世界银行-亚美尼亚森林景观恢复说明（英）-2023-73页_2mb

Armenia Forest Landscape Restoration Note Summary

This report synthesizes multiple reports produced under World Bank support to the Government of Armenia, providing a detailed overview of the forestry sector, including its current status, opportunities, and challenges. Armenian forests cover only 11.2% of the territory (334,100 hectares), concentrated in three marzes (Tavush, Lori, and Syunik) and are predominantly composed of broad-leaved mountain forests. Despite the small forest area, forests contribute significantly to Armenia’s economy, with an estimated $138 million in annual ecosystem service value, equivalent to 1.1% of GDP. Key ecosystem services include provisioning (fuelwood, non-wood forest products), regulating (hydrological regulation, carbon sequestration), and cultural services (recreation, tourism).

Forests face severe degradation due to factors such as illegal logging, overgrazing, mining, infrastructure development, and climate change. Degradation has increased deforestation rates, with nearly 6,300 hectares lost between 1990 and 2020, equivalent to $8 million in annual economic losses. However, the country has committed to the Bonn Challenge, promising to restore 50,000 hectares by 2030, aligning with its NDC goal of reducing GHG emissions by 40% from 1990 levels.

The regulatory framework is fragmented, with limited enforcement and capacity within state institutions like Hayantar SNCO. Opportunities for restoration include farmer-managed natural regeneration, agroforestry, and watershed restoration. The formal adoption and implementation of the Landscape Restoration Strategy and Action Plan 2022–2032 are urgent priorities, with four strategic priority areas: reinforcing institutional environment and steering, building capacity for communities and stakeholders, developing the required infrastructure (e.g., nursery capacity), and ramping up implementation.

Forests are highly vulnerable to climate change, with rising temperatures potentially causing forest loss and impacting biodiversity. The National Forest Monitoring System, Natural Capital Accounts, and payments for ecosystem services (PES) are recommended for better tracking and incentivizing restoration. Addressing rural fuel poverty is critical for reducing pressure on forests through energy-efficient infrastructure and enforcement.

Key recommendations include formalizing the Landscape Restoration Strategy, developing an interagency master plan for sustainable energy use, strengthening institutional capacities, and increasing private sector engagement through PPPs like inviting mining companies to fund restoration. The ROAM methodology identifies priority areas for restoration, emphasizing collaborative forest management and community involvement to ensure sustainability.

In conclusion, restoration efforts align with Armenia’s broader climate and sustainable development goals, offering opportunities for green job creation, improved resilience, and enhanced ecosystem services, with a critical need for policy reforms, international support, and decentralized implementation to reverse degradation and achieve national targets.