The protected areas of Armenia are 374,000 hectares, which is more than 12% of its territory. In 2011, there are 3 reserves , 4 national parks , 27 reserves in Armenia. [1] [2] [3]
60% of the species composition of the flora and fauna of Armenia are protected here. Protected land areas make up about 6% of the territory of the republic, which is extremely insufficient for a country with such rich biological and landscape diversity and subject to strong anthropogenic pressure. Specially protected natural territories, with the exception of the Sevan National Park, mainly cover forest landscapes.
The system of specially protected natural territories of Armenia began to form in 1958. According to the law βOn Specially Protected Natural Territoriesβ (1991), in the republic especially protected natural territories have the status of state reserves , national parks , reserves and natural monuments . [four]
Reserves
According to the current environmental legislation of Armenia , βThe State Reserve is an ecological, scientific, historical and cultural value and a special protected area, endowed with aesthetic qualities, where the development of the natural environment takes place without direct human intervention.β In reserves, human activity is limited only to scientific research.
Khosrov Reserve
The story says that as far back as the 4th century, King Khosrov II declared the south-western slopes of the Gegham Highlands as protected. Here, by his decree, an artificial forest was created. For centuries, the Khosrov Reserve was a hunting ground for nobles, animals were brought and bred in the reserve from the regions of the Middle East, mainly from Persia.
In 1958, the forests of Khosrov, consisting of 8 separate territories, were officially declared a single reserve. Khosrov reserve is located to the south-east of Yerevan , in the southwestern part of the Gegham volcanic highland, in the basins of the Azat and Vedi rivers. The reserve is located in the northeast of the Ararat region, at an altitude of 1400-2250 meters above sea level; covers an area of ββ29196 hectares, of which 9000 are covered with forests. The reserve has a rather difficult terrain with amazing landscapes.
The reserve has a rich flora . More than 1,800 plant species grow here, 156 of which are considered rare, 146 are listed in the Red Book of Armenia . The fauna is diverse: among the inhabitants of more than 30 species of reptiles , 142 species of birds , 55 species of mammals . There are also many species of amphibians , arachnids , etc. Currently, the Khosrov Reserve is home to the Persian leopard .
Shikakhog Nature Reserve
The Shikakhog Nature Reserve is located in the extreme south of the country, in the Syunik Region , on the northern slopes of the Megrinsky Range . The climate here is warm and humid. The area is about 10,000 hectares.
More than 1000 plant species are found here. Rare species of ferns have been preserved, such as the common snake and taurus eagle. The reserve is a place of growth for many endangered plant species: Transcaucasian snowdrop, Artyushenko snowdrop, mixed tulip, Zangezur pear, Zangezur symphandra, etc.
The reserve is located at an altitude of 1000 to 3000 meters above sea level. In lowland areas there are: Caucasian persimmon , ordinary pomegranate , hold-tree , eastern beech, oriental sycamore , walnut , chestnut ; there are yew groves. Oak - hornbeam forests stretch to a height of 2,200 m, for the protection of which the reserve was created in 1958; up to 2600 m - mixed communities of birch , mountain ash and juniper , and in the uppermost zone - alpine meadows .
In the reserve there are various types of snakes: gyurza , sandy udavchik , striped poloz , etc. Shikakhog reserve is the main habitat of the Persian (Persian) leopard in Armenia . Brown bears , wild boars , roe deer , wolves , martens , porcupines , etc. also inhabit here. A lot of birds are found: griffon vulture , brown vulture, hoopoe , redstart , green woodpecker , owls and others.
Erebuni Reserve
The Erebuni nature reserve is located not far from Yerevan , in the central part of the Vokhiaberd ridge, between the villages of Shorbulakh and Geghadir, on tertiary red clay . It was created in 1981; occupies an area of ββabout 90 hectares. At the reserve mostly grow wild grass species that existed here more than a million years: Ararat (Triticum araraticum), Boeotian (Triticum boeoticum) and Urartu (Triticum urartu) wheat kornegolovnik east, iris mesh, gogenakeriya acaulescent, Gundel Tournefort, ambliopirum, aktinolema, chauriy, chicory glandular, net iris and iris graceful, and many other species. In total, about 300 plant species grow here. Many rare species of beetles , 9 species of snakes and lizards , several amphibians , foxes , weasels , wolves , badgers , martens and about 50 species of birds are found.
I had to study numerous countries that are considered to be ancient agricultural, but it is difficult to find a richer, more interesting area than Shorbulah. [five]
- N.I. Vavilov
National Parks
Dilijan National Park
Dilijan National Park was founded in 1958 to protect beech and oak forests, pines, yew groves and mountain lakes (Parz and Gosh lakes); covers an area of ββ27995 ha .
In Dilijan Park there are more than 1000 species of plants, the most common are Iberian oak, eastern beech, various types of hornbeam , as well as ash , some types of linden , maple and others. Some plants, such as dawn, various orchids, hazel grouse and others, are included in the Red Book of Armenia .
The fauna of the park includes 107 species of birds, such as the buzzard, the Caucasian black grouse , the quail , the black kite , the small spotted eagle , the vulture , wood pigeon , owl , owl , Caspian snowcock , golden eagle , bearded vulture , griffon vulture , gray partridge , mountain moth , red ramous laparos , gray -haired vulture , gray partridge , mountain moth , red- caped , red- headed viper , gray -haired vulture stone sparrow , lark , hoopoe , kingfisher , white and gray wagtails, great egret and many others.
There are 45 species of mammals, such as brown bear , wolf , fox , badger , marten , lynx . Very common are forest mice , Persian squirrel , dormouse , European hare , wild boar , spotted deer and roe deer .
There are 16 species of reptiles and 4 species of amphibians .
Sevan National Park
Sevan is the second largest freshwater lake in the world (inferior to Titikake ) - located at an altitude of 1900 meters above sea ββlevel .
The national park was created in 1978 to protect Lake Sevan and surrounding areas. Its area, including the buffer zone, is 150100 hectares , 125300 hectares of which is occupied by the lake and this number has been steadily increasing over the past years - the water level rises by 30-40 cm annually.
Lake Arpi National Park
It was established in 2010 in the extreme north-west of Armenia , in the Shirak region, with the aim of preserving the natural monuments of nature, the diversity of the landscape and biological environment of the Akhurian River , the lakes Arpi and Ardenis, the alpine and floodplain ecosystems located between the eastern part of the Egnahag mountain range and the south the western part of the Javakhk mountain range. Altitude ranges from 2000 meters in the valley to 3000 in the mountains. Here is the harshest climate in the whole region: in winter the frost reaches β50 Β° C, the storms turn the county into a snowy desert.
The area of ββthe national park is 62,000 hectares, about 670 plant species grow on its territory, 22 of which are listed in the Red Book of Armenia, 30 mammal species inhabit, including such a rare species as the European otter, besides 200 species of birds live here, 40 of which are listed in the Red Book of Armenia.
Among the plants here are the Acantholimon Gabrielyana, Astragalus Gokchinsky, Vaida Sevan, Rivers of Lurian and Ayastan, Adonis of Volga, and many others.
In the lake there are 9 species of fish, including whitefish, barbel and carp.
On the territory of the park there are 6 species of amphibians ( green toad , lake frog ), 17 species of reptiles ( Armenian lizard , common snake , verdigris , viper ).
Here you can find about 267 bird species: Armenian gull , white-headed duck , mallard , gray goose , coot , whooper swan , cormorant , loaf and many others.
Arevik National Park
It is located in the extreme south of Armenia , in the region of Syunik Region , on the territory of the southern spur of the Meghri Ridge , in the basins of the Meghri , Shvanidzor and Nuvadi rivers over an area of ββmore than 34,400 hectares . Created in 2010 to preserve the ecosystem of the region ( deciduous forests , semi-deserts , mountain steppes , juniper woodlands, alpine and subalpine meadows ), rare and endangered species of animals, such as Persian (Persian) leopard, spotted hyena , bezoar goat , Armenian moufflon , brown bear , otter , snow caspian , Caucasian black grouse , Armenian viper and others. On the territory of the national park there are more than 1,500 species of plants, about 245 species of vertebrates live, 12 of which are listed in the Red Book of Armenia. Here 34 species of mammals live: dressing , otter , wolf , fox , marten and others.
Reserves
Reserves are organized mainly in 1950-1970. In accordance with the RA Law βOn Specially Protected Natural Territoriesβ, βState reserves are those permanently or temporarily allocated territories where protection and reproduction of natural complexes and their elements, representing a standard, scientific, historical, cultural and economic value, are provided. On the territory of the reserve, any activity that contradicts the purpose of the reserve is restricted or prohibited. β The functions of protecting the natural complexes of Armenia and their especially valuable components, improving and reproducing the gene pool of flora and fauna, ensuring economic and environmental relations on the territory were transferred to the reserves.
| Reserve | Year of foundation | Area ( ha ) | Location | Object of protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sevlichsky reserve | 2001 | 240 | North of Syunik region; near the city of Goris , at an altitude of 2650 meters above sea level, on the slope of the mountain Metz Ishkhanasar. | Lake Sev and adjacent alpine meadows. |
| Gunay juniper woodland | 1958 | Gegharkunik region; eastern slopes of Areguniysky and western slopes of Sevan and ridges. | Juniper forests. | |
| Akhnapat yew grove | 1958 | Tavush region; western slopes of the Miaporsky range. | Yew grove. | |
| Hazel of Arjathleni | 1958 | 40 | Tavush region; the Khachakhpyur river basin (north-west of Ijevan). | Leshchinovye and yew forests. |
| Banks Pines | 1959 | Aragatsotn region; the northern slopes of the Tsakhkunyats ridge in the basin of the river Marmarik . | Pine forest. | |
| Goravan sands | 1959 | Ararat region; south of the town of Vedi and the village of Goravan. | Goravan sandy desert . | |
| Gerger juniper woodland | 1958 | Vayots Dzor region ; the Gerger river basin. | Juniper and pear forests, maintaining ecosystems in the river basin. | |
| Jermuk hydrological reserve | 1983 | 3865 | Vayots Dzor region ; headwaters of the Arpa River basin, northeast of the city of Jermuk . | Springs . |
| Jermuk reserve | 1958 | 3865 | Syunik region; southeast of the city of Jermuk . | Mountain forests and its inhabitants: Armenian mouflon , bezoar goat , brown bear . |
| Tsavskaya grove | 1958 | 64 | Syunik region; The Tsav River Basin . | Grove eastern sycamore . |
| Rhododendron Mrtavardensky reserve | 1959 | East of the region Aragatsotn ; the northern slopes of the Pambak and Tsaghkunyats ridges. | Caucasian rhododendron . | |
| Margahovitsky reserve | 1959 | South of Lori region; north of the village of Fioletovo . | Mountain forests and rare species of animals: bezoar goat , red deer , brown bear , wild boar , Caucasian black grouse , etc. | |
| Aragats Alpine Reserve | 1959 | Aragatsotn region; southern slope of Mount Aragats . | Lake Kari and alpine meadows in its vicinity. | |
| Arzakan-Meghradzor Reserve | 1971 | Kotayk region; Marmarik and Dalarik river basins . | Mountain forests and rare species of animals: bezoar goat , red deer , brown bear , wild boar , Caucasian black grouse , etc. | |
| Ijevan reserve | 1971 | 5908 | Tavush region; slopes of the Ijevan mountain range north of the city of Ijevan . | Mountain forests and rare species of animals: bezoar goat , Armenian mouflon , roe deer , brown bear , porcupine , Caucasian black grouse , etc. |
| Gandzakarsky reserve | 1971 | 6183 | Tavush region; east of Ijevan , at an altitude of 1,500-2,700 meters. | Mountain forests and rare species of animals: bezoar goat , Armenian mouflon , roe deer , brown bear , porcupine , Caucasian black grouse , etc. |
| Getik Reserve | 1971 | 5730 | Gegharkunik and Tavush regions; basin of the river Getik . | Mountain forests and rare species of animals: bezoar goat , Armenian mouflon , roe deer , brown bear , porcupine , Caucasian black grouse , etc. |
| Yeghegnadzor reserve | 1971 | 4200 | Vayots Dzor region ; Eghegis river basin . | Mountain forests and rare animal species: bezoar goat , Armenian mouflon , wild boar , brown bear , porcupine , etc. |
| Goris reserve | 1989 | 1850 | Syunik region; Vararag river basin. | Mountain forests and rare animal species: bezoar goat , Armenian mouflon , wild boar , brown bear , porcupine , etc. |
| Bohakar reserve | 1989 | 2728 | Syunik region; the eastern slopes of the Zangezur Range at an altitude of 1,400β2,200 m, north of the city of Agarak . | Flora and fauna . |
| Ankavan hydrological reserve | 1981 | 3400 | Aragatsotn and Kotayk regions; headwaters of the Marmarik River. | Springs . |
| Vordan Karmir | 1987 | 190 | Ararat region; between the villages of Arazap , Argavand and Yeghegnut , south of the city of Metsamor . | Armenian cochineal and ecosystem in the semi-desert of the Ararat valley . |
| Gulagarak pines | 1958 | Syunik region; south of the village Gyulagarak, at an altitude of 1400-1900 meters. | Pine forest on the northern slopes of the Bazum ridge . | |
| Zangezur | 2009 | 17369 | Syunik region; the headwaters of the rivers Voghchi and Gekhi on the Zangezur Range ; south Bargushatskogo ridge . | Biodiversity |
| Zikatar | 2010 | 150 | North of Tavush region; northeast slope of the mountain Zikatar, near the town of Noyemberyan . | Biodiversity of the region. |
| Khor Virap | 2007 | 50 | West of Ararat region; near the monastery of Khor Virap . | Wetland ecosystem. |
| Gilan | 2007 | 120 | Northeast region of Ararat . | Mountain-forest ecosystem. |
Natural Monuments
There are 230 monuments of nature in the state list of Armenia.
According to the law βOn Specially Protected Natural Territoriesβ (1991), natural monuments in Armenia have the status of specially protected territories and are natural objects of exceptional or typical scientific, historical and cultural value.
Large differences in genetic, age, morphological and other signs of landscape complexes and their individual components have created a rich variety of living and inanimate natural monuments. Many of them are of great international importance and are considered international standards.
Among the inanimate monuments are the newest volcanic formations that are found in the valleys of the Azat , Arpa , Hrazdan rivers and are basalt column and ray-shaped formations, as well as original volcanic cones of the Gegam and Vardenis mountain ranges, rare relief weathering (natural pyramids and various miraculous formations of the Goris ) , many alpine lakes, mineral and freshwater sources, etc. [6] .
See also
- Red Book of Armenia
- Forests of Armenia
- Flora of Armenia
- Fauna of Armenia
- Mushrooms of Armenia
- Armenian endemics
- Wild fruit plants of Armenia
- Conservation zones of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Notes
- β Caucasian Knot | Two new reserves will be created in Armenia
- β PlusNinety.ru - Protected Areas of Armenia Archived October 2, 2013.
- β :: Crop Wild Relatives in Armenia ::
- β Vartevanyan Ashot (Program Manager). National Action Program to Combat Desertification in Armenia . - Yerevan, 2002. - ISBN 99930-935-6-4 .
- β Erebuni Nature Reserve
- β DocumentView . www.arlis.am. The appeal date is May 26, 2019.