The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the RESILAND: Armenia Resilient Landscapes Project (RESILAND Armenia) on May 8, 2024, to help the government strengthen community engagement and improve the management of forests, wetlands, and protected areas in selected locations in Armenia. The project, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and co-financed by the Government of Sweden, aims to reinforce the institutional framework for sustainable landscape management, expand areas under sustainable management, mitigate forest fragmentation, increase tree cover density, and improve the management of neglected abandoned wetlands. It will also promote sustainable economic activities and create environmentally sustainable jobs in rural communities. The project's goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the country's resilience to climate change impacts.
"Armenia’s beautiful landscapes are one of the country’s biggest assets. This asset has been threatened by man-made deforestation and landscape degradation, fueled by unsustainable practices of communities and weak environmental oversight. The RESILAND project addresses forest degradation by providing alternative livelihoods for communities and by strengthening oversight mechanisms through improvements to the policy framework,” said Carolin Geginat, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia.
Armenia, known for its rich biological diversity, faces a unique challenge as it is a forest-poor country, with only 11.2 percent of its territory covered by forests. According to a World Bank report, Armenia's forestry sector has the potential to contribute to the country's social, economic, and cultural well-being through forest and landscape restoration efforts. Restoring existing and planting new forests, preserving wetlands, and establishing protected areas also contributes to enhanced natural assets and provide valuable services that support human well-being and the economy. Each hectare of forest is estimated to deliver on average $417 per year in total value from a number of ecosystem services (or $138 million annually).
The RESILAND Armenia project is part of a broader set of sustained joint efforts of the World Bank and the Government of Armenia in supporting the country’s sustainable development goals and green economic transition. A Country Climate and Development Report, currently under preparation by the World Bank, jointly with government, as well as the recently launched GREEN Armenia Platform, and Armenia Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development Policy Operation, are among the latest collaborative efforts to promote green transition, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and boost climate adaptation.