ERMC/AUA.: State of the Environment Armenia

Map - Wetlands.

Map -Lake Sevan Basin.

More than hundred lakes, artificial reservoirs and fish ponds are in Armenia. The total length of the main rivers exceeds 1,700 km. Bogs and peatlands cover roughly half per cent of the territory of the country. Among them Lake Sevan is of vital importance for the economy. On national level the lake is designated as a protected area (Sevan National Park.). Lake Sevan and Lake Arpi. are designated as a Ramsar sites (Convention on Wetlands).

Other important lakes are Sev (200 ha, volume 12 million m3), Kari (120 ha, 36 million m3), Aighr (7 ha, 0.30 million m3), Parz (3 ha, 0.08 million m3). The largest reservoirs are Aparan (92 million m3), Tolor (80 million m3), Azat (70 million m3), Joghaz (34 million m3), Kechut (25 million m3), Mantash (9 million m3). Significant bogs and peatlands are situated in Ararat Valley, in Ashotsk and Gegharkounik Districts.

The main use of above mentioned wetlands is for irrigation, electrification, extensive and intensive fishery, grazing. The anthropogenic impact on wetlands: seasonal fluctuations of water-level, draining and peat mining caused the reduction of biological diversity.

Armenian Ramsar Sites

Armenia become a Party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as a Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) on July 6, 1993. Two sites are designated in a List of Wetlands of International Importance: Lake Sevan within its basin, and Lake Arpi. and surrounding bogs. The total area of Lake Sevan Ramsar site is 489,100 ha. Of this 150,100 ha is designated as a national park. Lake Arpi Ramsar site covers an area of 3,139 ha. None national designations has this site yet.

The natural communities of Armenian Ramsar sites are seriously damaged. A project "Inventory of Armenian Ramsar sites: in search of ways for restoration of the lost and rehabilitation of endangered waterfowl habitat" funded by Ramsar Small Grants Fund for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use should be carried out in 1998.