Ministry of Environment and UNDP discussed implementation of joint  programs

ArmInfo.  Armenia's Minister  of Environment Romanos Petrosyan received a delegation led by UNDP  Resident Representative in Armenia Dmitry Mariyasin,

According to the press service of the Ministry, the parties touched  upon programs related to climate change, forest management,  biodiversity and protected areas, as well as waste management,  carried out with the financial support of the Global Environment  Facility, the Green Climate Fund, coordinated by the Ministry of the  Environment.

Currently, under the coordination of the Ministry, UNDP is  implementing 10 programs related to both sustainable soil and forest  management, mitigating the impact of climate change in Armenia,  developing forest and field fire management capabilities, and  reducing the risks of investments aimed at energy efficient  modernization of buildings. The budget for all implemented programs  is more than $ 35 million.

During the meeting, the Minister presented to Mariyasin the progress  of institutional reforms and new personnel policy in the National  Park Sevan SNCO, which should ultimately lead to an improvement in  the ecological situation in Sevan and sustainable management of the  lake's biological resources. The parties discussed the current  results of joint programs to improve the ecosystem of Lake Sevan, and  possible ways of cooperation.

Petrosyan and Mariyasin also touched upon joint programs in the field  of forest management. The Minister informed that at present the  <HayAntar> (ArmForest) is also carrying out reforms, and as a result  of personnel changes in the near future, the efficiency of the  structure's work will incomparably increase.

The parties also discussed programs implemented jointly with a number  of international, global environmental and green climate funds, which  relate to both the introduction of energy efficient technologies in  Armenia, and the formation of a culture of energy-saving behavior,  which can significantly affect the stable management of energy  carriers and the formation and improvement of mechanisms of renewable  energy.

At the end of the meeting, Petrosyan expressed his readiness to  further deepen cooperation with the Armenian office of UNDP.