All interested students should send their CV and a cover letter to [email protected] , mentioning Summer Internship at Environmental Law Resource Center of YSU Faculty of Law in the title field.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  17:00, June 16, Tuesday.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Heghine Hakhverdyan

Phone: (+374) 60 710237

Cell phone: (+374) 55 991419

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Six Yerevan Schools Complete “Natural Environment and I” Program, June 8, 2015

Study Tour on Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Other Eco Solutions in Buildings in Armenia

2015 Summer Graduate Courses at AUA on GIS and Remote Sensing

ENV 320: Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Analysis (2 semester units)
Instructors: Hovik Sayadyan and Arthur Dolmajian
MWF, 18:00-21:00
June 1 – June 24, 2015
Prerequisites: None

NOTE: This course satisfies the AUA graduate degree environmental requirement

Course Description: The course aims to introduce and develop introductory and intermediate skills in application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to visualize, analyze, and interpret relationships, patterns and trends in the fields of environmental management, public health, sustainable agriculture and transportation. GIS as a tool, however, is applicable to a wide variety of fields and industries, including marketing, logistics, urban development, and so on.  Students will also learn to use Global Positioning System (GPS) units to collect spatial data.  

ENV 321: Remote Sensing and Environmental Analysis (1 semester unit)
Instructor: Patric Schlager
Saturday, 9:00 – 16:30
June 20 and July 4, 2015
Prerequisites: Completion or satisfactory progress in ENV 320

Course Description: The course aims to provide a basic understanding of land-use mapping with remote-sensing techniques. The focus will be on multispectral remote sensing and pixel based image classification. For land use mapping, freely available satellite data from the Landsat mission will be used. Processing will be done with ArcMap10 or similar software.

 

For more information about the course and registration please contact us by phoning at 060 61 25 20 or 060 61 26 38 or visit AUA Registrar’s office. 

2015 Summer Graduate Courses at AUA on GIS and Remote Sensing

Animal Welfare Training co-hosted by AUA Acopian Center for the Environment

AUA Acopian Center for the Environment Hosts Director of Yerevan Zoo

AUA Hosts Speaker on U.S. Innovation & Policy for Clean & Renewable Energy

AUA Acopian Center for the Environment Hosts Lecture on Social Innovation, Alternatives, and Change

Roundtable Discussion at AUA Brings Attention to the Future of Inclusive and Resilient Schools in Armenia

Training on Photovoltaic & Solar Thermal Collector Installation

Training on Photovoltaic & Solar Thermal Collector Installation, Application Deadline – May 8, 2015

Digital and Virtual Platforms for Environmental Education

Digital and Virtual Platforms for Environmental Education

Development 2.0: Social Innovation, Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Development 2.0: Social Innovation

U.S. Innovation & Policy for Clean & Renewable Energy, April 27, 2015, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

U.S. Innovation & Policy for Clean & Renewable Energy

U.S. Innovation & Policy Decision-Making for Clean & Renewable Energy

Transforming the Yerevan Zoo, Thursday, April 9, 2015, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Transforming the Yerevan Zoo

The Role of Civil Society in Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

EEN_4th Seminar Series_Poster_Latestfull

AUA Ecotourism Conference

Seminar Series on Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), February – May

Armenia’s International Obligations on Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Their Implementation

New Video on AUA as an Innovation Force in Armenia!

Seminar Series on Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): Armenian Legislation and K-12 Education

Opportunities and Restrictions of Sustainable Development of the Aquaculture Sector in Armenia

 Aquaculture_Dec10

 

Discussion: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and Civil Society Organizations

SEMINAR SERIES on Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): Curricular Principles of Armenia’s K-12 Education

Acopian Center for the Environment Welcomes Danish Project Consultants

MoU Signing at AUA Results in Establishment of Environmental Education Network

Interview: Crowdfunding to Protect Mining Communities from Toxic Pollution

Yerevan Municipality Invites AUA Acopian Center for the Environment to Deliver Extracurricular Environmental Education Program to Yerevan Public Schools

Միջազգային ուսուցողական ծրագիր «Հոք մաունթին» արգելոցի Յակոբեան բնապահպանման ուսուցման կենտրոնում

AUA Cleanup and Tree Planting for Yerevan Community Work Weekend

image001

YEREVAN–AUA students, faculty and staff came together on Sunday, March 24 to clean up the university campus and plant trees as part of an annual community work weekend promoter by the Yerevan mayor’s office. The cleanup at AUA was organized by the AUA Eco Club and theAcopian Center for the Environment. The trees were donated by the Armenia Tree Project.

Participating this year were: AUA President Bruce Boghosian, Vice President of Operations Ashot Ghazaryan, Provost Dennis Leavens, Director of Administration Anahit Ordyan, Director of the AGBU Papazian Library Satenik Avagyan, Director of Admissions Arina Zohrabian, Student Services Coordinator Garine Palandjian, Director of ICTS Berj Gatrjyan, as well as many AUA professors, staff, and students.

Special thanks to AUA MBA student Levon Demirchyan, who provided these photographs.

image003

AUA is an Eco-Friendly Campus

image001

Thanks to a collaboration between the American University of Armenia (AUA) Eco Club, the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, and the University administration, AUA is happy to announce the installation of the first ever on-campus bicycle racks.

The racks were installed in early May 2013 in response to demands by the university community and to encourage eco-friendly transportation. Deciding on a location and design was a joint effort between students and AUA ACE. Students surveyed the perimeter of the building and recommended the most convenient and safe location. As there are no ready-made bicycle racks or companies that regularly make such racks in Armenia, the students reviewed international design standards regarding the height and distance of the racks.  Alen Amirkhanian, director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, comments that “the effort is small but it shows an effective model of student activism to improve life on campus and, hopefully, the community at large. The receptiveness of the administration played a critical role. They supported the effort fully and procured the racks per our design recommendations.”

Amirkhanian believes that the movement toward using bicycles as a mode of transport in Yerevan shows signs of promise. “Although accommodations for bicycle transportation in Yerevan are currently limited, we need to start taking the important initial steps, like installing bike racks. We also need to start thinking about dedicated bike lanes and racks on buses.” He believes that that the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment can play a constructive role in encouraging eco-friendly transportation through research, pilot projects, and community outreach.

The design and the installation of the bike racks was the first part of the “AUA Bicycle and Recycle” initiative, aiming to make AUA a more eco-friendly campus. The next focus in the initiative will be the implementation of a campus-wide recycling program.

High School Outreach

image001

Students at Khosrov Reserve, taking coordinates for Bearded Vulture nest.

YEREVAN–For the past year, the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment has been working with students from the “Mkhitar Sebastatsi” Educational Complex in Yerevan, organizing ecological and ornithological clubs for the student to participate in a 10-week ecology and 20-week ornithology courses. Through these clubs, Siranush Tumanyan, the Acopian Center’s Education Outreach Specialist, has worked with almost 50 students (45 high-school and 5 middle-school).

image003

Siranush Tumanyan photographed in the US with an American Turkey Vulture

Taught by Tumanyan, these courses have introduced a new way of teaching these topics. “One of our objectives was to improve the methodology of teaching biology and ecology at schools. I believe we have succeeded. While students participate voluntarily, our retention rates have been very high,” says Tumanyan. “Another sign of success is that other teachers at Mkhitar Sebastatsi are now adopting the same teaching methodology.”

As part of the courses, students go on field trips across the country, visiting key sites such as the Khosrov Preserve, Sevan National Park, Byurakan Forest, Armash Fish Pond, and more.

Each student has a blog where they publish articles they write based on these field trips and classes. “What you see in these blogs are budding scientists and researchers,” says Alen Amirkhanian, Interim Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. “They are a delight to read. They are informative, insightful, and concise.”

Examples of these student blogs include ones by Avetis HarutunyanQristina Atoyan, and Sona Arsenyan.

Ms. Tumanyan has also worked with some students to translate and create e-books on the topics of ecology and ornithology. The first book, an e-book prepared by the 12-year old Erik Sahakyan, is about bird behavior and is intended for younger audiences. Copies of Mr. Sahakyan’s e-book can be viewed and downloaded from here.

A group of 10 students are now preparing a coloring book about wintering birds in Yerevan. Part of the group is working on preparing the text while the others are drawing the illustrations. This, also, is intended for younger audiences.

The AUA Acopian Center is expanding this outreach program to other schools in Yerevan. In the past month, work has started with Ayb High School, with 15 students selected by Ayb to participate in this program. “This expansion fits with our objectives of community outreach,” says Amirkhanian. “We hope that over the coming year we will be able to secure the resources to include 2 more schools.”

For more information, please write to [email protected].

image005
12 participants from high school identify and count birds in the botanical gardens.

 image007
  15 participants from the high school join with experts from the Zoological institute for international Euro-birdwatching Day in October 2012.

 

Sustainable Energy Projects at AUA Cut Costs, Reduce Carbon Footprint in Armenia

Duration:

image027Earlier this month, the American University of Armenia announced new solar water heating measures that will further reduce the institution’s carbon footprint.

The solar panels on the roof of AUA’s main building have been integrated into the facility’s domestic hot water system. As a result, about 70% of the hot water from any faucet in the building will now be heated through the use of solar energy.

The solar thermal collectors, installed between 1999-2002, have been used thus far to cool the air inside the small auditorium of the main building by a sophisticated process known as desiccant cooling. In addition to this, the panels will now be used produce hot water supply for use in the main building.

During sunny days, the solar thermal collectors produce up to 3 tons of hot water to provide for two days of water consumption in the main building.

The AUA main building also has 72 photovoltaic panels (total of 5 kW capacity) that allows AUA to produce electricity in its main building to meet the needs of the aforementioned Solar HVAC system, as well as emergency/server backup needs. Any excess generation of electricity is also sent to the national electricity grid.

A series of other measures to increase energy efficiency at the university are currently under development.

AUA Study: Mining in Armenia Creates Poverty, Income Inequality

Duration: 2004-2010

image001

Mine workers at the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum processing plant in Kajaran handling toxic heavy metals without breathing protection or protective gloves.  Photo by Nazik Armenakyan

Mining contributed to economic growth in Armenia between 2004-2010 while simultaneously creating income inequality and poverty. This is according to a recent study by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment conducted in cooperation with the AUA College of Business and Economics.

image003

The hands of a mine worker at the molybdenum processing center at the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Plant in Kajaran. Photo by Anahit Hayrapetyan. That same man change his baby’s diaper later in the day. Photo by Nazik Armenakyan

The study’s principal researcher and author, Dr. Aleksandr Grigoryan, looks at regional-level data and reports that mining does have some positive impact on the growth of the economy.

“This supports the claim often repeated by proponents of mining that it is needed for Armenia’s economic growth,” says Dr. Grigoryan, an assistant professor of economics at AUA.

Mining and Income Inequality

Dr. Grigoryan’s analysis, however, also shows that mining contributes to higher poverty and greater income inequality. “Our analysis shows that the mining sector is likely to increase income inequality and deepen poverty in the regions of Armenia in which it operates,” states Grigoryan.

This runs counter to claims by mining proponents that the sector creates jobs that will have medium- to long-term development impact on the regions and the country.

These conflicting realities can be explained by a number of factors prevalent in Armenia’s economy, according to Grigoryan.

“Mining has been growing as a share of the Armenian economy for several years now but with the economic crisis and increase in world metal prices, mining took on a more significant role in our GDP growth,” he explains, noting that this trend is expected to continue if no other sector of the economy picks up steam.

Mining and Poverty

An increase in poverty is another observed effect of mining, a relationship that Dr. Grigoryan says needs to be studied further.

Other research on the impact of mining conducted by the AUA School of Public Health and AUA Acopian Center reports some residents claiming that property owners are forced to sell their properties at very low prices. Such occurrences, if they have taken place, would deprive villagers of an asset critical to wealth creation, according to Dr. Grigoryan.

Moreover, workers in the mining or mineral processing industries are not provided health insurance, a fact that may burden families with health costs or lower productivity.

image005

A young man in a hospital bed with his wife. He has a stomach ulcer and believes it’s from working at the mine. Photo by Nazik Armenakyan.

The Role of Policy

“If we are to make mining a key sector in the Armenian economy, we also have to develop the right socio-economic policies where the immediate communities and the country benefits maximally,” says Alen Amirkhanian, director of the AUA Acopian Center.

Mining and extractive industries have played a significant role in ensuring long-term and equitable growth for several countries, particularly Norway, Australia, and Botswana. “These countries have successfully used mining to raise the standard of living for a vast majority of their populations because they devised and implemented good public policy,” stresses Amirkhanian, who organized an international conference last November on the topic.

Without proper policies designed to regulate and leverage mining, Armenia will continue on a path that follows mining models that enrich a few while depriving larger numbers of current and future generations of opportunities to benefit from their patrimony, states Amirkhanian.

According to the Armenian Statistical Service, in 2011, Armenia’s mining industry employed 15,500 workers or about 1% of the country’s total employment and contributed to about 3% of the its GDP.

AUA is organizing another international scientific conference on “Emerging Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health.”  The conference, set for April 22-23, will bring leading experts from around the world to Yerevan to explore the impact of mining and construction in transition economies such as Armenia. The research they present will provide solutions to the occupational and environmental health problems facing workers, communities and children and help craft public policy to address these issues.

image007

Cow drinking water from at the Artsvanik tailing pond from the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum mine in Kajaran. Photo by Nazik Armenakyan

The photos included are from the “Investigative Photojournalism for Human Rights and Clear Environment” project, made possible through the assistance of the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The project was implemented by Socioscope NGO.

 

ReGardening of Eden

Duration:

image001The concept came about through a concerned collaboration between the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and Armenia Tree Project.

The goal is to restore the village of Margahovit, Lori marz, to its former beauty. The project will comprise three main elements: (i) the establishment of a local park, (ii) creation of a sustainable trash collection and recycling program and, perhaps most importantly, (iii) the education of local children and adult residents in the significance of environmental stewardship. Then, as the trees grow, the flowers bloom, and the birds return to the garden, trainings on bird watching and the appreciation of nature will also follow.

For more information please visit the website: http://www.regardeningofeden.org/

 

 

Saving Armenian Gull

Duration: 

Birds of Armenia Project (AUA)
Lake Sevan 1999

Armenian Gull breeds in lakes Sevan and Arpi in Armenia. At Lake Sevan it breeds in “Gull islands” which, as a result of constant water  level lowering in the lake, joined the coast by the end of 1990-s, thus turning into a peninsula and  has become open to predators and domestic cattle. Predators such as foxes and stray dogs caused much harm to Gulls by eating their eggs and nestlings. As for domestic animals, they trampled down the eggs wandering around the island.

The island became open to tourists who frightened the birds and raised panic among them. That harmful circumstance, as it may seem at first sight, had the most fatal consequences: eggs were getting too cold during the first period of nesting and in the period of mass hatching the frightened birds were leaving their nests. The parents in the useless search of their nestlings were pecking the other lost nestlings to death.

image001
image003
The only way to rescue the Armenian Gull was to turn its nesting into an island again. For that purpose, it was necessary to remove the isthmus, digging a channel between the island and the coast. Unfortunately, the corresponding departments didn’t take active part in it for certain reasons, though they were well aware of the urgent need of isolation of the nesting place.

Thus, on 14 May, 1999, the project workers, equipping themselves with corresponding techniques, conducted land-utilizing works by digging 18 meters wide breach and 0.8-2.3 meters deep strait.

In the same year we organized a pilot monitoring of the nesting place of the Armenian Gull in “Gull islands” which testified that our efforts were not vain. The eggs and nestlings were saved! As a result, the generation of Armenian Gull was conserved.

image005

Making of the channel

Each year before the beginning of nesting season we visit the island and measure the depth and width of the strait in order to step in again in case of need.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

 

 

Competition “At my bird feeder”/”Birds in my backyard”, Winter-Spring Season

Duration: 2003-present

Acopian Center for the Environment
In cooperation with various NGOs and state bodies

Introduction

image001Today, most of the faced environmental problems are the result of lack of environmental education. It is very important to start environmental education in the school period, with this appropriate attitude will be developed at an early age. However, as we know, children like to play, but not to learn. Accordingly, the education should be designed as a game, and not like a lesson. For such type of interactive education, the watching of the birds is of high advantage such as competition, joy and safe and a way of close interaction with nature. In winter, as many birds come to the cities, towns and villages with the hope to find some food, it is easy to close distance for watching them by attracting their attention with food. Bird feeders are preferable to be made by children because of two purposes: education of children and feeding of the birds, and participation and help of the parents in the process. It will be also an indirect support to develop positive attitude to birds, which is very important and actual nowadays in panic conditions concerning to threat of avian influenza.

Background

image005In December of 2003 “Birds of Armenia” project together with Ecoclub “Ani” of Saint Akob Curch in Gyumri have started winter competition titled “At my bird feeder…” Children from different schools of Gyumri made feeders and placed them in the backyards and parks. Then, they painted pictures of birds in winter, wrote stories about birds and sent them to us together with the photos of feeders they made. Judges chose the best paintings and stories and the winners of the competition got prices (binoculars, books about birds, etc). Presentation of the results took place on the International Bird Day, which we made the mid of April of 2004 in the Central Park of Gyumri. More than 200 children with their parents and friends joined us during the event, so that the next year we enlarged the borders of the competition and involved Yerevan, Vanadzor, Stepanavan and Gyumri. We closely cooperated with our partners who helped us to organize the competition: EcoClub “Ani” in Gyumri, Yerak NGO in Vanadzor, and LTEIC NGO in Stepanavan.  We also put new nomination “The best observation” in the competition. In this time more than 2000 people joined us and we conducted International Bird Day Celebration in all four cities. One of the competitors made exclusive feeder, and received official governmental patent license for 15 years. From 2006 to 2007 environmental oriented Peace Corp volunteers also were involved in the project. They were the representatives of “Birds In My Backyard” competition, each in their own villages or towns. Starting from 2006 more then 48 volunteers were involved in the project from different parts of Armenia.

image003From the period of 2008-2009 we started to cooperate with governance offices in different regions and with “National Center for Educational Technologies” a state non trade organization, therefore we involved more children, as they were supporting in spreading information.

Based on the experience we have, we can say that really enjoy participating in such kind of activities involving their parents in feeder making process, which is more important as a part of indirect adult education.

Goals and objectives

We would like to enlarge the competition and involve some more sites where Peace Corp volunteers are operating and not only environmental oriented Peace Corp volunteers but all of them. The main goal is to involve as many children as possible in the competition and make their participation active. For this purpose we suggest the following:

Methods

We will conduct two-three seminars with our partners to discuss the difficulties and solutions of previous actions and train them for this year.

With the help of our partners, we will distribute the announcement about competition as well as appropriate instructions (how to make feeders, what kind of food birds prefer, etc.) among the schools in all the towns and cities where Peace Corp volunteers are operating.

Also a radio interviews were also broadcast where the children themselves told about the competition and the stories of how they helped the birds during the cold winter months.

With the help of our partners, we will collect competition works and the Judges will choose the best ones. In the middle of the winter after Christmas we remind all partners and schools about importance of feeding birds.

In the beginning of April, we will conduct Celebration of International Bird Day, where the winners will be announced and the prices will be handed to them.

 image007 image009

Results and the measurement

Increased number of competition works and their increasing quality will serve as an estimation of their participation activity. The bird-feeder-watchers’ activity will be measured by the number of received bird photos at feeders. During the time provided more then 4000 schoolchildren from 360 schools participated in the competition. What is worth mentioning is that the teachers and the parents of the children also took active part in the feeder making process.

Awarding ceremony

image011 image013 image015

Awarding of the most active PC volunteer

image017

Pictures of winners 2008

image019image021image023

Amirkhanyan Ani

Balagyozyan RafikOveyan Mariam

Photos of winners 2009

image025image027image029
Stepanyan ArmanMaghakyan KarenGrigoryan Mikayel

In 2008-2009 in the frames of the competition schools in their initiative organized various events in  schools and  parks of Yerevan. Children took part in a performance singing songs about birds, and described in a unique way the specifications of different birds. Some schools put the feeders in the yard of the school and some took it to the Lovers` Park.

School events

image031image033image035
 In the yard of the schoolPlay in the schoolIn Park

Winners of 2008-2009 were taken to Armenian Tree Project for educational purpose.

Celebration of winners 2009

image037image039image041
Awarding ceremonyOn the way to ATPATP nursery

Schoolchildren were very excited by visiting the nursery and having a small descriptive lecture about   plants and tree species growing there, and also they had a discussion on the environmental issues of Armenia and in general.

Group photo

image043

Winners together

Bird Identification Training Course

Duration: 2004-present
Acopian Center for the Environment

The course is teaching how to identify different bird species and how to observe them in nature. The course is aimed at all levels starting from a beginner and consists of PowerPoint presentations teaching basics of identification of various bird groups and families, plumage variations by age and seasons. It also includes several field trips, with provided optical equipment. At the end of the course, the best students get an Armenian book “A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia”.

Course for Beginners

This course consists of 30 lessons where the students learn identification of more than 100 bird species in breeding plumages. The duration of each lesson is 1 hour from Sep to May with meetings scheduled once per week. During the course we have 3 field trips to Lake Sevan, Lori district and Aragats mountain where we can observe bird species, studied during the lectures.

Description of the course

Each lesson consists of the description of several species by painting and training part, when students try to identify known birds by photos, which are following each other after 15 sec. During the course, students learn Identification of different Ducks, Raptors, Woodpeckers, Passerines etc. (see below) image002image004

After passing the test students receive appropriate certificates.

image005image007

Advanced Course

The advanced course consisted of 30 lessons where students learn how to identify more bird species as well as the known birds in different plumages. In total, they learned to identify more than 200 species. The duration of each lesson was 1 hour from Sep 18 to May 30 with meetings scheduled once per week. During the course, we had 3 field trips to Armash fish-farming ponds, Noravank gorge and Dilijan forest where we could observe such bird species, as Herons, Falcons, Finches, etc.

History

2004

Bird Identification Training Course was initiated in 2004 with 1 group of students that consisted of 15 people. The experiment was very successful and we decided to continue it in autumn of 2005. We posted announcements in different high schools and universities of Yerevan.

2005

 image009In 2005, over 90 people joined the Beginning Course as first-year students. They were divided into 4 different groups, where the classes were held in three languages: Armenian, English and Russian.

 

image011In total, we had 3 field excursions to the Sevan, Aragats mountain, and Lori regions.

We had three field excursions to SevanLake where we observed some water birds.

2006-2009

Over 160 students

All courses were carried out in three languages (Armenian, English, Russian) and conducted for local as well as foreign students. The courses were held in a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere irrespectively of the students’ age, which varies from 12 to 68 y.o.

 

 

Field Training for the Students of Natural History Department of Quantum College in Aghavnadzor

Duration: 

Birds of Armenia project
Quantum college

Each year Quntum Qollege of Armenia organizes a military-patriotic camp for its students. In the year of 2004, a Natural Scientific branch was also launched in the camp where several students had a biological training.

The branch was created by a group of students with the support of the Quntum director Robert Vardanyan, and the supervisor of the Natural Sciences branch Levon Asatryan with direct participation and coordination of the employees of the Birds of Armenia Project. During the second quarter of 2004 seminars and regular weekly training on Avifauna of the Caucasus and particularly of Armenia were held. At the end of the year, we organized and carried out a biological practice for the elder students (those studying in the 8th and 9th grades). A decision was made to research the birds in Aghavnadzor. For this purpose, a field trip to Tsakhkunyats ridge was organized under the supervision of BOA project senior scientist Karen Aghababyan and a child/teenage tourism tutor of BOA Vladimir Shamenkov.

image001image003

image005The trip lasted for seven days during which the weather was mainly cloudy and rainy although it was also sunny for some short period of times. Right before the trip, the students had training preparing them for the practical work. The participants were introduced to the biologist field equipment, learned how to use binoculars and a telescope and were taught bird identification skills.

During the first day, we passed across the ridge went out from a broad-leaved forest into a subalpine meadow and settled the first camp in the higher border of the birch grove. The next day we moved to another place for the camp since the first one was not really convenient. We found here a nest of a Great Tit (Parus major), built in a pipe of the pavilion where there were 5 rather grown up nestlings.

 

In the result of the trip, 103 species of birds were identified 3 of which were identified in that region for the first time. It is the Pernis apivorus, Otus scops, which was found by its voice  Emberiza melanocephala.

image007image009image011

Winter Bird Count

Duration: 2005-present

Acopian Center for the Environment (ACE)
Participants: ACE staff and invited volunteers

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment in cooperation with volunteers and enthusiasts from different fields, organized winter bird count in Yerevan Botanical garden.

Botanical garden is one of the largest green territories in Yerevan city with half-wild oases. There are several notable species of birds breeding there, such as Levant Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Long-eared Owl, Syrian Woodpecker, Golden Oriole, Common Nightingale, Greenfinch etc. Food availability compels winter bird species to come down and stay in the garden during the winter.

image001image003image005

The main aim of the count is to monitor:

image007image009

We have been organizing annual winter bird count in Botanical garden starting from 2005. It lasts for about three months from the end of November till the end of December, and is conducted ones a week. Every count day in early morning we pass the same route with 1km length, during this we record all encountered bird species, their number, the approximate distance between the bird and observer, angle, height and their behavior. After passing the main count route we explore other parts of the territory for the species, which have been possibly missed earlier.

After several years it will be possible to analyze some details depending on winter birds in Yerevan and analyze the effectiveness of linear count in comparison with diffusion watch and count.

This count gives us an opportunity to record strictly wintering bird species such us Redwing, Fieldfare, Common Goldcrest, European Siskin, etc.

Participation in winter bird count is a good experience for beginners: “Bird Identification Training”’ (ACE) students, student-zoologists and enthusiasts, who are interested in birds. This gives them an opportunity to study linear bird count technique and to improve bird identification skills. Every year about 8-12 young people join our winter bird counts.

image011image013

List of recorded bird species in Botanical garden

(2005 – 2009)

  1. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
  2. Common Buzzard
  3. Common Kestrel
  4. Common Woodpigeon
  5. Rock Dove
  6. Syrian Woodpecker
  7. Middle Spotted Woodpecker
  8. European Green Woodpecker
  9. Dunnock
  10. European Robin
  11. Redwing
  12. Mistle Thrush
  13. Fieldfare
  14. Common Blackbird
  15. Common Goldcrest
  16. Blue Tit
  17. Great Tit
  18. Eurasian Jay
  19. Common Magpie
  20. Western Jackdaw
  21. Rook
  22. Hooded Crow
  23. Common Raven
  24. House Sparrow
  25. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
  26. Common Chaffinch
  27. European Greenfinch
  28. European Goldfinch
  29. European Siskin
  30. Brambling
  31. Common Linnet
  32. Hawfinch
  33. Yellowhammer
  34. Rock Bunting

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitoring of Raptors in the Forest of Aragats Mountain

Duration: 2005-2006 

Acopian Center for the Environment
Yerevan State University

In 2005 we have started a pilot survey of raptors at the forest area of AragatsMountain. We would like to find out possibilities of long term monitoring of raptor species. One of the main objectives of the project was the practical independent research education of the students of YerevanStateUniversity and PedagogicalUniversity. All the work of the field year of 1995 was performed by the BA last year students Maro Kochinyan and Hayk Harutyunyan. They were assisted by a couple of younger students and several volunteers of the “Birds of Armenia” project. The research was done under the direct supervision of senior scientific researcher Karen Aghababyan. In the course of the research 6 long term field trips were held in the research region.

image001
Forest area of Aragats mountain

The forest area of Aragats is rather small but includes nearly all diurnal forest raptor species found in Armenia.

Particularly we found the following species:

 

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus – 1*
Black Kite Milvus migrans – 1
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus – 1
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo – 4
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina – 1
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus – 1
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus – 2
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis – 1

 

*quantity is given in pairs

Nestlings of Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

image003

Photos of “Raptors of Aragats” project

image005image007
Nest of Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina        Eggs of Lesser Spotted Eagle  Aquila pomarina
image009image011
Nest of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Eggs of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
image013image015
Nest tree of Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus                                  Egg of Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicus

 

Below is the copy of article published in Russian Conservation News No.39 Summer 2005

image017 image019

Monitoring of Long-legged Buzzard’s Population in Armenia

Duration: 2006-2008

Acopian Center for the Environment
Yerevan State University
State Pedagogical University

Birds of prey are excellent environmental indicators and flagship species for natural-resource conservation. Increasing of Armenian agriculture and other blanches of industry can have a negative impact to environment. To track the possible influence of industry to our nature we would like to start monitoring of subpopulations of model species in some regions of Armenia.

As a species to be monitored we have chosen Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) because it is most common rodent-eating bird that breeds in whole Armenia.

It will include mapping of nests, and survey of reproductive success. In 2006 we will conduct a pilot survey to see how many nests we can find.

Then in 2007 and later on we will investigate their feeding, reproductive success and analyze collected data on GIS Arc View.

The project will include education of local inhabitants about importance of rodent-eating raptors for agriculture and nature ecosystems.

The surveys were conducted by students, who have completed BITC courses in AcopianCenter for the Environment.

image001
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, outskirts of Gusana village, Shirak region of Armenia, Sep 9 2005.

image003
Distribution map of the Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus in Armenia

Results:

The Long-legged Buzzard (hereinafter LLB, Buteo rufinus) in Armenia was studied during 2006-2008 in frames of general bird survey trips and special trips aimed searching of the LLB nests. The study area covers some districts in central part of Armenia. The distances between the nests (nearest neighbour distance) vary in different regions of Armenia: in Vedi district the mean distance is 1.98±0,19km (n=10) while in Vayots Dzor region the mean distance is 3.04±0.3km (n=5); t=3.14, p=0.008. The difference in density seems correlated with steepness of surrounding area, since the Vedi district is generally more flat, than the Vayots Dzor region, which indicates that probably LLB prefer habitats with less steepness of slopes. Most probably it depends on hunting technique of LLB, which catches the prey on the ground dropping down from 5-10m. The other limiting factor is cliff availability, since in Armenia LLB breeds only on cliffs. Although LLB does not show dependence on the height of the cliffs and can place the nest on the height from 2 to 30m, it does not breed on trees, like in some parts of its area in Siberia.

The concluding results of the studies will be presented as an article on the International Raptor Conference in autumn 2009 in Switzerland.

image004
In the frames of the study a GIS shape file was developed, covering all cliffs and rocky massifs of the entire territory of Armenia.

 

 


Relevant publication
:

Some habitat preferences of Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) in Armenia
Hovanisyan, T., Janoyan, G., Schaefer, M., Aghababyan, K.

 

Endemic Wheats of Armenia Project

Duration: 2008

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAArmenia, although a small country, is very rich in wild relatives of cultivars, including the ancestors and donors of such important cultivated plants as bread cereals. The study of wild species of wheat, barley, goat grass, rye and others of the cereal crops represents a large practical interest. Progenitors of cultivars are often carriers of valuable attributes and features, such as high drought and frost resistance, the ability to grow on relatively poor soils, and resistance to pests and disease. That is why wild relatives are valuable material for the selection of new varieties of cultivated plants.

In addition to this, purely in practical terms, the study of wild relatives of cereal crops are of particular help in understanding the path by which many thousands of years ago the creation of the modern cultivated grasses from wild cereal crops took place, and in giving a more precise definition to the regions where the agricultural civilization arose. From that viewpoint, the study of the history of domestic bread cereals helps to shed light not only on the history of agriculture but on the history of humans in a broad sense.

Conserving the rich gene pool of wild relatives of wheat cultivars in Armenia is an urgent concern, as more and more land is disturbed by growing economic activity, land privatization, and other factors. Therefore, it is extremely important to evaluate the different Armenian populations of wheat and other cereals and to conserve this valuable material. This can be achieved through periodic population monitoring, conservation in situ, and through the collection of seed material for preservation ex-situ.

Previously, botanists have conducted numerous comprehensive studies of cereal crops, and also led archaeobotanical excavations which shed light on the relatively early stages of the domestication of grasses. This current project will facilitate more comprehensive studies of the populations of wild cereal crops through the use of modern cytogenetic and molecular biology methods.

image001image003image005

Քարտեզներ

ACE (Acopian Center for the Environment, Tom Lyman & Meike Schaefer)
ECODIT (Environmental Consulting Agency, Kurt Sanderson)

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment produced the maps for the USAID Armenia Biodiversity Analysis Update Report compiled by ECODIT in December 2008. The following maps were produced and submitted to the Biodiversity Analysis Team Leader:

image005image007
– Country map with administrative areas
– Map of forest reserves
– Map of climate, rainfall and soils
– Map of ecological landscapes
– Map of mineral resources
– Map of water resources (incl. Ramsar sites)
– Map of protected areas
– Map of deforestation rates
– Map of geological features
– Map of vegetation zones
– Map of mining sites
image009image011

The Effect of Pesticides on the Populations of Peregrine Falcon in Meghri District of Southern Armenia

Duration: 2008

Acopian Center for the Environment (ACE)
Participants: ACE staff and volunteers
Meghri forestry administration

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment with the support of Peregrine Fund and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in 2008 have conducted  a survey of Peregrine Falco in Meghri district.

image001image003
Red field – study areaPeregrine nest sites

Objectives:

image006

Peregrine Falcon оn the nesting cliff

 

Results:

Two long term field trips were organized to the Meghri region, during March and May 2008.

We visited six known nest sites and three assumed ones.

For all of the observed breeding territories various parameters were recorded, such as GPS data, habitat description, elevation a.s.l., slope and aspect, and the height above the ground for the nests, behavior of breeding birds, nestlings and fledglings, food resource, Peregrine competition with other raptors. A number of birds, nests and biotope photos were taken.

image008 image010
Peregrine Falcon nesting cliffs in the semidesert and forest areas

From all the six known Peregrine nests in Meghri region only one successful pair with two fledglings were found, one site was occupied with two adults, but there were no young, and another site with only one adult bird. All other sites were unoccupied.

Analyzing these data and comparing it with previous ones the decline of Peregrine population in Meghri region becomes obvious. We assume that the main reason for the decline is the poisoning, such as sedimentary reservoirs of the copper, molybdenum and gold mines; use of pesticides for agriculture; forest management in frames of pest control.

During the whole project we worked with the local people from Meghri forestry administration and local enthusiasts. This co-operation helped us to do the data collection more effectively and to explain some details about poisoning and poaching.

Two articles on Peregrine Falcon research results are in process of  publication.

image011image013
Peregrine Falcon Meghri forestry administration

Table 1. Peregrine Falco in Meghri region, breeding pairs

 

Lehvaz FPLGVZ1Meghri FPMGR1Agarak FPAGR1 FPAGR2Gravi Dzor FPGRV1Burtinqar FPBRT1 FPBRT2 Nyuvadi AXNVD1
19963 nestling
FPAGR1
19974 nestling
FPAGR1
1998empty3 nestling3 nestling
FPAGR2
1999
2000empty4 nestling4 nestling
FPAGR2
3 juv.
2001empty3 nestling2 ad2 ad
20022 nestling2 ad
20032 ad2 ad2 ad2 ad
20042 ad2 ad2 ad
2005

2006
20074 nestling

20081 ad
0 nestling
2 nestlingemptyempty2 ad 0 nestlingempty
20092 ad 0 nestling3 nestlingemptyvoice of ad

During the Peregrine Falcon survey we also collected data about Bearded Vulture and Eurasian Griffon nests and breeding success. Comparing data on Griffon with previous ones, increase in breeding pairs and fledglings has been found in some colonies. Also one new colony was found. Bearded Vulture population remained stable.

image015image017

Adult Griffon on the nest

Griffon Vulture

image019

image021

 Bearded Vulture

 Bearded Vulture nest

Հրազդան գետում լուծված թթվածնի մակարդակի մոնիտորինգ

Տևողություն՝ 2007-2008

Յակոբեան բնապահպանական կենտրոն

Վաշինգտոնի համալսարան

image001

Հրազդան գետ համարվում է Հայաստանի կենտրոնական ջրուղին և երկրի երկրորդ ամենամեծ գետը: Չնայած, որ գետում կա արտահոսք տարբեր գյուղատնտեսական, կոմերցիոն, արտադրական և կենցաղային աղբյուրներից, դրա վրա ամենամեծ ազդեցությունն ունեն Երևանի գրեթե ամբողջությամբ չմաքրված կենցաղային կեղտաջրերը: Վատ մաքրված կենցաղային կեղտաջրերի թողած ազդեցությունն ակնհայտ է դառնում ջրի որակի ամենատարբեր ցուցանիշներից՝ հատկապես լուծված թթվածնի մակարդակի կտրուկ անկումից:

Այս հետազոտությունը նպատակ ուներ որոշել Հրազդան գետի վրա Երևանի կենցաղային կեղտաջրերի արտահոսքի ազդեցությունը՝ 18 կմ երկայնքով լուծված թթվածնի մակարդակի դիտարկումից:

Ջրի որակի թեստավորումն անցկացվել է 2008 թվականի մարտից օգոստոս ամիսներին: Լուծված թթվածնի մակարդակն իջել է այնքան, որ հագեցվածության մակարդակի 5%-ից քիչ է եղել: Վերջինս ավելի ցածր է, քան ջրային էկոհամակարգերի նորմալ կենսագործունեության համար նախատեսված քանակը:

image007image004

Հետազոտության շրջանակներում նաև հավաքագրվել էր ջրի որակի վերաբերյալ, ինչպես նաև հիդրոլոգիական, բիոլոգիական, մթնոլորտային տվյալներ:

Invasive Species in Native and Non-native Ranges

Duration: 2007-2008  

Armenia, ECRC/AUA
USA, University of Montana, University of California
Argentina, Universidad Nacional de La Pamba
Turkey, Adnan Menderes University
Georgia, Institute of Botany
Romania, Institute Of Biological Research
Hungary, Insttute of Ecology and Botany

General view of the experimental field in Armenia

General view of the experimental field in Armenia

Studying germination in the native and non-native range of a species can provide unique insights into processes of range expansion and adaptation; however, traits related to germination have rarely been compared between native and nonnative populations. In a series of common garden experiments, we explored whether differences in the seasonality of precipitation, specifically, summer drought vs summer rain, and the amount and variation of annual and seasonal precipitation affect the germination responses of populations of an annual ruderal plant, Centaurea solstitialis, from its native range and from two non-native regions with different climates. We found that seeds from all native populations, irrespective of the precipitation seasonality of the region in which they occurred, and non-native populations from regions with dry summers displayed similarly high germination proportions and rates. In contrast, genotypes from the non-native region with predominantly summer rain exhibited much lower germination fractions and rates and ecology. Organisms transported by humans to regions where they are not native (exotics) commonly face novel selective forces, which given enough genetic variation, may trigger novel evolutionary responses. The worldwide distribution of this species encompasses environments with contrasting precipitation regimes within both native and non-native ranges. Specifically, some of the regions where C. solstitialis grows are characterized by a Mediterranean-type climate with wet winters and dry summers, whereas other regions have a precipitation regime in which most of the precipitation falls during the summer, and winters are substantially drier. In all regions, the species germinates primarily in autumn (Sheley and Larson 1994, Hierro et al. 2006, L. Khetsuriani, L. Janoian and K. Andonian unpubl.); thus, winter conditions may affect its survival. Here, by conducting a series of common garden experiments in a growth chamber, we investigated whether contrasting differences in the seasonality of precipitation and changes in surrogates for environmental quality (e.g. precipitation totals) and risk (e.g. inter-annual variation in precipitation) affect germination responses of C. solstitialis populations occurring across its native range and in two climatically distinct non-native regions.

To investigate the potential effects of seasonality of precipitation on C. solstitialis germination, we conducted three successive seed collections from populations occurring in regions exepte France, Crete and Armenia, where seeds were pooled within populations. Mean cumulative germination percentages (91 SE) of pappus and non-pappus seeds of C. solstitialis populations plotted against the coefficient of variation of winter precipitation and the probability of occurring a good winter.

Pappus seeds maintained a strong association with variation in winter precipitation (r__0.91, pB0.001), but this relationship did not hold for nonpappus seeds (r__0.36, p_0.172). In addition, germination of both pappus and non-pappus seeds were no longer correlated with the probability of good winters (r_0.44, p_0.117 and r_0.11, p_0.387, respectively). Without Argentina, the association between germination proportions of pappus seeds and variation in annual precipitation improved slightly (r__0.70, p_0.017), whereas the correlation of these proportions with the probability of good years remained non-significant (r_0.39, p_0.150). Finally, as before, germination fractions of non-pappus seeds were not correlated with any of the measures of annual risk, and germination percentages of both seed morphs were not associated with any of the measures describing environmental quality (p_0.250 in all cases).

image003image005

Clines in these studies corresponded to variation in general climatic patterns, such as changes in climate between northern and southern latitudes (Maron et al. 2004, 2007) or between coastal versus inland environments . In contrast to these results, our comparisons based on general climatic patterns (i.e. summer drought vs summer rain) did not detect parallel clines in germination traits for populations from native and non-native ranges, as all native populations, irrespective of the climate in which they occurred, and non-native populations from the region with a summer-drought climate displayed similarly high germination proportions and rates; whereas non-native genotypes from the region with a summer rain regime exhibited much lower germination fractions and rates. On the other hand, our comparisons based on precipitation variables, which are commonly used as surrogates for environmental quality and risk, showed that for the most abundant seed morph, seeds with a pappus, germination responses of populations in both native and non-native ranges correlated strongly with ‘risk’ experienced during the winter. Specifically, and as predicted by bethedging theory, germination fractions of pappus seeds were lower in native and non-native populations experiencing greater inter-annual variation in winter precipitation (Fig. 4). For non-pappus seeds, however, this correlation was greatly influenced by non-native genotypes from central Argentina, which are from the region with the highest variation in winter precipitation of all the studied regions and exhibited the lowest proportions of germinating seeds in all our experiments (Fig. 2_4); after removing central Argentina from analyses, there was no association between germination fractions of non-pappus seeds and winter precipitation variation. Similarly, germination fractions of both pappus and non-pappus seeds correlated with probability of occurrence of good winters only in the presence of Argentinean variables. Overall, these findings suggest that rather than general climatic patterns, the degree of risk experienced at early developmental stages could exert an important control over the germination strategy of C. solstitialis populations in both native and non-native ranges. In addition, they reveal the largely unique nature among studied populations of seed germination in nonnative genotypes from central Argentina. Germination fractions of pappus seeds were also correlated with variation in annual precipitation, suggesting that overall annual risk could also play a role in the germination behavior of C. solstitialis populations. Indeed, populations experiencing comparable variation in winter precipitation in the native and non-native range tended to display similar germination fractions for this seed type . In contrast, for non-pappus seeds the link between degree of dormancy and level of winter risk does not hold when outlier Argentinean variables are removed from analyses, providing weaker support for bet-hedging across C. solstitialis populations.

Several mechanisms could be responsible for the genetic differentiation in germination traits of Californian versus Argentinean populations, including coincidental introductions, genetic drift, and natural selection operating on phenotypes formed by either a novel combination of genes  or pre-adapted genotypes (i.e. the sorting-out hypothesis _ Mu¨ller-Scha¨rer and Steinger 2004; see Leger and ice 2007 for a comprehensive discussion on these mechanisms). Outcrossing plants partition most of their genetic diversity within, rather than among, populations, which increases the probability of possessing high genetic variation upon introduction because even a few immigrants can carry much of the species’ genetic variation.

 

Full article available in  Oikos 118: 529_538, 2009

doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2009.17283.x,

# 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation # 2009 Oikos

Subject Editor: Pia Mutikainen. Accepted 31 October 2008

“Germination responses of an invasive species in native and non-native ranges”

Jose´ L. Hierro, O¨zkan Eren, Liana Khetsuriani, Alecu Diaconu, Katalin To¨ro¨ k, Daniel Montesinos,

Krikor Andonian, David Kikodze, Levan Janoian, Diego Villarreal, Marı´a E. Estanga-Mollica and Ragan M. Callaway

Winter Feeding of Water Birds on Yerevan Lake

Duration: 2002-present 

ACE (American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia)
Yerevan city municipality

Winter is the most unfavorable period for birds, especially for water birds. Low temperatures, difficult access to food, and short duration of daylight hours serve as the basic negative factors in this period for the vital activity of birds.  In addition to natural difficulties, ducks in Armenia also bear anthropogenic influences – among them the construction of on-shore reservoirs, hunting, and poaching out of the hunting season.

A large number of wild ducks gather on YerevanLake. According to the winter water bird counting done by specialists on LakeSevan and Ararat valley, comparatively fewer wild ducks are left in these places, because they are constantly troubled by fishing boats on LakeSevan and they are harassed and shot by hunters and poachers in Ararat valley. Fortunately, on YerevanLake these types of disturbance are absent. Nevertheless, ducks still have to fly from YerevanLake to the water reservoirs of Ararat valley in search of food and there they often fall by hunters’ bullets.

Starting from 2002, we have conducted annual winter feeding for water birds in order to keep the ducks on YerevanLake

image001image003

We use special dry mixtures composed of mixed fodder of barley and oats as well as crumbled dry bread and bread products. We put the bird feeding manger approximately in the middle of the lake and feed the birds once per week. We take sacks of forage on a boat to the floating manger. In addition we survey the bird species composition and count the number of birds on the lake.

We are particularly pleased that school children join us to help us with our feeding procedure. The children, during the feeding activity, also work with trained ornithologists to learn to identify and to appreciate birds in their natural setting.

image005image007

A special pleasant surprise came in 2008 when we received an initiation for a joint-duck-feeding project on YerevanLake with YerevanCity Hall. This has been the first case when we did not seek help from the administrative structures but the administration itself suggested working together.  The City Hall provided financial support for obtaining the forage and transporting it to YerevanLake.  Their support demonstrates that communities can work together in the difficult task of nature protection.

Distribution, Abundance and Habitat Preferences of Lesser Spotted Eagles in Armenia

The Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) inhabits almost all deciduous forest regions of Armenia. Some fragmental data regarding distribution and abundance of the species were collected in different periods (Leister and Sosnin 1942, Dal 1954, Adamian and Klem 1999) and the breeding biology was studied on the pare in Khosrov Nature Reserve (Geylikman, Hunanyan 1975). Due to economic and energy crisis and following economic growth in Armenia from 1990-s until now the land use pattern and the forest management in Armenia was strongly altered. The mentioned factors might have a negative impact on the large forest raptor species since they are more vulnerable and sensitive to changes in their habitat. Considering that the following objectives were chosen for particular study: (1) to refine knowledge on distribution and abundance of Lesser Spotted Eagle in Armenia; (2) to study habitat preferences of the species; (3) to identify current and potential threats for the species.

image001

Foraging Lesser Spotted Eagle

 

 

Results

Based on the data collected during 1998-2007 it was possible to conclude the following:

1. Distances between neighboring nests are 14. 2 and 14. 3 km (based on 4 nests)

2. The average distance between the nest and limits of the hunting territory of a pair is 4. 05±0.39 km (n = 15, P<0. 05)

3. The average percentage of the forest cover within the species’ home range is 26. 07±3. 89 % (n = 15, P<0. 05);

4) There is a correlation between percentage of forest cover within the home range and the distance from the nest to the limits of hunting territory of Lesser Spotted Eagle (RPearson = 0. 548, P<0. 017)

5) The correlation can be described by the linear regression model (R = 0.548, F=5. 581, P<0. 034).

Extrapolation of these data for the rest of appropriate species’ habitats in Armenia outcomes in the maximum possible population size of the species in the country, which preliminary can be estimated as about 48-52 pairs.

The species in Armenia is facing to a number of direct and indirect threats, such as lack of enforced regulation in use of pesticides, poaching, human disturbance during breeding season and habitat loss.

image004image006

Habitat of the Lesser Spotted Eagle(left) and its nest on the oak tree(right)

 

Outcomes

1. The article regarding the subject was published. K. Aghababyan, V. Ananian, S. Tumanyan. 2008. To the Distribution and Abundance of Lesser Spotted Eagles in Armenia. // Research and Conservation of the Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagles in Northern Eurasia. Materials 5th Conference on Raptors of Northern Eurasia Ivanovo, February 4-7, 2008

2. Two amateur ornithologists (Sirnush Tumanyan and Tatevik Tamazyan) were trained in data collection and analysis and one of them, a student of Biological Department of Yerevan State University defended Master’s Thesis on the subject “To ecology of Lesser Spotted Eagles in Armenia”

3. The results of the project were used for the new edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia and would be useful for the future forest management planning and environmental assessment procedures.

Advanced GIS Training for Health Professionals

image003Acopian Center for the Environment – ACE
Center for Health Services Research and Development, Byron Crape – CHSR
Innovations in Support of Reproductive Health Project  NOVA
usaid

An advanced ArcGIS training for fifteen representatives from a total of eight health organizations in Armenia took place from May 11-14, 2009 at the computer lab of the American University of Armenia. The advanced GIS training was subcontracted to The Acopian Center for the Environment by USAID Project NOVA in the frame of “GIS in Health Training and Workshop for the Armenian Organizations for policy formulation, datadriven decision-making, planning, monitoring and evaluation”.

Training was conducted by Mr. Thomas Lyman, M.Ed., Senior GIS/GPS Specialist at the AcopianCenter for the Environment and by Mr. Byron L. Crape, MSPH, PhD from the School of Public Health at AUA.  They were assisted by Ms Meike Schaefer, M.Sc., GIS Specialist  at the AcopianCenter for the Environment, AUA, Mr Armen Asryan, MIS, from USAID project NOVA, and Ms. Anahit Bobikyan, translator.

Advanced GIS Training

The advanced GIS training was complemented by and built on the introductory training given by Mr. Armen Asryan the previous week. It was expected that all participants were familiar with the concept  of Geographic Information Systems, the particular configuration of ArcGIS 9.2, and the basic tools and  functions of this software. The Advanced GIS Training for Health Professionals  included practice in using many of the common tools and extensions for analyzing data, joining object features (OIDs) such as EXCEL Tables,  DBF, and CSV files to spatial features (FIDs), and editing files and tables to update and “populate” fields where data was missing.

image007image005

Roundtable

Following the GIS training, participants were asked to prepare presentations to be given at a Roundtable Discussion held the following week, again at AUA.  These presentations were based on actual health data supplied by their own organizations or from the training material provided by NOVA, using the tools and techniques covered in the two GIS training workshops.

image009

The projects (five in all) were presented at the Round Table / Workshop on May 20, 2009. During this workshop, the importance of GIS for decision making and health strategic planning was discussed in depth and recommendations for GIS applications in Armenia were presented by the participants. The need for further cooperation with and among the participants (especially RA MoH, NIH and NSS) was recognized and the need for standardized and consistent health data acquisition was stressed.

 

 

Levant Sparrowhawk Pilot Survey in Armenia

Duration: 2009

 ACE (American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia)
ACCL (Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, PA, USA)

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment in cooperation with Acopian Center for the Conservation Learning (Hawk Mountain Sanctuary) in 2009 conducted a pilot nest survey of Levant Sparrowhawk – one of the least known Western Palearctic raptors.

Several long term trips were organized to Aragats Mt and Meghri area, Yerevan city parks were surveyed as well on a frequent basis.

image001

Red fields – study areas 

Field trips took substantial part of the project during April – August.

The main aims of the survey were:

image003 image005 image007

The surveys have successfully resulted in overall 17 breeding sites/pairs:

 1. Aragats Mt slopes. No nest found and no territorial pair observed here in 2009.

image009image011

 

2. Yerevan city. 6 breeding sites found, of which:

a) one nest was lost because of the strong wind;
b) one nest wasn’t found, but a male and a female were showing a strong territorial behavior at a putative breeding site;
c) one nest with three chicks;
d) one – with 4 chicks;
e) two nests with two chicks.

image013image015

 

3.  Meghri valley. 11 nests found in this area represent the highest known breeding density in Armenia.

image017

 

Due to some circumstances there were missed fledging events for four of the 11 nests – it is not known how many chicks produced each of these four nests. As for the others:

a) four nests hold 2 chicks each;
b) three nests – 3 chicks in each.

image019

During the surveys a nest searching technique was developed and tested as most suitable from few other methods tried.

image021image023

 

For all of the surveyed sites and nests there were recorded various parameters, such as nesting site GIS data, habitat description, behavior of breeding birds, nestlings and fledglings, interaction with other species and various other ecological information. Data on food was collected and taken few video footages and a number of photographs.

image025

The information collected in 2009 helped to achieve initial objectives of the pilot project and will significantly contribute to the future surveys of the Levant Sparrowhawk in Armenia.

 

*************************************************************

During the Levant Sparrowhawk surveys we were granted with the discovery of a closely related Shikra (Accipiter badius), two pairs of which were found breeding for the first time in the country.

image027image029 image031

 

Butterfly Monitoring Atlas

Duration:

This project is intended to fill gaps in the National Strategy of Biodiversity Monitoring regarding the inventory and information management about Armenia’s butterflies and their habitats. At the same time it will strengthen the newly formed partnership with Butterfly Conservation Europe. The project will follow changes in species’ distribution and abundance in butterfly populations, and will examine the damages to their habitat caused by climate change and human interference. Currently, about 60% of the database is complete. In 2013 a complete database and species accounts will be prepared with all related graphics. The publication is expected by February 2014. The first ever Monitoring Atlas on Butterflies of Armenia will be regularly updated thereafter.

butterfly-monitoring-atlas

Butterfly Monitoring Atlas, sample page.

Bird Monitoring Atlas

Duration:

This project will fill gaps in the National Strategy of Biodiversity Monitoring regarding the inventory and information management on breeding birds of Armenia. It will also provide input to the European Breeding Bird Atlas, where Armenia is underrepresented. The European Bird Census Council recently appointed Dr. Karen Aghababyan as the National Coordinator of the European Breeding Bird Atlas 2. The project will trace the 3 long-term changes in breeding bird species’ distribution and abundance, as well as their habitat degradation caused by climate change and human-induced threats.

Currently, Armenia is divided into 10km by 10km grids. The field data collection routes are set up. The counting methodology is piloted. Over the next four years, Dr. Aghababyan will organize large-scale fieldwork involving hundreds of professionals and volunteers. The European Bird Census Council will use the country-specific atlases to compile a European-wide atlas, the EBBA2. With the massive amount of bird data collected, the EBBA2 will become one of the most comprehensive biodiversity data sets in the world.

White Storks

image002AUA Acopian Center for the Environment Continues to Support White Storks with the Help of Villagers and Yerevan Zoo

More than a year after the completion of its White Storks Project, the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment continues to receive calls for support from villagers in the Ararat Plain seeking advice on how to care for stork chicks that are displaced or injured from natural or human causes.

From the start of the current breeding season in early Spring to date, the Center’s logs show 37 such calls. More than half of these callers received advice on how to handle the emergency and care for the nestlings—young storks yet unable to fly. For the remainder, the AUA Acopian Center sent a vehicle to the villages to provide either veterinarian care on the spot or bring the nestlings to Yerevan for care.

To date, 13 nestlings were transferred to Yerevan to be placed under special care. Eight of these have survived. The injuries of the others were too severe, making their survival impossible with wildlife rehabilitation capabilities available in Armenia.

“We are pulling together the community resources as best as we can,” says Karen Aghababyan, chief scientist of the AUA Acopian Center. In one instance, the AUA Acopian Center sought the help of Yerevan Zoo for 4 nestlings that were thrown out of their nests during strong winds in the Ranchpar and Apaga villages.

“Such an incident, under natural conditions, eliminates the nestlings’ chances of survival. If they are not in their nests, their mothers stop caring for them,” says Dr. Aghababyan. According to him, it is best to return the nestlings to their nests immediately. But this is not always possible as necessary equipment may not be readily available. “When this happens [i.e., too much time passes] the mother may reject the nestlings if returned to the nest,” explains Dr. Aghababyan.

The concerned villagers cared for these four storks and then called the AUA Acopian Center for advice. As too much time had gone by, the AUA Acopian Center sent a vehicle to the villages to transfer the birds to the Yerevan Zoo.

“We are happy to serve as a transitory home for these four orphaned stork nestlings that hopefully will soon rejoin their flock,” say Mr. Ruben Khachatryan, director of the Zoo. He adds that “To serve nature conservation and wildlife is one of Yerevan Zoo’s main objectives.”

The storks will stay at the Zoo until they learn to fly and hunt, which is expected to happen in the coming month. While their ability to fly will develop naturally, their hunting skills require learning. “Their hunting skills will be tested at the Zoo. They will also have additional occasions to learn from other storks back in the Ararat Plain in August,” explains Dr. Aghabayan.

He adds that while the Acopian Center typically does not want to intervene in the natural processes affecting stork populations, “there are many instances where the birds are injured as a result of man made environments, such as electrical wires, pesticides in water, and the like.” He stresses that the Center’s efforts to save the storks is a small compensation for all the instances where we humans cause harm to the stork population. “Also it provides great educational opportunity for the communities involved,” concludes Dr. Aghababyan.

The White Stork Project

The White Stork Project focuses on using the very common and abundant White Stork as a potential bio-indicator of environmental changes in Armenia. By studying migration patterns and reproductive ecology of White Storks, it will be possible to determine potential impacts of climate change and increased pesticide/herbicide use in Armenia. The project is unique in that it uses villagers as citizen scientists or ‘Nest Neighbors’ in the data collection process. Their involvement with the research gives them a better understanding of wildlife ecology and improves the relationship between people and nesting storks. Prior to migration, Acopian Center scientists distribute calendar-questionnaires in the villages and show the villagers how to record information on stork arrival, departure and number of fledglings. After the storks have migrated, Acopian Center scientists collect the calendars and enter the information into a GIS database.

Help support this important project in Armenia by adopting your own stork nest. and becoming a White Stork Guardian.

During the spring, our staff also bands the nestlings and takes water and soil samples in stork feeding areas for later analysis. The Acopian Center for the Environment launched a survey on pesticide use in the Ararat Valley after the first results from soil and water sampling indicated the presence of pesticide contamination. Substantial information on almost 1000 confirmed nest sites in Armenia has been collected through 2009.

‘Nest Neighbor’ Celebrations

During the fall, Acopian Center researchers conduct award ceremonies to honor ‘Nest Neighbors’. At these celebrations, certificates and gifts are awarded, accompanied by songs and plays about storks performed by school children and speeches delivered by village representatives.

image003

Dr. Aghababyan launched ‘Nest Neighbors’; working with farmers and villagers, to increase public understanding of storks and their habitat. By becoming involved in wetland conservation, Armenians are starting to take notice of what is being decided for natural resource use at local, national and international levels. Now, over 500 families are involved in ‘Nest Neighbors’ and regularly monitor the stork population.

Since 1994 the Whitley Awards have been awarded annually. They are one of the largest nature conservation awards available, recognizing outstanding efforts by leading local conservationists whose work is based on sound science and which fully involves local communities.

Dr. Karen Aghababyan’s research on the white stork is focused in the Ararat Valley, home to agriculture for thousands of years. During the Soviet years the wetland areas were reduced by Government draining and although they are slowly recovering a new threat has emerged – Armenia has been granted $200 million for infrastructure development, including draining the Ararat wetlands at the base of Mount Ararat, for conversion to agriculture. For centuries the White Stork has been regarded with great affection in Europe. Although they were once prolific, the intensification of agriculture and draining of wetlands has resulted in a decline in the populations. Traditionally storks like to keep their feet wet feeding in wetlands ditches or ponds where they catch frogs, lizards and small rodents. Although many Armenians feel indifferently towards wetlands, White Storks are seen as a cultural icon. They are seldom persecuted and when storks nest close to people, on anything from telegraph poles to roofs, it is a sign of good luck. Dr. Aghababyan has made birds popular in Armenia, teaching bird identification courses in English, Russian and Armenian. Using the White Stork as a flagship species, Dr. Aghababyan launched ‘Nest Neighbors’; working with farmers and villagers, to increase public understanding of storks and their habitat. By becoming involved in wetland conservation, Armenians are starting to take notice of what is being decided for natural resource use at local, national and international levels. Now, over 500 families are involved in ‘Nest Neighbors’ and regularly monitor the stork population.

image004

HRH The Princess Royal and Sir David Attenborough (not pictured) presented the Whitley Award to Dr. Karen Aghababyan in 2007 at London’s Royal Geographical Society. It was the first time anyone from Armenia has won the Award.

White Stork Ringing (Banding)

1988 – present: Bird ringing or bird banding, unfortunately, is not a target activity for Birds of Armenia. Nevertheless, during implementation of our projects we used the chances of ringing various species in small numbers. Among ringed birds are species such as:

The major ringing (banding) activity was conducted within the framework of the White Stork Project – there have been 284 White Stork nestlings ringed.
image005

Thus Birds of Armenia keeps a database of ring (band) records for Armenia, information for ring recoveries for the last 20 years, and distributes and manages rings among local responsible ringers.
image006

In 2008 ring (band) data regarding a White Stork was obtained. The bird was found in Saudi Arabia 1418 kilometers far from its ringing site.
image007

 

 

Batumi Raptor Count

Duration: 2008-present 

Birds of Armenia (Armenia)
Youth in Action Programme (Belgium)
PSOVI (Georgia)

image002Raptors are essential part of the wildlife, indicating the health of ecosystem. Change in the Raptors’ number might indicate different type of environmental issues. One of the easiest ways to get imagination of the abundance of different raptor species is to count them on migration since they are getting together on special areas, called “bottleneck sites”.

One of such sites is situated close to Batumi in Western Georgia (Ajaria), on the Black Sea coast, which is close to another raptor counting place – Borchka in Eastern Turkey. Hundreds of thousands of raptors fly through the area during autumn migration (from late August to October).

In 2008 the activity involved 28 volunteers and student trainees from Belgium, Holland, Georgia and Armenia.

image003In 2009 other countries have joined the initiative, such as Turkey, France, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Georgia etc. Apart from participation in the count BOA also took part in organizing and implementing the “Young Birdwatchers Exchange Program”, which aims to bring together birdwatchers from a number of countries. In frames of this project BOA has distributed a recruitment announcement in Armenia, interviewed applicants and selected the most appropriate candidates. Before leaving to Batumi the selected applicants were provided with preliminary training in Armenia, both in auditorium and in the field. BOA provides each of the local candidates with a copy of “A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia”, a pair of binoculars and a spotting scope for use throughout the count.

Upon arrival to Batumi Karen Aghababyan as a leader teacher gives an intensive raptor identification course for the first three days for all the students of “Young Birdwatchers Exchange Program”.

To teach the student BOA using a part of the Bird Identification Training Course (BITC).

Results

During the counting period (by 6-22 /Sep/2008), there were counted  815374 raptors in average more than 67000 per day. We had huge number of Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Montagu’s Harrier, Booted Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk, etc., and also Snake Eagle, Osprey, Lesser Spotted and Steppe Eagle, etc.

During the count of 2009 the Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) was recorded, the second time for Caucasus.

Accipiter spec.7
Aquila spec.805
Black Kite58021
Black Stork1094
Black Vulture1
Booted Eagle3553
Buzzard spec.0
Common Buzzard3
Crane42
Egyptian Vulture13
Falco spec.172
Golden Eagle1
Goshawk13
Greater Spotted Eagle78
Griffon Vulture1
Harrier spec.127
Hen Harrier7
Hen/Pallid/Montagu’s Harrier61
Hobby418
Hobby/Red-footed Falcon166
Honey Buzzard394451
Imperial Eagle23
Kestrel43
Kestrel spec.424
large unidentified raptor2
Lesser Kestrel90
Lesser Spotted Eagle1826
Lesser Spotted/Greater spotted/Steppe Eagle908
Levant Sparrowhawk3286
Long-legged Buzzard117
Marsh Harrier4098
medium unidentified raptor37219
Merlin8
Montagu’s Harrier947
Montagu’s/Pallid Harrier7264
Osprey55
Pallid Harrier510
Peregrine22
Peregrine/Saker11
Red Kite1
Red-footed Falcon265
Roller1237
Rough-legged Buzzard1
Saker3
Short-toed Eagle653
small unidentified raptor2
Sparrowhawk4346
Sparrowhawk spec.3688
Steppe Buzzard275004
Steppe Buzzard/Honey Buzzard13629
Steppe Eagle174
Stork spec.6
unidentified raptor142
White Pelican2
White Stork328
White-tailed Eagle6

image007To this day AUA Acopian Center for the Environment continues its cooperation with the Batumi Raptor Count (BRC) by developing and delivering environmental education programs to youth from all parts of the Caucasus. In 2013, Hasmik Ter-Voskanyan (in August) and Siranush Tumanyan (in September) led youth groups, including some from Armenia.

In early September, Dr. Karen Aghababyan, AUA Acopian Center chief scientist, attended the International Batumi Bird Festival organized by BRC. During his visit, Dr. Aghababyan discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation between the organizations through development of nature-based tourism as well as strengthening environmental-education and bird-monitoring programs.

“This is a relationship we want to develop further,” says Alen Amirkhanian, director of the AUA Acopian Center. “Batumi provides an unparalleled setting in the Caucasus to educate and conduct research on the environment. Importantly we are able to do this jointly with people from all parts of the Caucasus and Europe. Developing this type of cooperation is essential for addressing environmental protection needs,” says Amirkhanian.

BRC is a vital nature conservation program in the region. It monitors the more than 850,000 birds of prey that migrate through the “Batumi Bottleneck” every fall. It also works to protect the birds from illegal shootings and trappings, practices that continue to this day.

Batumi is a Black Sea coastal city in the Ajara region of the Republic of Georgia.

Whitley Awards for ACE White Stork projects

Since 1994 the Whitley Awards have been awarded annually. They are one of the largest nature conservation awards available, recognizing outstanding efforts by leading local conservationists whose work is based on sound science and which fully involves local communities.

Dr. Karen Aghababyan’s research on the white stork is focused in the Ararat Valley, home to agriculture for thousands of years. During the Soviet years the wetland areas were reduced by Government draining and although they are slowly recovering a new threat has emerged – Armenia has been granted $200 million for infrastructure development, including draining the Ararat wetlands at the base of Mount Ararat, for conversion to agriculture. For centuries the White Stork has been regarded with great affection in Europe. Although they were once prolific, the intensification of agriculture and draining of wetlands has resulted in a decline in the populations. Traditionally storks like to keep their feet wet feeding in wetlands ditches or ponds where they catch frogs, lizards and small rodents. Although many Armenians feel indifferently towards wetlands, White Storks are seen as a cultural icon. They are seldom persecuted and when storks nest close to people, on anything from telegraph poles to roofs, it is a sign of good luck. Dr. Aghababyan has made birds popular in Armenia, teaching bird identification courses in English, Russian and Armenian. Using the White Stork as a flagship species, Dr. Aghababyan launched ‘Nest Neighbors’; working with farmers and villagers, to increase public understanding of storks and their habitat. By becoming involved in wetland conservation, Armenians are starting to take notice of what is being decided for natural resource use at local, national and international levels. Now, over 500 families are involved in ‘Nest Neighbors’ and regularly monitor the stork population.

HRH The Princess Royal and Sir David Attenborough (not pictured) presented the Whitley Award to Dr. Karen Aghababyan in 2007 at London’s Royal Geographical Society. It was the first time anyone from Armenia has won the Award.

“Nest Neighbor” Celebrations

During the fall, Acopian Center researchers conduct award ceremonies to honor “Nest Neighbors”. At these celebrations, certificates and gifts are awarded, accompanied by songs and plays about storks performed by school children and speeches delivered by village representatives.

Dr. Aghababyan launched ‘Nest Neighbors’; working with farmers and villagers, to increase public understanding of storks and their habitat. By becoming involved in wetland conservation, Armenians are starting to take notice of what is being decided for natural resource use at local, national and international levels. Now, over 500 families are involved in ‘Nest Neighbors’ and regularly monitor the stork population.

Tree and Shrub List for Armenia

Partial List of Trees and Shrubs for Armenia

After the massive tree-cutting period of the early 1990s, caused by the economic blockade and the energy crisis, there was much discussion about deforestation in Armenia. During that period people were cutting trees everywhere and removing anything wooden to burn for heat!
Tree planting is the best action to take in order to mitigate deforestation and tree removal. However care must be taken not to unwittingly harm the environment. One may ask how is it possible to harm the environment by planting trees?

There are many non-Armenian tree species (non-native species), which are invasive and can aggressively occupy an area by crowding out and eventually replacing native, indigenous species of trees. Unfortunately, in Armenia, after the massive tree-cutting period of the early 1990s the planting of invasive species became a common practice, mostly due to lack of awareness of the ecological detriment that planting of invasive species can cause.

Below is a partial list of trees and shrubs which are growing in Armenia. We generally recommend planting only species that are labeled as ‘native’. Any species labeled ‘invasive’ should never be planted and actually should be removed whenever possible. These invasive species have a particular ability to produce thousands and thousands of seeds that can germinate, grow and eventually shade out native species.

There are other ecological reasons for planting only native species of plants having to do with the interactions of insects and wildlife with the plant species.

Scientific Name

Common Name

Native Habitat

Native?

Notes

Acer negundo
boxelder
USA, southern Canada
non-native
invasive
Acer platanoides
Norway maple
Europe
  
Acer pseudoplatanus
Planetree maple, Sycamore maple
Europe, western Asia (cultivated for centuries)
  
Acer tataricum
Tatarian maple
southeast Europe, western Asia
  
Acer trautvetteri
Caucasian maple
Caucasia, northern Turkey
native
 
Aesculus hippocastanum
Horsechestnut
Greece, Albania
non-native
 
Ailanthus altissima
tree of Heaven
China
non-native
extremely invasive
Albizia julibrissin
mimosa, silk tree
Iran to central China
non-native
 
Amygdalus communis
almond
Middle East
  
(Prunus dulcis)
    
Armeniaca vulgaris
apricot
Armenia
native
 
(Prunus armeniaca)
    
Betula pendula
    
     
Betula litwinowii
  
native
 
Biota orientalis
Oriental arborvitae
Korea, Manchuria, northern China
non-native
 
(Thuja orientalis)
    
Buddleia davidi
butterfly-bush
China, Japan
non-native
 
Buxus sempervirens
boxwood
southern Europe, northern Africa, western Asia
  
Caragana arborescens
Siberian peashrub
Siberia, Mongolia
  
Carpinus caucasica
Caucasian hornbeam
Europe, Caucasus
native
 
Catalpa bignonioides
catalpa
southern USA
non-native
 
Cercis siliquastrum
Judas tree
southern Europe, western Asia
non-native
 
Cornus sanguinea
European dogwood
Europe, western Asia
native
 
Cotoneaster horizontalis
rock cotoneaster
western China
non-native
 
Cydonia oblonga
quince
Caucasus
native
 
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Russian-olive
southern Europe, central Asia, 
Altai , Himalayas
native
 
Fagus orientalis
oriental beech
northwest Turkey, Caucasus, Iran
native
 
Forsythia suspensa
weeping forsythia
China
non-native
 
Fraxinus excelsior
European ash
Europe, southwestern Asia
native
 
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
green ash
USA, Canada
non-native
 
Gleditsia triachanthos
honeylocust
USA
non-native
 
Hippophae rhamnoides
seabuckthorn
Europe to China
native
 
Hibiscus syriacus
rose-of-sharon
India, China
non-native
 
Jasminum fruticans
wild jasmine
Mediterranean, Asia Minor
native
 
Junglans regia
English walnut
southeastern Europe to China
native
 
Juniperus virginiana
eastern redcedar
east and central North America
non-native
 
Koelreuteria paniculata
goldenrain tree
China, Korea, Japan
non-native
 
Ligustrum vulgare
European privet
Europe, northern Africa, southwestern Asia
native
 
Lonicera maackii
Amur honeysuckle
Manchuria, Korea
non-native
invasive
Maclura pomifera
osage orange
USA
non-native
 
Malus domestica
apple
western Asia
naturalized
naturalized nearly everywhere in the world
     
Malus orientalis
  
native
 
Melia azedarach
Chinaberry
India to China
non-native
 
Morus alba
white mulberry
China
naturalized
 
Paulownia tomentosa
empress tree
China
non-native
 
Picea orientalis
Oriental spruce
Caucasus, Asia Minor
  
Pinus brutia
Turkish pine
west of Caspian Sea to Greece
  
Pinus eldarica
Afghan pine
?Caucasus, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan
  
     
(Pinus brutia)
    
Pinus halepensis
Aleppo pine, Jerusalem pine
Europe
non-native
 
Pinus nigra
European black pine, Austrian pine
Europe, Balkans, Crimea
non-native
 
P. n. subsp.pallasiana
European black pine
Europe to Turkey
non-native
 
Pinus pinea
stone pine
Europe, Mediterranean
non-native
 
Pinus ponderosa
ponderosa pine
western North America
non-native
 
Pistacia mutica
pistachio
Caucasus
native
 
(P.atlantica var. mutica)
    
Pistacia vera
common pistachio
western Asia
non-native
 
Platanus orientalis
Oriental planetree
southeastern Europe, western Asia
native
 
Populus alba
white poplar
southern Europe to central Asia
native
 
Prunus armeniaca
apricot
Asia
considered native
 
Prunus avium
sweet cherry
Europe, western Asia
native
 
Prunus cerasifera
cherry plum, myrobalan plum
Europe, Caucasus, western Asia
non-native
 
(Prunus mirobalan)
    
Prunus cerasus
sour cherry
Europe, southwest Asia
non-native
 
Prunus domestica
common plum
Europe, southwest Asia
non-native
 
Prunus mahaleb
rock cherry
central Europe to central Asia
native
 
Prunus persica
peach
China
non-native
 
Prunus tomentosa
Nanking Cherry
China to Japan
non-native
 
Punica granatum
pomegranate
Caucasus
native
 
Pyrus communis
European pear
Europe, western Asia
non-native
 
Pyrus caucasica
Caucasian pear
Europe, western Asia
native
 
( P. communis subsp. caucasica)
    
Pyrus demetrii
pear
Caucasus
native (globally threatened endemic species)
 
Pyrus salicifolia
willowleaf pear
southeastern Europe, western Asia
native
 
Quercus castaneifolia
chestnut-leaved oak
Caucasus, Iran
  
Quercus macranthera
Caucasian oak
Caucasus, western Asia
  
Quercus pontica
Armenian oak
Caucasus, northeastern Turkey
  
Quercus robur
english oak
Europe, Caucasus, Asia minor
non-native
 
Ribes aureum
buffalo currant
North America
non-native
 
Ribes nigrum
black currant
northern Europe, northern Asia
non-native
 
Robinia pseudoacacia
black locust
USA
non-native
 
     
Rosa sp.
  
native
 
Salix babylonica
Babylon weeping willow
Asia
non-native
 
Sambucus nigra
elderberry
Europe, northwest Africa, southwest Asia, western North America
native
 
Sophora Japonica
pagoda tree
China, Korea
non-native
 
Sorbus aucuparia
mountain ash
Europe, western Asia
native
 
Spiraea x vanhouttei
  
non-native
 
Symphoricarpos albus
Snowberry
USA, Canada
non-native
 
Tamarix araratica
Salt-cedar
 
native
 
Taxus baccata
English yew
Europe, northern Africa, western Asia
native
 
Thuja occidentalis
American arborvitae
eastern USA, eastern Canada
non-native
 
Ulmus laevis
European white elm
Europe to Asia
native
 
Weigelia florida
old fashioned weigela
Japan
non-native
 
Ziziphus jujube
Chinese date
southeastern Europe to Asia
native
 

Invasive Species in Armenia

Invasive species in native and non-native ranges

2007-2008

 

Armenia, ECRC/AUA

USA, University of Montana, University of California

Argentina, Universidad Nacional de La Pamba

Turkey, Adnan Menderes University

Georgia, Institute of Botany

Romania, Institute Of Biological Research

Hungary, Insttute of Ecology and Botany

 

Studying germination in the native and non-native range of a species can provide unique insights into processes of range expansion and adaptation; however, traits related to germination have rarely been compared between native and nonnative populations. In a series of common garden experiments, we explored whether differences in the seasonality of precipitation, specifically, summer drought vs summer rain, and the amount and variation of annual and seasonal precipitation affect the germination responses of populations of an annual ruderal plant, Centaurea solstitialis, from its native range and from two non-native regions with different climates. We found that seeds from all native populations, irrespective of the precipitation seasonality of the region in which they occurred, and non-native populations from regions with dry summers displayed similarly high germination proportions and rates. In contrast, genotypes from the non-native region with predominantly summer rain exhibited much lower germination fractions and rates and ecology. Organisms transported by humans to regions where they are not native (exotics) commonly face novel selective forces, which given enough genetic variation, may trigger novel evolutionary responses. The worldwide distribution of this species encompasses environments with contrasting precipitation regimes within both native and non-native ranges. Specifically, some of the regions where C. solstitialis grows are characterized by a Mediterranean-type climate with wet winters and dry summers, whereas other regions have a precipitation regime in which most of the precipitation falls during the summer, and winters are substantially drier. In all regions, the species germinates primarily in autumn (Sheley and Larson 1994, Hierro et al. 2006, L. Khetsuriani, L. Janoian and K. Andonian unpubl.); thus, winter conditions may affect its survival. Here, by conducting a series of common garden experiments in a growth chamber, we investigated whether contrasting differences in the seasonality of precipitation and changes in surrogates for environmental quality (e.g. precipitation totals) and risk (e.g. inter-annual variation in precipitation) affect germination responses of C. solstitialis populations occurring across its native range and in two climatically distinct non-native regions.                                    

inv1

General view of the experimental field in Armenia                                                                                                         

To investigate the potential effects of seasonality of precipitation on C. solstitialis germination, we conducted three successive seed collections from populations occurring in regions exepte France, Crete and Armenia, where seeds were pooled within populations. Mean cumulative germination percentages (91 SE) of pappus and non-pappus seeds of C. solstitialis populations plotted against the coefficient of variation of winter precipitation and the probability of occurring a good winter.

Pappus seeds maintained a strong association with variation in winter precipitation (r__0.91, pB0.001), but this relationship did not hold for nonpappus seeds (r__0.36, p_0.172). In addition, germination of both pappus and non-pappus seeds were no longer correlated with the probability of good winters (r_0.44, p_0.117 and r_0.11, p_0.387, respectively). Without Argentina, the association between germination proportions of pappus seeds and variation in annual precipitation improved slightly (r__0.70, p_0.017), whereas the correlation of these proportions with the probability of good years remained non-significant (r_0.39, p_0.150). Finally, as before, germination fractions of non-pappus seeds were not correlated with any of the measures of annual risk, and germination percentages of both seed morphs were not associated with any of the measures describing environmental quality (p_0.250 in all cases).

inv2Clines in these studies corresponded to variation in general climatic patterns, such as changes in climate between northern and southern latitudes (Maron et al. 2004, 2007) or between coastal versus inland environments . In contrast to these results, our comparisons based on general climatic patterns (i.e. summer drought vs summer rain) did not detect parallel clines in germination traits for populations from native and non-native ranges, as all native populations, irrespective of the climate in which they occurred, and non-native populations from the region with a summer-drought climate displayed similarly high germination proportions and rates; whereas non-native genotypes from the region with a summer rain regime exhibited much lower germination fractions and rates. On the other hand, our comparisons based on precipitation variables, which are commonly used as surrogates for environmental quality and risk, showed that for the most abundant seed morph, seeds with a pappus, germination responses of populations in both native and non-native ranges correlated strongly with ‘risk’ experienced during the winter. Specifically, and as predicted by bethedging theory, germination fractions of pappus seeds were lower in native and non-native populations experiencing greater inter-annual variation in winter precipitation (Fig. 4). For non-pappus seeds, however, this correlation was greatly influenced by non-native genotypes from central Argentina, which are from the region with the highest variation in winter precipitation of all the studied regions and exhibited the lowest proportions of germinating seeds in all our experiments (Fig. 2_4); after removing central Argentina from analyses, there was no association between germination fractions of non-pappus seeds and winter precipitation variation. Similarly, germination fractions of both pappus and non-pappus seeds correlated with probability of occurrence of good winters only in the presence of Argentinean variables. Overall, these findings suggest that rather than general climatic patterns, the degree of risk experienced at early developmental stages could exert an important control over the germination strategy of C. solstitialis populations in both native and non-native ranges. In addition, they reveal the largely unique nature among studied populations of seed germination in nonnative genotypes from central Argentina. Germination fractions of pappus seeds were also correlated with variation in annual precipitation, suggesting that overall annual risk could also play a role in the germination behavior of C. solstitialis populations. Indeed, populations experiencing comparable variation in winter precipitation in the native and non-native range tended to display similar germination fractions for this seed type . In contrast, for non-pappus seeds the link between degree of dormancy and level of winter risk does not hold when outlier Argentinean variables are removed from analyses, providing weaker support for bet-hedging across C. solstitialis populations.

inv3Several mechanisms could be responsible for the genetic differentiation in germination traits of Californian versus Argentinean populations, including coincidental introductions, genetic drift, and natural selection operating on phenotypes formed by either a novel combination of genes  or pre-adapted genotypes (i.e. the sorting-out hypothesis _ Mu¨ller-Scha¨rer and Steinger 2004; see Leger and ice 2007 for a comprehensive discussion on these mechanisms). Outcrossing plants partition most of their genetic diversity within, rather than among, populations, which increases the probability of possessing high genetic variation upon introduction because even a few immigrants can carry much of the species’ genetic variation. 

 

 

Full article available in  Oikos 118: 529_538, 2009

doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2009.17283.x,

# 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation # 2009 Oikos

Subject Editor: Pia Mutikainen. Accepted 31 October 2008

“Germination responses of an invasive species in native and non-native ranges”

Jose´ L. Hierro, O¨zkan Eren, Liana Khetsuriani, Alecu Diaconu, Katalin To¨ro¨ k, Daniel Montesinos,

Krikor Andonian, David Kikodze, Levan Janoian, Diego Villarreal, Marı´a E. Estanga-Mollica and Ragan M. Callaway

              

Endemic Wheats of Armenia Project 2008

wheatbookArmenia, although a small country, is very rich in wild relatives of cultivars, including the ancestors and donors of such important cult ivated plants as bread cereals. The study of wild species of wheat, barley, goat grass, rye and others of the cereal crops represents a large practical interest. Progenitors of cultivars are often carriers of valuable attributes and features, such as, high drought and frost resistance, the ability to grow on relatively poor soils, and resistance to pests and disease. That is why wild relatives are valuable material for the selection of new varieties of cultivated plants. 

In addition to this, purely in practical terms, the study of wild relatives of cereal crops are of particular help in understanding the path by which many thousands of years ago the creation of the modern cultivated grasses from wild cereal crops took place, and in giving a more precise definition to the regions where the agricultural civilization arose. From that viewpoint the study of the history of domestic bread   cereals helps to shed light not only on the history of agriculture but on the history of humans in a broad sense.

Conserving the rich gene pool of wild relatives of wheat cultivars in Armenia is an urgent concern, as more and more land is disturbed by growing economic activity, land privatization, and other factors. Therefore, it is extremely important to evaluate the different Armenian populations of wheat and other cereals, and to conserve this valuable material. This can be achieved through periodic population monitoring, conservation in situ, and through collection of a seed material for preservation ex situ.

Previously, botanists have conducted numerous comprehensive studies of cereal crops, and also led archeobotanical excavations which shed light on the relatively early stages of the domestication of grasses. This current project will facilitate more comprehensive studies of the populations of wild cereal crops through the use of modern cytogenetic and molecular biology methods.

 

Brown Trout (GIZ)

Reintroduction of the Brown Trout in Armenia’s Rivers Studied by AUA Acopian Center for the Environment 

bigtroutOverfishing in the 1990s has led to a collapse of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta morpha fario) stocks throughout Armenia. This species, once available abundantly in all of Armenia’s provinces, is currently found in fewer than 20% of surveyed rivers. To determine the suitability for its reintroduction, the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment with support from GIZ, the German Organization for International Cooperation, has conducted an extensive survey of physical and chemical properties of 22 rivers and streams in 7 provinces of Armenia. 

“The results of the survey are promising,” says Dr. Karen Aghababyan, chief scientist of the AUA Acopian Center and the study’s principal investigator. “Most rivers studied are suitable for reintroduction of the species. Their oxygen and pH levels were within the range preferred by the Brown Trout, and most sites had appropriate levels of ammonia and carbon dioxide, as well as enough benthic invertebrates to serve as food for the reintroduced fish,” explains Dr. Aghababyan. 

In addition to scouting river sites, the AUA Acopian Center researchers found an appropriate brood stock with which to populate the rivers in question. To this end, the Center has collaborated with a fish farm that had Brown Trout captured wild in the Arpa River in 2009. This trout, which has not interbred with other fish species and has not gone through artificial selection, caries all the genes of the wild population and is suitable for introduction into the native stocks. 

For many decades, the Brown Trout has been a staple fish in diets worldwide. In most parts of the world, Brown Trout is interbred with local populations, resulting in fish that is genetically different from their ancestors. Very few places on Earth are home to genetically pure Brown Trout. Armenia is one of these places, its mountainous rivers providing protection from interbreeding with non-indigenous species. 

A successful reintroduction of a fish species needs more than adequate water conditions and pure breed. “We also need to ensure that the site is protected from poachers. Communities close to these fish populations have to have economic incentive to protect them. Local stewardship of the fish stock has to be worked into the reintroduction,” says Dr. Aghababyan.

Acopian Field Guide To Butterflies of Armenia

Karen

Butterflies are a significant and essential component of global biomes. They comprise about 1% of all described species on the planet and provide essential ecosystem services such as pollination and serve as prey for animal predators. In addition, they provide aesthetic value and are a valuable component of ecotourism. Currently there is no special publication or field atlas regarding the butterflies of Armenia. After having successfully published A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia, the Acopian Center at AUA has started a project to produce a similar guide for Armenia’s butterflies.

Acopian Field Guide to Butterflies of Armenia will have field identification data for every one of the 220 species recorded in Armenia up to date. The guide will also describe 15 new species and many host plants. Much of this information will be published for the first time. The guide will be the result of our long-term investigation of Armenian butterflies and, at the same time, constitutes a first step for the preparation of the Handbook of the Butterflies of Armenia. Both books will be very valuable sources for scientists, tourists and students as well as for environmental education and public awareness.

 

butterfly2

Butterfly Atlas

This project is intended to fill gaps in the National Strategy of Biodiversity Monitoring regarding the inventory and information management about Armenia’s butterflies and their habitats. At the same time it will strengthen the newly formed partnership with Butterfly Conservation Europe. The project will follow changes in species’ distribution and abundance in butterfly populations, and will examine the damages to their habitat caused by climate change and human interference. Currently, about 60% of the database is complete. In 2013 a complete database and species accounts will be prepared with all related graphics. The publication is expected by August 2014. The first ever Monitoring Atlas on Butterflies of Armenia will be regularly updated thereafter.

butterfly-monitoring-atlas

Butterfly Monitoring Atlas, sample page.

Winter Feeding of Water Birds on Yerevan Lake

  • Acopian Center for the Environment – American University of Armenia
  • Yerevan City Municipality

Winter is the most unfavorable period for birds, especially for water birds. Low temperatures, difficult access to food, and short duration of daylight hours serve as the basic negative factors in this period for the vital activity of birds.  In addition to natural difficulties, ducks in Armenia also bear anthropogenic influences – among them the construction of on-shore reservoirs, hunting, and poaching out of the hunting season.   

A large number of wild ducks gather on Yerevan Lake. According to the winter water bird counting done by specialists on Lake Sevan and Ararat valley, comparatively fewer wild ducks are left in these places, because they are constantly troubled by fishing boats on Lake Sevan and they are harassed and shot by hunters and poachers in Ararat valley. Fortunately, on Yerevan Lake these types of disturbance are absent. Nevertheless, ducks still have to fly from Yerevan Lake to the water reservoirs of Ararat valley in search of food and there they often fall by hunters’ bullets.  

Starting from 2002, we have conducted annual winter feeding for water birds in order to keep the ducks on Yerevan Lake.

lakeyerevan2 lakeyerevan1

We use special dry mixtures composed of mixed fodder of barley and oats as well as crumbled dry bread and bread products. We put the bird feeding manger approximately in the middle of the lake and feed the birds once per week. We take sacks of forage on a boat to the floating manger. In addition we survey the bird species composition and count the number of birds on the lake.

We are particularly pleased that school children join us to help us with our feeding procedure. The children, during the feeding activity, also work with trained ornithologists to learn to identify and to appreciate birds in their natural setting.

lakeyerevan3 lakeyerevan4

 

A special pleasant surprise came in 2008 when we received an initiation for a joint-duck-feeding project on Yerevan Lake with Yerevan City Hall. This has been the first case when we did not seek help from the administrative structures but the administration itself suggested working together.  The City Hall provided financial support for obtaining the forage and transporting it to Yerevan Lake.  Their support demonstrates that communities can work together in the difficult task of nature protection.

Winter Bird Count 2005 – present (conducted annually)

Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA) in cooperation with volunteers and enthusiasts from different fields, organized winter bird count in Yerevan Botanical garden. 
monitor1

Botanical garden is one of the largest green territories in Yerevan city with half-wild oases. There are several notable species of birds breeding there, such as Levant Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Long-eared Owl, Syrian Woodpecker, Golden Oriole, Common Nightingale, Greenfinch etc. Food availability compels winter bird species to come down and stay in the garden during the winter.

monitor2

The main goals of the winter bird count are:

This count gives us an opportunity to record strictly wintering bird species such us Redwing, Fieldfare, Common Goldcrest, European Siskin, etc.

Participation in winter bird count is a good experience for beginners: “Bird Identification Training”’ (ACE) students, student-zoologists and enthusiasts, who are interested in birds. This gives them an opportunity to study linear bird count technique and to improve bird identification skills. Every year about 8-12 young people join our winter bird counts.

monitor3

List of recorded bird species in Yerevan Botanical Garden 
(2005 – 2009)

1.    Eurasian Sparrowhawk
2.    Northern Goshawk
3.    Common Buzzard
4.    Common Kestrel
5.    Common Woodpigeon
6.    Rock Dove
7.    Syrian Woodpecker
8.    Middle Spotted Woodpecker
9.    European Green Woodpecker
10.    Dunnock
11.    European Robin
12.    Redwing
13.    Mistle Thrush
14.    Fieldfare
15.    Common Blackbird
16.    Common Goldcrest
17.    Blue Tit
18.    Great Tit
19.    Eurasian Jay
20.    Common Magpie
21.    Western Jackdaw
22.    Rook
23.    Hooded Crow
24.    Common Raven
25.    House Sparrow
26.    Eurasian Tree Sparrow
27.    Common Chaffinch
28.    European Greenfinch
29.    European Goldfinch
30.    European Siskin
31.    Brambling
32.    Common Linnet
33.    Hawfinch
34.    Yellowhammer
35.    Rock Bunting
monitor4

Donation – White Stork Guardian

 
Donation - White Stork Guardian
Help support a White Stork nest for a year, and protect one of Armenia’s good-luck symbols. In 2008, more than 600 pairs of storks nested in Armenia. Your $500 donation supports one nest for one year. You will receive a letter confirming your tax deductible contribution from the American University of Armenia.
Continue>>

White Stork Project

The White Stork Project focuses on using the very common and abundant White Stork as a potential bio-indicator of environmental changes in Armenia. By studying migration patterns and reproductive ecology of White Storks, it will be possible to determine potential impacts of climate change and increased pesticide/herbicide use in Armenia. The project is unique in that it uses villagers as citizen scientists or ‘Nest Neighbors’ in the data collection process. Their involvement with the research gives them a better understanding of wildlife ecology and improves the relationship between people and nesting storks. Prior to migration, Acopian Center scientists distribute calendar-questionnaires in the villages and show the villagers how to record information on stork arrival, departure and number of fledglings. After the storks have migrated, Acopian Center scientists collect the calendars and enter the information into a GIS database.

Help support this important project in Armenia by adopting your own stork nest. and becoming a White Stork Guardian.

During the spring, our staff also bands the nestlings and takes water and soil samples in stork feeding areas for later analysis. The Acopian Center for the Environment launched a survey on pesticide use in the Ararat Valley after the first results from soil and water sampling indicated the presence of pesticide contamination. Substantial information on almost 1000 confirmed nest sites in Armenia has been collected through 2009.

 

Saving the Armenian Gull

gullislands1The Armenian Gull breeds in Lakes Sevan and Arpi in Armenia. At Lake Sevan it breeds on “Gull Islands” which, as a result of the constant lowering of the water level in the lake, joined the coast, becoming a peninsula, by the end of 1990s. This opened the breeding area to predators and domestic cattle. Predators such as foxes and stray dogs caused much harm to the Gulls by eating their eggs and nestlings. As for domestic animals, they trampled the eggs as they wandered around the island.

The island became open to tourists who frightened the birds and raised panic among them. The human disturbances had the most fatal consequences: eggs were getting too cold during the first period of nesting and in the period of mass hatching the frightened birds were leaving their nests. The parents, in their futile search for their nestlings, were pecking the other lost nestlings to death.    

gullislands2

Armenian Gull

The only way to rescue the Armenian Gull was to turn its nesting grounds into an island again. For that purpose, it was necessary to remove the isthmus, digging a channel between the island and the coast. Unfortunately, the corresponding government departments didn’t take an active part, though they were well aware of the urgent need of isolation of the nesting place.

gullislands3

Making of the channel    

Thus, on 14 May, 1999, the project workers, equipping themselves with the proper equipment, dug an 18 meter wide breach that was 0.8 to 2.3 meters deep, forming a strait between the land and Gull Island.

In the same year the Center organized a pilot monitoring program of the nesting place of the Armenian Gull on “Gull Island” which testified that our efforts were not in vain. The eggs and nestlings were saved! As a result, an entire generation of Armenian Gulls was conserved.

Each year before the beginning of the nesting season we visit the island and measure the depth and width of the strait in order to determine if we need to step in again.

gullislands4
The Channel

Vultures of Armenia

Why is it important to study vultures in the Caucasus?

The Caucasus Mountains of Armenia are a biogeographic bridge between Europe and Asia. The area is home to a range of raptors (hawks, eagles, and falcons, etc.) including four species of Old World Vultures, Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), and Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus).  Determining and tracking the conservation status of Armenian vulture populations is important because they are excellent “biological indicators” of the health of Armenia’s natural and human-dominated landscapes.

vultures1

What kinds of work and research are we doing?

We conduct surveys of three vulture species in Armenia, and we analyze, publish, and make available to government and conservation groups data on the distribution, abundance, breeding biology, and conservation status of these species.

vultures3

Griffon Habitat Southern Armenia. Click on photo above to enlarge.

What is the goals of our vulture research?

Our overall goal is to determine the conservation status of Armenian vulture populations. We are detailing the distribution, abundance, and reproductive success of Armenian vultures. It helps to identify important areas for raptor conservation in Armenia and establish long-term monitoring schemes for vultures and endangered raptors in Armenia.

Results

Bearded Vulture

There are 8-10 pairs of Bearded Vulture in Armenia. The population of Bearded Vultures in Armenia is stable.

Griffon Vulture

vultures2

There are 35-40 pairs of Griffon Vultures in 7-9 colonies. Northern population of the species is stable, while the population of Southern Armenia has a tendency to increase.

Egyptian Vulture

vultures4

There are 40-60 pairs of Egyptian Vultures in Armenia. The population of this species in Armenia stays stable.

Threats

The most serious threat for all the species is a human disturbance, principally from shooting and trapping of adults and the capture of the nestlings, so that the birds can be sold, either as taxidermy specimens or as live birds. Second serious threat is a lack of food (especially in central parts of Armenia), since number of whild ungulates has declined while the changes in the livestock husbandry reduced number of carcasses of livestock in the field. 

The results of our work were used for the new edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia and would be useful for the future environmental assessment procedures.

Monitoring of Raptors in the Forest of Aragats Mountain – 2005-2009

In 2005 we have started a pilot survey of raptors at the forest area of Aragats Mountain, with following objectives:

We started the project with full involvement of two students Maro Kochinyan and Hayk Harutyunyan and with occasional involvement of several younger students – volunteers of the “Birds of Armenia” project.

aragats1

Forest area of Aragats mountain

 

The forest area of Aragats is rather small (about 2 sq km) but includes almost all diurnal forest raptor species found in Armenia.

aragats2

Nestlings of Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

 

Particularly we found the following species:

We continue annual use of this place to train the students and to track Raptors life.
The results of the survey were published in Russian Conservation News No.39 Summer 2005

The effect of pesticides on the populations of Peregrine Falcon in Meghri District of Southern Armenia (2008)

Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA) with the support of Peregrine Fund and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in 2008 has conducted a survey of Peregrine Falco in Meghri district.

peregrine-mapRed field – study area

Objectives:

To check the current condition of population (number of breeding pairs) and reproductive success (number of fledglings) to analyze the trend and its possible causes to inspire local community about importance of Raptors through their involvement in the monitoring of the Peregrine Falcon.

 

peregrine-on-cliff2
Peregrine Falcon оn the nesting cliff

peregrine-habitat1
Peregrine Falcon nesting cliffs in the semidesert and forest areas

peregrine-habitat2
Peregrine Falcon nesting cliffs in the semidesert and forest areas

Results:

From all the six known Peregrine nests in Meghri region (in 1998-2004) only one successful pair with two fledglings was found, one site was occupied with two adults, but there were no young, and another site with only one adult bird. All other sites were unoccupied.

Analyzing these data and comparing it with previous ones the decline of Peregrine population in Meghri region becomes obvious. We assume that the main reason for the decline is the poisoning, such as sedimentary reservoirs of the copper, molybdenum and gold mines; use of pesticides for agriculture; forest management in frames of pest control.

During the whole project we worked with the local people from Meghri forestry administration and local enthusiasts. This co-operation helped us to do the data collection more effectively and to explain some details about poisoning and poaching.

peregrine-researchers

Researchers of Meghri fores

Monitoring of Long-Legged Buzzard Populations in Armenia

Birds of prey are excellent environmental indicators and flagship species for natural-resource conservation. Increasing of Armenian agriculture and other blanches of industry can have a negative impact to environment. To track the possible influence of industry to our nature we would like to start monitoring of subpopulations of model species in some regions of Armenia.

As a species to be monitored we have chosen Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) because it is most common rodent-eating bird that breeds in whole Armenia. 

We have conducted mapping of nests, and survey of reproductive success, as well as we have investigated their feeding, reproductive success and analyze collected data on GIS Arc View.

The project includes education of local inhabitants about importance of rodent-eating raptors for agriculture and nature ecosystems. During the project, those students, who have completed BITC courses in Acopian Center for the Environment, have been trained in the field data collection. Two of the students, Grigor Janoyan and Tsovinar Hovanisyan have completed their Bachelor and Master’s degrees on the topic.

long1

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, outskirts of Gusana village, Shirak region of Armenia.

OccurenceLLB_Sighting_Hillshade

Map of study area of the Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus in Armenia

Results:

Our study shows that the density of Long-legged Buzzard varies in different parts of Armenia. For example, the mean distance between the nests (nearest neighbor distance) is 1.98±0,19km (n=10) in Vedi district, while in Vayots Dzor region the mean distance is 3.04±0.3km (n=5); t=3.14, p=0.008. The difference in density seems correlated with steepness of surrounding area, since the Vedi district is generally more flat, than the Vayots Dzor region, which indicates that probably Long-legged Buzzards prefer habitats with less steepness of slopes. Most probably it depends on hunting technique of Long-legged Buzzard, which catches the prey on the ground dropping down from 5-10m. The other limiting factor is cliff availability, since in Armenia Long-legged Buzzards breed only on cliffs. Although LLB does not show dependence on the height of the cliffs and can place the nest on the height from 2 to 30m, it does not breed on trees, like in some parts of its area in Siberia.

The concluding results of the study were presented as a poster on the International Raptor Conference in autumn 2009 in Switzerland. We continue monitoring and conservation of Long-legged Buzzards in Armenia.

long3

In the frames of the study a GIS shape file was developed, covering all cliffs and rocky massifs of the entire territory of Armenia.

Relevant publication:

Some habitat preferences of Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) in Armenia
Hovanisyan, T., Janoyan, G., Schaefer, M., Aghababyan, K.
// 7th Conference of the European Ornithologists’ Union 2009. Zurich, Switzerland, 21-26 Aug 2009.

Levant Sparrowhawk Pilot Survey 2009 In Armenia

ACE (American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia)

ACCL (Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania, USA)

levant1

Red fields – study areas

Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA) in cooperation with Acopian Center for the Conservation Learning (Hawk Mountain Sanctuary) in 2009 there was conducted a pilot nest survey of Levant Sparrowhawk – one of the least known Western Palearctic raptors.

Several long term trips were organized to Aragats Mt and Meghri area, Yerevan city parks were surveyed as well on a frequent basis.

Field trips took substantial part of the project during April – August.

The main aims of the survey were:

levant2

The surveys have successfully resulted in overall 17 breeding sites/pairs. 
Click on photo above to enlarge.

levant3

During the surveys a nest searching technique was developed and tested as most suitable from few other methods tried.

levant4 levant5

For all of the surveyed sites and nests there were recorded various parameters, such as nesting site GIS data, habitat description, behavior of breeding birds, nestlings and fledglings, interaction with other species and various other ecological information. Data on food was collected and taken few video footages and a number of photographs.

levant6

The information collected in 2009 helped to achieve initial objectives of the pilot project and will significantly contribute to the future surveys of the Levant Sparrowhawk in Armenia.

Distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of the lesser spotted eagles of Armenia

Acopian Center for the Environment 2007-2009

The Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) inhabits almost all deciduous forest regions of Armenia. Due to economic and energy crisis and following economic growth in Armenia from 1990-s until now the land use pattern and the forest management in Armenia was strongly altered. The mentioned factors might have a negative impact on the large forest raptor species since they are more vulnerable and sensitive to changes in their habitat. Considering that the following objectives were chosen for particular study:

  1. to refine knowledge on distribution and abundance of Lesser Spotted Eagle in Armenia
  2. to study habitat preferences of the species
  3. to identify current and potential threats for the species
lesser1

Foraging Lesser Spotted Eagle

Results

Based on the data collected during 1998-2007 it was possible to conclude the following:

  1. Distances between neighboring nests are 14. 2 and 14. 3 km (based on 4 nests)
  2. The average distance between the nest and limits of the hunting territory of a pair is 4.05 ±0.39 km
  3. The maximum possible population size of the species in the country, is preliminary estimated as about 48-52 pairs

The species in Armenia is facing to a number of direct and indirect threats, such as lack of enforced regulation in use of pesticides, poaching, human disturbance during breeding season and habitat loss.

lesser2

Habitat of the Lesser Spotted Eagle (left) and its nest on the oak tree (right)

Outcomes

  1. The article regarding the subject was published. K. Aghababyan, V. Ananian, S. Tumanyan. 2008. To the Distribution and Abundance of Lesser Spotted Eagles in Armenia. // Research and Conservation of the Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagles in Northern Eurasia. Materials 5th Conference on Raptors of Northern Eurasia Ivanovo, February 4-7, 2008
  2. Several amateur ornithologists were trained in data collection and analysis and one of them, Tatevik Tamazyan, a student of Biological Department of Yerevan State University defended a Master’s Thesis on the subject “The Ecology of Lesser Spotted Eagles in Armenia”
  3. The results of the project were used for the new edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia and would be useful for the future forest management planning and environmental assessment procedures.   

Hawk Mountain Acopian Learning Center Raptor Conservation Training

To date 4 trainees from Armenia have participated in this program. They include Karen Aghababyan, Vasil Ananian, Grigor Janoyan and Siranush Tumanyan.

Please visit the website: http://www.hawkmountain.org/

International Raptor Count

Autumn Migration – Batumi, Georgia 2008-2009

Raptors are essential part of the wildlife, indicating the health of ecosystem. Change in the Raptors’ number might indicate different type of environmental issues. One of the easiest ways to get imagination of the abundance of different raptor species is to count them on migration since they are getting together on special areas, called “bottleneck sites”. 

batumi3One of such sites is situated close to Batumi in Western Georgia (Ajaria), on the Black Sea coast, which is close to another raptor counting place – Borchka in Eastern Turkey. Hundreds of thousands of raptors fly through the area during autumn migration (from late August to October). 

In 2008 the activity involved 28 volunteers and student trainees from Belgium, Holland, Georgia and Armenia. In 2009 other countries have joined the initiative, such as Turkey, France, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Georgia etc. Apart from participation in the count ACE also took part in organizing and implementing the “Young Birdwatchers Exchange Program”, which aims to bring together birdwatchers from a number of countries. In frames of this project ACE has distributed a recruitment announcement in Armenia, interviewed applicants and selected the most appropriate candidates. Before leaving to Batumi the selected applicants were provided with preliminary training in Armenia, both in auditorium and in the field. ACE provides each of the local candidates with a copy of “A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia”, a pair of binoculars and a spotting scope for use throughout the count.

batumi2Upon arrival to Batumi, Karen Aghababyan as a leader teacher gives an intensive raptor identification course for the first three days for all the students of “Young Birdwatchers Exchange Program”.
 
To teach the student ACE is using a raptor Section of the Bird Identification Training Course (BITC).

Some Results

During the counting period (by 6-22 /Sep/2008), there were counted 815374 raptors in average more than 67000 per day. We had huge number of Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Montagu’s Harrier, Booted Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk, etc., and also Snake Eagle, Osprey, Lesser Spotted and Steppe Eagle, etc.

batumi1During the count of 2009 the Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) was recorded, the second time for Caucasus.

More detailed info you can find at www.batumiraptorcount.org

 

 

 

 

 

batumi4

European Breeding Bird Atlas Monitoring

This project will fill gaps in the National Strategy of Biodiversity Monitoring regarding the inventory and information management on breeding birds of Armenia. It will also provide input to the European Breeding Bird Atlas, where Armenia is underrepresented. The European Bird Census Council recently appointed Dr. Karen Aghababyan as the National Coordinator of the European Breeding Bird Atlas 2. The project will trace the 3 long-term changes in breeding bird species’ distribution and abundance, as well as their habitat degradation caused by climate change and human-induced threats.

Currently, Armenia is divided into 10km by 10km grids. The field data collection routes are set up. The counting methodology is piloted. Over the next four years, Dr. Aghababyan will organize large-scale fieldwork involving hundreds of professionals and volunteers. The European Bird Census Council will use the country-specific atlases to compile a European-wide atlas, the EBBA2. With the massive amount of bird data collected, the EBBA2 will become one of the most comprehensive biodiversity data sets in the world.

 

Birds in my Backyard

bimb-aua

 

The Acopian Center for the Environment sponsors a conservation-education competition called ‘Birds in my Backyard’ that encourages school children to build birdfeeders, observe the birds, and take a photo or draw a picture of a bird that comes to the feeder.

Support this program designed especially for Armenian children.

Students can win prizes and participate in the ‘Sun Child Environmental Festival’, another event that the Acopian Center for the Environment actively supports. This festival puts special emphasis on the youth and children’s participation in discussing current environmental challenges in the region. Besides competitive film screenings and photo exhibitions, hands-on activities such as field trips, tree planting and trash collection take place regularly.

birdsbackyard

“The competition is more than a competition; its aim is education. It offers children the opportunity to look at nature from a different angle. I hope that these children will become students of the American University of Armenia when they grow up and will continue to protect nature.” —- Dr. Jennifer Lyman, Ph D.

Winners-AUA

Past winners of the ‘Birds in my Backyard’ competition.

Bird Identification Training Course

The Acopian Center’s ‘Bird Identification Training Course’ (BITC) was initiated in 2004 with a group of 15 students. Since then, over 450 people have participated in this course. Classes are in three languages (Armenian, English, Russian) and conducted for local as well as foreign students. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. You do not have to be a student at AUA to attend. The classes are held in a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere. We have had students of all ages –  from 12 to 68 years old!

birdid1

Course participants learn how to identify the different bird species in Armenia and how to observe them in nature. The course is aimed at people of all skill levels. We have a Beginner course and an Advanced course. Each consists of 30 lessons in which the students learn to identify at least 100 to 200 different bird species that occur in Armenia. The Beginner course has three field trips (to Lake Sevan, Lori region, and Aragats Mountain) and the Advanced course also has three field trips (to Armash fish-farming ponds, Noravank gorge and Dilijan forest) where birds studied in the classroom will be seen in their natural habitat. We provide binoculars and other optical equipment for observation during the field trips.

birdid4

Classes are held once per week for 1 hour, from September 18 to May 30.

At the completion of the course, and after passing a test, each student will receive a certificate that they have completed the course. And the best students in the class will get a complimentary copy of the Armenian version of “A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia”.

birdid3

Prospects for Sustainable Development of Small Hydro-Power Sector in Armenia

Date: February 20, 2014
Event Type: Seminar, Public Discussion
Speakers: See program
Venue: American University of Armenia

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment in partnership with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Norsk Energi, the Norwegian consultancy leading a technical assistance to the small hydro-power sector in Armenia, organized a public event reviewing the results of a two-year project called “Sustainable Hydro-Power Development for Energy Security.” The project was grant funded by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry to strengthen the small hydro-power sector while improving its environmental performance in Armenia. The outputs of the project’s working group are publicly available at www.smallhydroarmenia.org. In attendance at the event were more than 60 representatives of civil society, OSCE-supported Aarhus Centers, Armenian government, private industry, and the diplomatic corps.

gov-dip-corps
The governmental and diplomatic corps attending the event. From left, Areg Galstyan, RA Deputying Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; Simon Papyan, RA Deputy Minister Nature Protection; Artashes Bakhshyan, RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration; Andrey Sorokin, OSCE Ambassador to Armenia; Tim Straight, Norwegian Honorary Counsel to Armenia; Lukas Gasser, Swiss Ambassador to Armenia; and Nadia Lichtenberger, Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy.

bruce-boghosian
Dr. Bruce Boghosian welcoming participants to the public event on small hydropower plants

Small Hydro Power Plants and Risk Management

Date: February 13, 2014
Event Type: Seminar
Speaker: Tigran Parvanyan, International Finance Corporation
Venue: American University of Armenia

Tigran Parvanyan, IFC, at a seminar co-sponsored by the AUA College of Science and Engineering and the Acopian Center for the Environment. Mr. Parvanyan spoke about small hydro power technologies used in Armenia and issues related to managing risks with these power plants. 

Armenia’s Draft Law on Environmental Impact Assessment

Date: January 27, 2014
Event Type: Public Discussion
Speakers: Alen Amirkhanian, Simon Papyan, Azganush Drnoyan, Artur Grigoryan, Adrianan Jordanova
Venue: American University of Armenia

The American University of Armenia’s Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA ACE), in cooperation with the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection and the World Bank, organized a public discussion on the country’s Draft Law on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).

The Republic of Armenia is currently considering a Draft Law on Environmental Impact Assessment that promises to offer advances in the way environmental impact assessments are done for mining, construction, agriculture, urban planning, and other projects. The legislation also intends to bring the national legislation in compliance with Armenia’s international legal obligations, including the Espoo and Aarhus Conventions as well as the Kyiv Protocol.

First Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Mr. Simon Papyan, who led the working group that drafted the law, presented the aims and the status of the current draft. Two members of this working group, Ms. Azganush Drnoyan and Mr. Artur Grigoryan, also presented on the details and innovations of the current draft legislation. In addition, the World Bank’s Lead Environmental Specialist, Ms. Adriana J. Damianova, presented her view on ways in which the current draft will address some of the concerns about the approval of mining projects.

A major advance in the current draft is that it empowers public authorities to define the scope of work for EIAs. This is in sharp contrast to the current law, in which the applicant proposes a scope and authorities have no legal basis to demand otherwise. The draft law also introduces new approaches to the valuation of environmental harm resulting from economic activity. It also paves paths for more effective public participation and determination of affected communities.

Present in the audience were more than 60 environmental experts, representatives of international development organizations, environmental NGOs, and the concerned public. A key message emerging from the in-depth discussion was that the draft law, in spite of its strides, still has gaps that need to be addressed.

Mr. Papyan encouraged the concerned public to present their comments in writing for consideration. He and other experts in the audience explained that there is still time to amend the Draft Law even if it has already been presented to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment.

The current Draft Law was proposed after Republic of Armenia President Serzh Sargsyan vetoed an earlier version in 2012 citing that “the standards for assessment of the impact of economic activities is not adequately substantiated.”[1] Many environmentalists also opposed the vetoed version.

No concrete timetable exists on when the current Draft Law will be adopted by the National Assembly for final approval and sent to the President for signature. It is, however, widely anticipated that the National Assembly will act on the Draft Law in its Spring session.

AUA President Dr. Bruce M. Boghosian and AUA ACE Director Alen Amirkhanian welcomed the participants in their opening remarks. “It is my hope that AUA can become a space to discuss environmental issues openly and rigorously. For this, we need government, business, international organizations, and civil society to come together and exchange ideas and views. This will only strengthen our ability as a country to develop sound approaches and policies,” said Amirkhanian.

 

Video recording of the event is available here.

To download individual speaker’s texts, presentations, and videos, please click here.

image0011-800x565
AUA President Dr. Bruce M. Boghosian offers his welcoming remarks.

image0031-800x450

Environmental experts, representatives of international development organizations, environmental NGOs, and members of the concerned public were present at the event.

image0051

Artur Grigoryan, Member of the working group for developing the Draft EIA law.

image0071-800x459
From left to right: Artur Grigoryan, Azganush Drnoyan, Adriana Jordanova Damianova, and Simon Papyan.

 image009-800x785
Adriana Jordanova Damianova, Lead Environmental Specialist and Program Team Leader in Europe and Central Asia Region, the Sustainable Development Department, The World Bank

image011-800x600
Azganush Drnoyan, Expert of the Environmental Expertise, member of working group for developing the Draft EIA law

image013
Alen Amirkhanian, Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment

image015-800x707

First Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Simon Papyan discusses the Draft Law on EIA.

 

[1]www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/pp/compliance/MoP4decisions/Armenia/toARM_IV9a_CC37.pdf

Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Challenges and Opportunities

American University of Armenia (AUA) in cooperation with Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund (R2E2) hosted the Second International Steering Committee Meeting within the frame of BSBEEP Project in Yerevan. The Partners discussed the work that has been done and the work which needs to be finalized. During the meeting the project website was presented by R2E2 and project logo was decided from three available designs offered by Samsun Metropolitan Municipality.

During the meeting a public-media event was organized promoting energy efficiency in buildings and highlighting EU’s role in this. Presenters included:

The public-media Event’s main aim was to raise the awareness of public and to engage interested establishments.

Media Coverage:

ArmNews – http://www.armnewstv.am/1386575490

Hajastani Hanrapetutyun – http://www.hhpress.am/index.php?sub=hodv&hodv=20131210_7&flag=am

Armenia TV– http://www.armeniatv.am/hy/news/44642

A1+  – http://www.a1plus.am/am/economy/2013/12/09/energy;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGdfZ0ezYms;

Tert.am– http://www.tert.am/am/news/2013/12/09/energakhayutyun/
http://www.tert.am/am/news/2013/12/09/energy/

CivilNet– http://civilnet.am/2013/12/09/green-news-energy-efficiency-crediting/

 

Civil Society, Development, and Environmental Activism in Armenia

Date: November 21, 2013
Event Type: Pubic Discussion
Speakers: Alen Amirkhanian, Armine Ishkanian, Levon Abrahamyan, Hranush Kharatyan, Jenny Paturyan
Venue: American University of Armenia

Dr. Ishkhanian discussed the findings in her published academic report based on extensive research conducted from 2011 to 2013 on the rise of environmental activism in Armenia. The report particularly focused on civil society campaigns against mining in the country. Through an examination of recent activism in Armenia (2007-present), Ishkhanian highlighted the achievements as well as the challenges and obstacles facing civil society in Armenia. The objective of this report was to contribute to on-going debates within Armenia and its Diaspora about mining in the country as well as the wider socio-economic and political developments in Armenia. Ishkhanian’s presentation on her findings was followed by presentations and discussions by eminent Armenian scholars and researchers:

Professor Levon Abrahamian, corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA) and the Head of the Department of Contemporary Anthropological Studies, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

Dr. Hranush Kharatyan, leading specialist, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

Dr. Yevgenya Paturyan, assistant director, Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis, American University of Armenia.

The panel discussion was chaired by Alen Amirkhanian, director, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment.

image001

 

The Environment and Armenia’s State Budget

 Շրջակա միջավայրը և Հայաստանի պետ-բյուտջեն

Date: July 29, 31, August 2, 2013

Event Type: Public Discussion

Speaker: Ashot Harutyunyan, Head, Department of Monitoring of Environmental Strategic Programs, RA Ministry of Nature Protection

Venue: American University of Armenia

3 սեմինարներ “Շրջակա միջավայրը և Հայաստանի պետ-բյուտջեն” թեմայով:

Three seminars entitled “The Environment and Armenia’s State Budget.” In Armenian.

image001

Renewable Energy and Uncertainty in Electricity Markets

Date: August 1, 2013

Event Type: Seminar

Speaker: Vitali Avagyan, AUA CSE Alum, Luys Fellow, Imperial College PhD Candidate

Venue: American University of Armenia

The seminar explored the best optimization techniques for decision making under uncertainty tailored specifically for the British electricity market with a large amount of renewable electricity sources. The aim of the seminar was to give some understanding of energy policy, models of investment and policy implications of firms’ collective behavior in the electricity market. Additionally, short-term and long-term investment models and models for energy systems were discussed.

 

Clean Smelter Technologies and Occupational Safety in Smelters

Date: July 16-17, 2013

Event Type: Seminar

Speaker: Vicken Aprahamian, Senior Process Metallurgist, Ottawa, Canada

Venue: American University of Armenia

Vicken Aprahamian talking at AUA on Clean Smelter Technologies. The talk was co-organized by AUA Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA ACE), Foundation for Preservation of Wilderness and Cultural Assets (FPWC), and the Armenian Environmental Network (AEN)

image001

Movement Ecology of Turkey Vultures

Date: July 10, 2013
Event Type: Seminar
Speaker: Keith Bildstein, Sarkis Acopian Director of Conservation Science, Acopian Center for Conservation Learning, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Orwigsburg, USA
Venue: American University of Armenia 

In July of 2013 we were fortunate to have in Armenia Dr. Keith Bildstein, Sarkis Acopian Director of Conservation Science, from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in the U.S. He is among the preeminent experts in the world on raptors (“գիշատիչ թռչուններ”). He came to Armenia for research on Levant Sparrowhawks in the Meghri region. He conducted this research with Siranush Tumanyan.  His talk was on the Movement Ecology of Turkey Vultures in North and South America, a topic he has studied for more than 10 years. He also talked about the research he and Siranush Tumanyan were doing in Meghri.

image001

Blacksmith Toxic Waste Site Assessment

image002

Children in an Armenian village playing on toxic mining waste deposited near their schoolyard.

AUA ACE, in partnership with the AUA School of Public Health and two Republic of Armenia ministries, contributed to the Blacksmith Institute’s Global Inventory Project for Toxic Waste Sites in Armenia. The Blacksmith Institute, an international not-for-profit organization, is developing a global inventory of toxic hotspots that pose a risk to human health in low- and middle-income countries. The project evaluated 25 sites across five marzes in Armenia impacted by mining and other industrial activity. Water and soil samples were collected to analyze for heavy metals and other toxic chemicals. In addition, more than 124 community members, local authorities, and NGO representatives participated in interviews. The findings of this study show that many of these communities have unacceptably high levels of toxic pollutants and that the residents are not informed about the risks and ways to minimize exposure. While no funding exists yet, AUA ACE plans to address this lack of knowledge in communities over the summer through preparing educational materials and engaging partners with extensive networks in affected communities.

AUA Study: Mining in Armenia Creates Poverty, Income Inequality

Mine workers at the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum processing plant in Kajaran handling toxic heavy metals without breathing protection or protective gloves.  Photo by Nazik Armenakyan

YEREVAN–Mining contributed to economic growth in Armenia between 2004-2010 while simultaneously creating income inequality and poverty. This is according to a recent study by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment conducted in cooperation with the AUA College of Business and Economics.

The hands of a mine worker at the molybdenum processing center at the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Plant in Kajaran. Photo by Anahit Hayrapetyan. That same man change his baby’s diaper later in the day. Photo by Nazik Armenakyan

The study’s principal researcher and author, Dr. Aleksandr Grigoryan, looks at regional-level data and reports that mining does have some positive impact on the growth of the economy.

“This supports the claim often repeated by proponents of mining that it is needed for Armenia’s economic growth,” says Dr. Grigoryan, an assistant professor of economics at AUA.

Mining and Income Inequality

Dr. Grigoryan’s analysis, however, also shows that mining contributes to higher poverty and greater income inequality. “Our analysis shows that the mining sector is likely to increase income inequality and deepen poverty in the regions of Armenia in which it operates,” states Grigoryan.

This runs counter to claims by mining proponents that the sector creates jobs that will have medium- to long-term development impact on the regions and the country.

These conflicting realities can be explained by a number of factors prevalent in Armenia’s economy, according to Grigoryan.

“Mining has been growing as a share of the Armenian economy for several years now but with the economic crisis and increase in world metal prices, mining took on a more significant role in our GDP growth,” he explains, noting that this trend is expected to continue if no other sector of the economy picks up steam.

Mining and Poverty

An increase in poverty is another observed effect of mining, a relationship that Dr. Grigoryan says needs to be studied further.

Other research on the impact of mining conducted by the AUA School of Public Health and AUA Acopian Center reports some residents claiming that property owners are forced to sell their properties at very low prices. Such occurrences, if they have taken place, would deprive villagers of an asset critical to wealth creation, according to Dr. Grigoryan.

Moreover, workers in the mining or mineral processing industries are not provided health insurance, a fact that may burden families with health costs or lower productivity.

A young man in a hospital bed with his wife. He has a stomach ulcer and believes it’s from working at the mine. Photo by Nazik Armenakyan.

The Role of Policy

“If we are to make mining a key sector in the Armenian economy, we also have to develop the right socio-economic policies where the immediate communities and the country benefits maximally,” says Alen Amirkhanian, director of the AUA Acopian Center.

Mining and extractive industries have played a significant role in ensuring long-term and equitable growth for several countries, particularly Norway, Australia, and Botswana. “These countries have successfully used mining to raise the standard of living for a vast majority of their populations because they devised and implemented good public policy,” stresses Amirkhanian, who organized an international conference last November on the topic.

Without proper policies designed to regulate and leverage mining, Armenia will continue on a path that follows mining models that enrich a few while depriving larger numbers of current and future generations of opportunities to benefit from their patrimony, states Amirkhanian.

According to the Armenian Statistical Service, in 2011, Armenia’s mining industry employed 15,500 workers or about 1% of the country’s total employment and contributed to about 3% of the its GDP.

AUA is organizing another international scientific conference on “Emerging Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health.”  The conference, set for April 22-23, will bring leading experts from around the world to Yerevan to explore the impact of mining and construction in transition economies such as Armenia. The research they present will provide solutions to the occupational and environmental health problems facing workers, communities and children and help craft public policy to address these issues.

Cow drinking water from at the Artsvanik tailing pond from the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum mine in Kajaran. Photo by Nazik Armenakyan

The photos included are from the “Investigative Photojournalism for Human Rights and Clear Environment” project, made possible through the assistance of the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The project was implemented by Socioscope NGO.

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA ACE) is a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA). AUA ACE promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. AUA ACE’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, greening the built environment, clean energy and energy efficiency, as well as information technology and the environment.

The College of Business and Economics (CBE) at the American University of Armenia (AUA) is the leading business school in the region, promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and ethical leadership. CBE has catered to Armenian and international students, corporations, and communities for the past 20 years.

International Conference to Tackle Mining’s Impact on Environment and Health in Armenia

YEREVAN–Experts from around the world will meet in Yerevan, on April 22-23, for a two-day scientific symposium at the American University of Armenia (AUA) on the impact of mining and construction on health in Armenia and other transitional economies.

This symposium, titled “Emerging Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health: Mining and Construction in Transition Economies,” is being organized by the AUA School of Public Health and AUA Acopian Center for the Environment in cooperation with the Collegium Ramazzini, an independent, international academy advancing the study and practice of occupational and environmental health and safety.

“We hope to engage a broad spectrum of occupational and environmental health scientists working in academia, as well as government and non-government organizations, business, labor, and other organizations in the public and private sectors,” explains Varduhi Petrosyan, associate dean of the AUA School of Public Health. “The symposium seeks to improve the understanding of how evidence-based scientific findings can be applied to strategically protect workers’ and community health in the region.”

The conference takes place at a time of new challenges facing many transitional economies, particularly in the post-soviet sphere. Armenia, along with other former communist-block states, has been unable to develop adequate responses to the socio-economic, environmental, and public health concerns rising from unregulated market growth in mineral extraction and construction

“The research presented will provide solutions to the many occupational and environmental health problems facing the communities and laborers affected by these industries,” says Alen Amirkhanian, director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. “Our goal is to move the discussion forward and help craft public policy that can address these issues, protect workers and ensure we properly develop these industries.”

The language of the conference is English with simultaneous translation into Armenian. The conference will be streamed live online at http://civilnet.am For more information, visit http://eoh2013.aua.am

The AUA School of Public Health works actively to improve the health of the populace and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of public health professionals and others to be leaders in public health, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA ACE) is a research center of the American University of Armenia. AUA ACE promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. AUA ACE’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, greening the built environment, clean energy and energy efficiency, as well as information technology and the environment.

Conference Program:

Monday – April 22

9:00-9:30: Registration

9:30-10:30: Opening Session

11:00-13:00: Preventing Mining-related Illness in Miners and the Community – Part A

14:00-15:30: Environmental and Work-related Cancer

16:00-18:00: Preventing Mining-related Illness in Workers and the Community – Part B

Tuesday – April 23

13:00-15:00: Preventing Work-related Illness in Construction Workers

Green Design Workshop Engages Youth in Design of New Ayb Campus

Date: April 27, 2013
Event Type: Workshop
Participant/Presenter: Alen Amirkhanian, Director, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment
Venue: Ayb High School 

image001
AUA Acopian Center for the Environment Director Alen Amirkhanian discusses green design at Ayb Educational Complex. Photo by Nare Sahakyan, Storaket. 

image005The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment joined with Storaket Architectural Studio and Ayb Educational Foundation in organizing a workshop focused on developing a green concept plan for expanding the Yerevan campus of the Ayb Educational Hub. The event brought more than thirty youth together to discuss environmentally friendly design solutions for the seven hectare expansion project currently being designed by Storaket.

“It was very encouraging to see all the enthusiastic and committed young people finding green design both challenging and engaging,” said AUA ACE Director Alen Amirkhanian, who presented at the workshop frameworks and accepted practices in integrating environmentally sensitive design solutions. “Having a real project on the table gave the participants concrete problems to address.”

Amirkhanian’s talk and subsequent breakout groups focused on managing water and wastewater, solid waste, energy, transportation, and green zones.

Speaking to the participants, Ayb Principal David Sahakyan introduced the school’s guiding philosophy and long-term plans while Shant Isaianns of Storaket discussed the master plan being developed for the campus.

“The theme-specific workshops generated many ideas for consideration by the architects,” added Amirkhanian. “It was very rewarding to hear one of the participating high-school students ask, ‘can we do this again?’”

image007
Workshop participants

 

Emerging Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health: Mining and Construction in Transition Economies

Date: April 22-23, 2013
Event Type: International Scientific Symposium
Speakers: See program
Venue: American University of Armenia

image001

The American University of Armenia organized an international scientific symposium focused on exploring the occupational and environmental health issues around mining and construction in transition economies such as Armenia.

This symposium, titled “Emerging Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health: Mining and Construction in Transition Economies,” was organized by the AUA School of Public Health and AUA Acopian Center for the Environment in cooperation with the Collegium Ramazzini, an independent, international academy advancing the study and practice of occupational and environmental health and safety.

“We hope to engage a broad spectrum of occupational and environmental health scientists working in academia, as well as government and non-government organizations, business, labor, and other organizations in the public and private sectors,” explained Varduhi Petrosyan, associate dean of the AUA School of Public Health. “The symposium seeks to improve the understanding of how evidence-based scientific findings can be applied to strategically protect workers’ and community health in the region.”

The conference takes place at a time of new challenges facing many transitional economies, particularly in the post-soviet sphere. Armenia, along with other former communist-block states, has been unable to develop adequate responses to the socio-economic, environmental, and public health concerns rising from unregulated market growth in mineral extraction and construction

“The research presented provided solutions to the many occupational and environmental health problems facing the communities and laborers affected by these industries,” says Alen Amirkhanian, director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. “Our goal is to move the discussion forward and help craft public policy that can address these issues, protect workers and ensure we properly develop these industries.”

The language of the conference was English with simultaneous translation into Armenian. The conference was streamed live online at http://civilnet.am For more information, visit  http://eoh2013.aua.am

Videos:

  1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcx5o5CZa6s
  2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90K8czxHkmA
  3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9klBp-OT8U
  4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8peVPzDS1I
  5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZm40XUcx8Y
  6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GVP3JSUFeY
  7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPdi9LriF98

 

Utilization of Native Algae Species in Remediation of Mining Runoff: Selenium as a Case Study

Event Type: Seminar
Speaker: Andrei Guschin, Advisory Council Member, Climate Solutions, Seattle, USA; Visiting Professor, American University of Armenia
Venue: American University of Armenia

image001

Clean technology entrepreneur Dr. Andrei Guschin spoke at the American University of Armenia on the use of algae to remove mining runoff toxins such as Selenium. The public seminar was a part of an ongoing series organized by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment.

Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring element found in trace levels in soils, water, plants and animals. The anthropogenic redistribution of Se through agricultural runoff, coal combustion, refining of metal ores and mining has caused elevated levels of selenium that is harmful to plants and animals.

Algae have been identified as agents that can remove Se and other pollutants from contaminated water, as they have the ability to accumulate into their organism heavy metals and other toxins. If algal bioremediation is to be effective, the production of large quantities of biomass is required. During the growth of microalgae, metals and other toxins are removed from the environment by adsorption.

By providing the proper growth conditions, such as light, pH, temperature etc., algae biomass can provide a simple, cost effective method of bioremediation. Dr. Guschin discussed the process of bioremediation with algae in greater detail as well as technology created at Bionavitas, a company he had co-founded, which has applications to facilities using the sun by reducing the effects of self-shading. This enables smaller footprint solutions.

About the Speaker:

Based in Seattle, USA, Dr. Andrei Guschin is a lecturer in Entrepreneurship & Innovation at AUA and other leading business schools in Eastern Europe and North America. He has been educating entrepreneurs on how to build successful companies since 2004. He has served as Chair of the Venture Lab, a division of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Enterprise Forum NW.

In addition, Dr. Guschin co-founded two clean technology companies, including Bionavitas, Inc., where he was Director, R&D, responsible for developing a platform technology to dramatically increase algal growth for remediation of mining runoff. Dr. Guschin also consulted with Fortune 500 firms in strategy development, and advised 3M in selecting products for mass production. He was a postdoctoral associate at MIT with a Nobel Laureate and holds a Ph.D. from the Russian Academy of Sciences and an M.S. from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He also studied at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.

Managing and Certifying Forests: New Directions in Resource Stewardship

Date: March 27, 2013
Event Type: Seminar
Speaker: Ani Haykuni, Manager, Forestry Services at the Armenian Tree Project Charitable Foundation
Venue: American University of Armenia

image001

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment hosted a public lecture on the topic of forest management. The presentation was delivered by Ani Haykuni, the manager of Forestry Services at the Armenian Tree Project (ATP) Charitable Foundation.

Forests are among the most important parts of earth’s ecosystem. They affect the planet’s carbon and hydrological cycles, house a vast concentration of its species biodiversity, and more than 14 million people are directly employed in forest-related industries.

As a resource, forests need to be managed both for long-term human security as well as the sustainability of the planet. Haykuni outlined the role of public policy as well as highlighted relatively new mechanisms, such as forest certification, for their sound management. She wconcluded by discussing the close nexus between forests, people, and community development.

About the Speaker: 

Ani Haykuni works as a Manager of Forestry Services for ATP Charitable Foundation (Armenia Tree Project). She is a Muskie 2009 alumnus, and holds an MPS degree in Forest and Natural Resources Management and Policy from State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She also holds an MA in Forestry Engineering from Armenian State Agrarian University. She is recipient of several awards including the Careers for Alumni in Public Service (CAPS) Award, Elena Gastaldo Fellowship, Jay and Olive Bentley Award, Carl M. Rise Fellowship, among others. Her current areas of interest are forest and natural resources management, policy and law, community forestry/community development, forest certification, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

 

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Date: March 20-22, 2013
Event Type: Workshop
Participant: Karen Aghababyan, Chief Scientist, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment
Venue: Barcelona, Spain

 image003

The European Breeding Bird Atlas 2 (EBBA2) Workshop took place in Barcelona, Spain. Attending the Workshop from the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment was Dr. Karen Aghababyan, the Center’s Chief Scientist and Head of Environmental Lab. Dr. Aghababyan has recently been appointed by the European Bird Census Council as Armenia’s National Coordinator of its EBBA2 initiative.

The Workshop was dedicated to launching the preparation for the new Atlas. The Workshop participants also discussed standardization of data and methods, management and processing, planning and fundraising, on-line portals, and engagement of local and foreign observers in the process of data collection. “This is an ambitious project and requires participation of National Coordinators from 50 or so countries,” says Dr. Aghababyan. “The EBBA2 will update the ground-breaking first version, the data of which is by now 30 years old,” he continued. 

At the Workshop, Dr. Aghababyan presented the current condition of ornithological data gathering in Armenia, esp. as it relates to the Atlas. He reported that some of the data collection work has begun. Training modules for volunteers are developed and tested. Other countries that presented their efforts included Slovakia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, and Croatia. 

 

 

Environmental Impact of Copper Extraction and Processing (Gold and Molybdenum too)

Date: March 7, 2013
Event Type: Seminar
Speaker: Agustin Tashdjian, Intern from Argentina, Birthright/Armenian Volunteer Corps
Venue: American University of Armenia

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment hosted a public seminar on the environmental impact of mineral extraction and processing in Armenia. The presentation explored the process of ore extraction and refinement for copper, gold and molybdenum and was delivered by Mr. Agustin Tashdjian, a Birthright/Armenian Volunteer Corps intern from Argentina.

image001

During his presentation, Mr. Tashdjian also discussed the environmental risks associated with these practices. He concluded by focusing on some of the risk-management and pollution-prevention measures used in copper mining and point out mitigation measures that are applicable to the mining of gold and molybdenum.

Over the past decade, environmental concerns over metal mining in Armenia have become more vocal.

The environmental impact of mining goes far beyond the scarring of the landscape. The process of extraction and the tailing dumps created can pollute the air, soil, and water for a very long period. Such pollution often also poses risks to the livelihood of communities living in the proximity of these mining sites.

For the past two months, Tashdjian has been working at the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment under the supervision of Dr. Karen Aghababyan. He has been conducting an extensive literature review on ore extraction and processing, especially for copper, gold, and molybdenum.

Mr. Tashdjian is currently studying for his Master’s in chemistry at the Buenos Aires University. In addition to his studies, he is working at the Electrochemistry Research Lab under the tutelage of Professor Graciela A. Gonzalez. Tashdjian’s main area of interest is environmental chemistry, an area he will pursue further in his PhD studies.

Nuclear Disasters at Chernobyl, Fukushima, and Three-Mile Island

Date: February 12, 2013
Event Type: Seminar
Speaker: Vahe Kharazyan, Head, Instrumentation and Control Department, Yerevan Combined Cycle Power Plant (Yerevan JEK)
Venue: American University of Armenia

nuclear-disasters

A seminar exploring the nuclear disasters at Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three-Mile Island was organized by the College of Science and Engineering and the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. It reviewed the sequence of critical events leading up to the accidents at each plant, the countermeasures taken, their effectiveness, and the consequences of the public’s exposure to radiation.

“Armenia generates 40% of its electricity using nuclear power, a share that is expected to remain if not grow with the construction of a proposed new nuclear power plant,” said Alen Amirkhanian, Interim Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. “At AUA, we see it as a responsibility to engage our students and the community at large to discuss both the advantages and risks of such an energy source.”

The seminar was led Dr. Vahe Kharazyan, head of the Instrumentation and Control Department at the Yerevan Combined Cycle Power Plant (Yerevan JEK).

Kharazyan, who has been working in Armenia’s energy industry for more than five years as an engineer and consultant, briefly discussed the technologies employed in Chernobyl, Fukushima, and Three-Mile Island nuclear power plants.

For each of these catastrophic accidents, Dr. Kharazyan explained the series of events that led to disasters. In the case of Three-Mile Island and particularly Chernobyl, design shortcomings were severely complicated by operator and management errors.

In case of Fukushima, operator error did not play a part. The walls built to act as tsunami barriers were 5.7 meters tall whereas the actual tsunami waves that hit the plant on March 11, 2011 were 14 meters tall. The force of the waves knocked the backup system out of operation.

Kharazyan concluded the seminar by highlighting some of the policy changes that were made or are likely to be made in response to these nuclear disasters.

Dr. Kharazyan received his PhD in Cogeneration from the Energy Research Institute of Armenia and an MS degree in Science and Technology Policy from the University of Minnesota.

He has been actively involved with the PA Consulting Group in the preparation for the environmental impact assessment of the new nuclear power plant proposed for Armenia. Dr. Kharazyan is also a regular guest lecturer at the AUA course IE352 (Decision Making Tools for Energy).

Mining and Socio-Economic Policy: Armenia’s Choices

Date: November 30, 2012
Event Type: International Scientific Symposium
Speakers: Saleem Ali and 12 national and international experts
Venue: American University of Armenia

 (http://newsroom.aua.am/2012/12/05/mining-socio-economic-development-media/)

International and local experts were in Yerevan on for a one-day conference examining the choices available to Armenia as it tries to balance economic gains with that of social equity as well as public and environmental health. 

The conference featured a keynote presentation on mining’s role in economic growth and social development by Dr. Saleem Ali, Director of the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining at the University of Queensland, Australia. The event’s first panel examined whether mining can play a key role in Armenia’s economic growth, while the second panel focused on mining’s impact on Armenia’s environmental and public health. The event’s last panel explored whether Armenia’s legal and institutional framework on mining fosters socio-economic development.

These issues were discussed against the larger backdrop of a growing unease in and outside Armenia on the potential benefits and risks of mining to the country’s socio-economic and environmental future.

Dr. Saleem Ali and Dr. Varduhi Petrosian speak to Civilnet about mining and its economic, environmental and health impacts in Armenia

Conference Panels and Presentations

PANEL 1: Can mining play a key role in Armenia’s economic growth? (video)
Moderator: Alen Amirkhanian, College of Science and Engineering, AUAPanelists:

PANEL 2: Mining and Armenia’s Environmental and Public Health: Impact and Mitigation (video)
Moderator: Karen Aghababyan, Acopian Center for the Environment, AUAPanelists:

PANEL 3: RA Legal and Institutional Framework on Mining: Does it foster Armenia’s socio-economic development?(video
Moderator: Tom Samuelian, Dean, College of Humanities and Social Science, AUAPanelists:

           Closing Remarks: Outlining Key Takeaways and Future To Do’s (Dr. Saleem Ali) (video)

galler-e1354311750711

Solar Architecture

Date: November 28, 2012
Event Type: Seminar
Speaker: Artak Hambarian, Associate Director, College of Science and Engineering, American University of Armenia
Venue: American University of Armenia

More than 20 architecture and engineering students and professionals received certificates for completing a course on Solar Architecture organized by the “Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings” project of the UNDP’s Global Environment Facility and the American University of Armenia.

image001 

Conducted in the summer of 2012, the course engaged young professionals and students in an intensive, one-week seminar on passive and active energy design features for buildings. Participants gained insight into a number of environmentally efficient design principals and strategies.  

image004

The concepts explored during the program ranged from passive methods that focused on the extensive use of natural ventilation, daylight maximization and nighttime cooling to increase energy efficiency, as well as active methods to generate and conserve energy through solar panels, solar thermal panels, integrated PV piping, hybrid systems, and solar paint. 

The certificates were awarded by UNDP Communications Associate Hovhannes Sarajyan, UNDP/GEF “Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings” Project Task Leader Vahram Jalalyan and the Deputy Director of Architecture Research Center, Professor Artak Hambaryan.

Environmental Impact of Armenia’s Proposed Nuclear Power Plant

Date: November 9, 2012
Event Type: Seminar
Speaker: Lief Erickson, Deputy Chief, USAID Project Providing Support to Armenia’s Energy Sector
Venue: American University of Armenia

image001

AUA’s College of Science and Engineering organized a seminar focusing on the environmental impact assessment of Armenia’s new nuclear power plant, featuring Mr. Lief Erickson, the Deputy Chief of the USAID project providing support to Armenia’s energy sector.

More than 60 students, faculty and guests attended the seminar led by Mr. Erickson, who has been working with the Government of Armenia since 2007. Among Mr. Erickson’s tasks have been supporting the development of an Environmental Impact Assessment on the proposed nuclear plant.

During his presentation, Mr. Erickson described the process of building a new nuclear plant required by RoA laws and International conventions and summarized the status of the EIA done by CJSC “METSAMORENRGOATOM”, the joint Russian-Armenian company formed as the project’s developer and eventual operator.

The proposed 1000 MW power plant is estimated to cost USD 5 Billion and would require 10 years for design and construction. The design phase alone is expected to cost USD 400 to 500 million, an amount the Government of Armenia is working to secure.

Swedish-Armenian Contact Seminar

Date: October 25-26, 2012
Event Type: Networking Event
Venue: American University of Armenia

AUA faculty and researches joined colleagues from Armenia and Sweden for an international seminar at Yerevan State University focused on building cooperation between Swedish and Armenian universities. 

The two day Swedish-Armenian Contact Seminar brought together more than 60 Armenian and 30 Swedish academics and researches to exchange experiences and seek mutual areas of interest  that could lead to collaboration in research and technology development.

The event was organized by the International Programme Office for Education and Training, a Swedish government agency, and the National Tempus Office in Armenia. 

AUA faculty attended from the Colleges of Science and Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business and Economics, and Public Health as well as researchers from the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment represented AUA and its range of research interests.

 

International Greening Education Event in Germany

Date: October 2012
Event Type: Workshop
Participant: Alen Amirkhanian, Director, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment
Venue: Karlsruhe, Germany

image001

The American University of Armenia participated in an annual get-together of educators from around the world to discuss environmental and sustainability topics in the education sector. 

The International Greening Education Event (IGEE), held in Karlsruhe, Germany, provided participants a global platform to share ideas, experiences and knowledge. 

 ”AUA’s participation in the event comes as our faculty continue to work toward deepening and enhancing the university’s environmental curriculum,” said Alen Amirkhanian who represented AUA at IGEE. “Understanding and protecting the natural environment is a cross-disciplinary endeavor. We want to make sure that the AUA curriculum reflects this.”

 

Role of Safety, Health, and Communities in Mining and Metals

Date: May 3, 2012
Event Type: Seminar
Speakers: Margrit von Braun, Ronald Dobbin, Susan Spalinger
Venue: American University of Armenia

The American University of Armenia’s College of Health Sciences and Acopian Center for the Environment organized a Seminar on Lessons Learned from Hazardous Waste Sites from Around the World and a Panel Discussion on the Role of Safety, Health, and Communities in Mining and Metals.
Dr. Margrit von Braun presented case studies from waste sites in the US, Russia, Nigeria, Dominican Republic and other locations around the world.  The sites – focused on mining and metals recycling – were used to describe the frequent intersections of human rights abuses, pollution and poverty and the importance of understanding environmental pathways as well as the key roles of environmental scientists, community leaders, non-governmental organizations, governmental officials, policy makers and others in resolving environmental problems.  
Dr. von Braun briefly presented the main environmental regulations of the US and covered the history of their development. Ronald Dobbin continued the presentation covering health problems of those who work in mining and metal recycling industries (reproductive problems related to lead exposure, cancer and other lung problems related to exposure to diesel emissions, asbestos, and crystalline silica dust). Susan Spalinger concluded the panel discussion presenting the role of communities in environmental clean-ups and importance of proper risk communication.
AUA students, researchers, faculty, representatives of health and environmental NGOs, and environmental activists attended the two meetings and had active discussions with the experts.
Dr. von Braun is Dean/Professor Emerita of the College of Graduate Studies at the University of Idaho and a founder of TerraGraphics International Foundation, a non-profit corporation that assists community leaders, local governments, universities, and other NGOs to apply accepted environmental health intervention and remediation methodologies in low and middle income countries. She is the Founder and Vice President of TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc., an Idaho-based U.S. consulting engineering company with more than 100 employees and offices in four States. Ronald Dobbin is an Occupational Hygienist who worked in the U.S. federal public health agencies for over 30 years and is the President of the Society for Occupational and Environmental Health in the U.S. Susan Spalinger is a Principal Environmental Scientist and Human Health Risk Assessor at TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering Inc., U.S.

image003image001image006
 Dr. Margrit von Braun Varduhi Petrosyan, Susan Spalinger, and Ronald (Denny) DobbinAudience

Biological Diversity and Conservation Problems of the Fauna of the Caucasus

Date: September 2011
Event type: International Conference
Speakers: See program
Venue: American University of Armenia

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment became a co-organizer of the International Conference “Biological Diversity and Conservation Problems of the Fauna of the Caucasus” participated by more than 150 conservationists and scientists from 9 countries. Results of the Conference are published in the Proceedings Book.

At the Conference Acopian Center for the Environment has presented 5 articles on various aspects of study on Birds and Butterflies.

image002 image004

 

GIS and Remote Sensing

Archive

image001Date: December 16, 2008
Event Type: Conference
Venue: American University of Armenia
image004


image005
Acopian
Center for the Environment
GIS Solutions for State and Private Enterprises- Geocom Ltd

The first conference on the use of GIS and   Remote Sensing in Armenia was a big success. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are highly sophisticated computer programs which are used to analyze and store spatial data, produce maps, and make prognoses. They are being applied in a wide range of sectors and are state-of-the-art technology used worldwide.  The conference was jointly organized by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and Geocom Ltc. It attracted more than 40 participants from private GIS companies, state agencies, universities, major NGOs and international organizations. The presentations covered a wide range of important subjects, such as the use of GIS in the field of forest management, disaster management, water and waste water management, and geochemical pollution monitoring. It was the first time that GIS stakeholders from Armenia met over such an event and it was a great opportunity for improved cooperation among institutions working in the same field. All participants agreed that the conference shall be repeated in the following years.

 image009 image007
Fig.1: Meike Schaefer (ACE) delivering the opening speech at the GIS conferenceFig. 2: Mr Braxein from MCA Armenia presents  findings from the irrigation project
 image013image011
Fig.3: Hallway decoration and reception areaFig.4: The organizers of the conference
(Geocom staff and Meike Schaefer)

 

Participating organizations:

ACDI/VOCA
Armenia Tree Project
Armenian Agricultural Academy – Forestry Department
Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds
Armenian Water and Sewerage Company (AWSC)
AUA  (AmericanUniversity of Armenia)
Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies of National Academy of Sciences (Ecocenter)
Environmental Impact Monitoring Center (EIMC)
Forest Monitoring Center
German Embassy
German Technical Cooperation – GTZ
Locator Ltd
Millenium Challenge Account
Ministry of Nature Protection – Department of Protected Area Management
National Academy of Science
OSCE
Seismic Protection Agency
UNDP
WWF Caucasus (World Wide Fund For Nature)
YSU (Yerevan State University)

Save Shikahogh Reserve

Conference
 2006

Environmental Conservation and Research Center-Renee Richer
WWF Armenia -Karen Manvelyan,
Armenia Tree Project-Jeff Masarjian
Armenian Forests NGO Jeffrey Tufenkian
EcoArmenia forum-NGOs 

image001

In 2006 the ECRC at the AmericanUniversity of Armenia, along with its EcoArmenia partners, started a company regarding a proposed new highway that would run through the middle of the Shikahogh Forest Reserve in southern Armenia, which is the unique habitat for variety of endangered flora and fauna. 

In late 2004, the Ministry of Transport and Communication of the Republic of Armenia has approved the project on construction of the Kapan-Meghri motorway in order to promote trucking and passenger transportation between Armenia and Iran. This road was intended to serve an alternative to, then, the only route Kapan-Kajaran-Meghri which runs through the highest in Armenia mountain pass and is unsafe to drivers, especially during the winter. According to the initial draft, 17 km of the motorway had to stretch right through Shikahogh Reserve what would inevitably lead to annihilation of this protected area.

In May 2005, the coalition “SOS Shikahogh” was established to join professional ecologists and laymen from over 40 national and international non-governmental organizations (NGO) and scientific bodies. The coalition was initiated by WWF, ATP, ArmenianForest and ECRC (AUA), and later was joined by a number of local NGOs.

Activities of the “SOS Shikahogh” coalition were supported by numerous protest rallies, publications and TV broadcasts.

Part of the company was helding a public forum at AUA, where participants from the government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society discussed and debated the environmental issues involved in this project.  The outcome was that the highway was rerouted around the reserve in order to protect the forest and the communities of plants and animals that live there.

The outcome of these serious actions was that on 29 June 2005 the Government of the Republic of Armenia has made a decision on road construction in detour of the reserve and not through it. However, the sceptical forecasts of professionals turned out a reality: located mostly on the northern slopes of the Meghri Ridge and being very serpentine, this motorway is not popular among drivers, especially the Iranian truckers.