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Protecting Wildlife in Armenia
By Ali Hamlin on January 9, 2015 in Armenia,
FPWC's Eco Training Center at the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge
Special for the Armenian Weekly
The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets
(FPWC) was founded in 2002 with the goal of raising local and
international awareness of Armenia's rich natural heritage. With their
main funding partner, VivaCell-MTS, FPWC is involved in a myriad of
projects, from itsSunChild environmental education program, to
managing the Yerevan Zoo, to maintaining the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge.
Just getting off the ground is FPWC's Eco Training Center in
Urtsadzor.
Opened just over a year ago and funded by the United Nations
Development Program's (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grant
Program, the Eco Training Center sits on the outskirts of Urtsadzor
village along the foothills of the mountains of FPWC's Caucasus
Wildlife Refuge. Supported by the UK-based World Land Trust,
Netherlands-based International Union for Conservation of Nature, and
VivaCell-MTS, the 2000-hectare (roughly 5,000 acres) refuge is the
first privately managed nature reserve in the South Caucasus.
This nesting bearded vulture was spotted by rangers in the Caucasus
Wildlife Refuge.
Ruben Khachatryan, the director and founder of FPWC, says of the
Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, "It's not only about nature conservation.
It's about new opportunities for the community." Thus, the Eco
Training Center is an integral aspect of the wildlife refuge.
The role of the Eco Training Center is multifaceted. As the name
implies, it provides educational opportunities for the local community
to learn about different ways they can contribute to conservation,
through avenues such as sustainable natural resource harvesting or
working as a nature guide. The community also has the chance to learn
about renewable energy and other energy saving technology through the
center's solar thermal heating system and energy efficient lighting.
In addition to the training center's main hall where trainings take
place, there are four bedrooms and a loft for sleeping. Currently,
FPWC runs hiking, horseback riding, and jeep tours through the
wildlife refuge, allowing tourists to stay at the training center or
at a local bed and breakfast in Urtsadzor. In this way, the center
helps improve ecotourism prospects and associated employment
opportunities in the community.
Lastly, FPWC's Eco Training Center acts as a base camp for scientists
and researchers in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. FPWC hopes that
having this facility within the conservation area will increase the
number of scientists interested in studying Armenia's diverse flora
and fauna, which is an important aspect of conservation.
Most recently, FPWC's Eco Training Center received international
accolades from the UNDP. The training center was chosen as one of 111
finalists for the 2014 Equator Prize from 1,234 projects from 121
countries. The prize recognizes "local sustainable development
solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities."
FPWC hopes that the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, Eco Training Center, and
ecotourism development projects in Urtsadzor will offer a successful
conservation model to other areas of the South Caucasus. Last year,
remote cameras in the refuge confirmed that the Caucasian Leopard, a
globally endangered species, is living in the Caucasus Wildlife
Refuge. And in Urtsadzor, improvements to two homes have been
completed, and homeowners are ready to open their doors to bed and
breakfast guests. Take note, because Urtsadzor might be the perfect
destination for your next vacation in Armenia.
http://armenianweekly.com/2015/01/09/protecting-wildlife-armenia/
By Ali Hamlin on January 9, 2015 in Armenia,
FPWC's Eco Training Center at the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge
Special for the Armenian Weekly
The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets
(FPWC) was founded in 2002 with the goal of raising local and
international awareness of Armenia's rich natural heritage. With their
main funding partner, VivaCell-MTS, FPWC is involved in a myriad of
projects, from itsSunChild environmental education program, to
managing the Yerevan Zoo, to maintaining the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge.
Just getting off the ground is FPWC's Eco Training Center in
Urtsadzor.
Opened just over a year ago and funded by the United Nations
Development Program's (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grant
Program, the Eco Training Center sits on the outskirts of Urtsadzor
village along the foothills of the mountains of FPWC's Caucasus
Wildlife Refuge. Supported by the UK-based World Land Trust,
Netherlands-based International Union for Conservation of Nature, and
VivaCell-MTS, the 2000-hectare (roughly 5,000 acres) refuge is the
first privately managed nature reserve in the South Caucasus.
This nesting bearded vulture was spotted by rangers in the Caucasus
Wildlife Refuge.
Ruben Khachatryan, the director and founder of FPWC, says of the
Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, "It's not only about nature conservation.
It's about new opportunities for the community." Thus, the Eco
Training Center is an integral aspect of the wildlife refuge.
The role of the Eco Training Center is multifaceted. As the name
implies, it provides educational opportunities for the local community
to learn about different ways they can contribute to conservation,
through avenues such as sustainable natural resource harvesting or
working as a nature guide. The community also has the chance to learn
about renewable energy and other energy saving technology through the
center's solar thermal heating system and energy efficient lighting.
In addition to the training center's main hall where trainings take
place, there are four bedrooms and a loft for sleeping. Currently,
FPWC runs hiking, horseback riding, and jeep tours through the
wildlife refuge, allowing tourists to stay at the training center or
at a local bed and breakfast in Urtsadzor. In this way, the center
helps improve ecotourism prospects and associated employment
opportunities in the community.
Lastly, FPWC's Eco Training Center acts as a base camp for scientists
and researchers in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. FPWC hopes that
having this facility within the conservation area will increase the
number of scientists interested in studying Armenia's diverse flora
and fauna, which is an important aspect of conservation.
Most recently, FPWC's Eco Training Center received international
accolades from the UNDP. The training center was chosen as one of 111
finalists for the 2014 Equator Prize from 1,234 projects from 121
countries. The prize recognizes "local sustainable development
solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities."
FPWC hopes that the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, Eco Training Center, and
ecotourism development projects in Urtsadzor will offer a successful
conservation model to other areas of the South Caucasus. Last year,
remote cameras in the refuge confirmed that the Caucasian Leopard, a
globally endangered species, is living in the Caucasus Wildlife
Refuge. And in Urtsadzor, improvements to two homes have been
completed, and homeowners are ready to open their doors to bed and
breakfast guests. Take note, because Urtsadzor might be the perfect
destination for your next vacation in Armenia.
http://armenianweekly.com/2015/01/09/protecting-wildlife-armenia/