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Fridtjof Nansen Institute News
26.09.2007
Improving Environmental Management in Armenia
In cooperation with Armenian authorities and organizations, FNI on 18-21
September organized a seminar on international environmental obligations,
domestic implementation and public participation in Armenia. The seminar
followed-up a seminar FNI co-hosted with the Armenian Ministry of Nature
Protection in 2006.
Since Armenia's independence in 1991, the republic has signed and ratified a
number of international environmental treaties (16), but there are substantial
obstacles in the implementation process. As Armenia is struggling to recover
>From the economic crisis and general hardships following independence, the war
over Nagorno-Karabagh and the blockade from neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan,
the authorities' main priority is economic growth, and environment has a
relatively lower priority.
"However, in our dialogue with Armenian governmental bodies and civil society,
we have tried to encourage a change towards the need for political will as well
as political feasability in the ongoing implementation process," tells FNI
Project Leader Pål Skedsmo.
The seminar discussed the implementation process, significance and efficiency of
multilateral environmental treaties (MEAs) against a backdrop of introductory
lectures on MEAs ratified by the Republic of Armenia. Among those presented
were the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena protocol on
Biosafety, the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in
Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus
Convention), and the Convention of the Conservation of European Wildlife and
Natural Habitats (the Berne Convention). The development of a second National
Environmental Action Plan (NEAP-2) in Armenia was also discussed.
International and Norwegian experiences with environmental management and good
governance were presented and discussed. In particular the need for horizontal
as well as vertical co-operation in environmental management was stressed, and
the following discussions revealed that the need for this is considerable in
Armenia. The various ministries, agencies and other government bodies need to
enhance their horizontal co-operation and sharing of information. Regarding
vertical co-operation, delegation of power and responsibilities from the
national to the local level should be improved.
The final section at the seminar included presentations and discussions on the
role of civil society in general and environmental NGOs in particular. Civil
society in Armenia is getting stronger and more assertive, but is nevertheless
riddled by many of the challenges facing civil society in post-Soviet states
such as weak support from the state, limited public participation and a too
great reliance on international donors. Several participants at the seminar
called for closer co-operation between the local communities and civil society.
"It is our impression that these seminars, where a broad range of civil servants
as well as civil society representatives participate, facilitate and improves
dialogue between various sectors in Armenia. Several of the participants indeed
said they would bring the discussions at the seminar back to their various
ministries in order to continue the work with enhancing cross-sectorial
co-operation there. Feedback FNI has received after last year's seminar, from
representatives of both the authorities, civil society and international
organizations, has also been positive in this respect," says Skedsmo.
Approximately 30 representatives from the civil service, environmental NGOs and
the scientific sector participated. The project is funded by the Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A number of the presentations given in English can be found below, as well as
the seminar program.
More information:
Environmental management and civil society in Armenia (project homepage)
http://www.fni.no/projects/armenia_envir onmental_management.html
Seminar programme
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/armenia-se minar-schedule.doc
Seminar speeches, lectures, and presentations:
International environmental institutions: An overview of development and
significance (Steinar Andresen)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Internatio nal_Environmental_Institutions.ppt
Mainstreaming and horizontal cooperation in environmental management (focus
biodiversity) (Peter Johan Schei)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Mainstreaming _Environmental_Management.ppt
Norwegian environmental policy. Good governance: Ambitions and realities?
(Steinar Andresen)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Norway_Goo d_Governance.ppt
Vertical cooperation and risk analysis/EIAs in nature management (Peter Johan
Schei)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Vertica l_Nature_Management_EIAs.ppt
Development of protected areas in Armenia (Karen Manvelyan, WWF Armenian Branch)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Development_ Protected_Areas_Armenia.ppt
The role of 'NGO's: Lessons from the international arena (Steinar Andresen)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Role_of_NG Os.ppt
Civil society and public participation. The Norwegian and Russian cases (Pål
Skedsmo)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/C ivil_Society_Public_Participation.ppt
Environment al NGOs in Armenia: Their relations to authorities and international
donors (Anna Jenderedjian, REC Caucasus)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Environmen tal_NGOs_Armenia.ppt
Fridtjof Nansen Institute News
26.09.2007
Improving Environmental Management in Armenia
In cooperation with Armenian authorities and organizations, FNI on 18-21
September organized a seminar on international environmental obligations,
domestic implementation and public participation in Armenia. The seminar
followed-up a seminar FNI co-hosted with the Armenian Ministry of Nature
Protection in 2006.
Since Armenia's independence in 1991, the republic has signed and ratified a
number of international environmental treaties (16), but there are substantial
obstacles in the implementation process. As Armenia is struggling to recover
>From the economic crisis and general hardships following independence, the war
over Nagorno-Karabagh and the blockade from neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan,
the authorities' main priority is economic growth, and environment has a
relatively lower priority.
"However, in our dialogue with Armenian governmental bodies and civil society,
we have tried to encourage a change towards the need for political will as well
as political feasability in the ongoing implementation process," tells FNI
Project Leader Pål Skedsmo.
The seminar discussed the implementation process, significance and efficiency of
multilateral environmental treaties (MEAs) against a backdrop of introductory
lectures on MEAs ratified by the Republic of Armenia. Among those presented
were the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena protocol on
Biosafety, the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in
Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus
Convention), and the Convention of the Conservation of European Wildlife and
Natural Habitats (the Berne Convention). The development of a second National
Environmental Action Plan (NEAP-2) in Armenia was also discussed.
International and Norwegian experiences with environmental management and good
governance were presented and discussed. In particular the need for horizontal
as well as vertical co-operation in environmental management was stressed, and
the following discussions revealed that the need for this is considerable in
Armenia. The various ministries, agencies and other government bodies need to
enhance their horizontal co-operation and sharing of information. Regarding
vertical co-operation, delegation of power and responsibilities from the
national to the local level should be improved.
The final section at the seminar included presentations and discussions on the
role of civil society in general and environmental NGOs in particular. Civil
society in Armenia is getting stronger and more assertive, but is nevertheless
riddled by many of the challenges facing civil society in post-Soviet states
such as weak support from the state, limited public participation and a too
great reliance on international donors. Several participants at the seminar
called for closer co-operation between the local communities and civil society.
"It is our impression that these seminars, where a broad range of civil servants
as well as civil society representatives participate, facilitate and improves
dialogue between various sectors in Armenia. Several of the participants indeed
said they would bring the discussions at the seminar back to their various
ministries in order to continue the work with enhancing cross-sectorial
co-operation there. Feedback FNI has received after last year's seminar, from
representatives of both the authorities, civil society and international
organizations, has also been positive in this respect," says Skedsmo.
Approximately 30 representatives from the civil service, environmental NGOs and
the scientific sector participated. The project is funded by the Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A number of the presentations given in English can be found below, as well as
the seminar program.
More information:
Environmental management and civil society in Armenia (project homepage)
http://www.fni.no/projects/armenia_envir onmental_management.html
Seminar programme
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/armenia-se minar-schedule.doc
Seminar speeches, lectures, and presentations:
International environmental institutions: An overview of development and
significance (Steinar Andresen)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Internatio nal_Environmental_Institutions.ppt
Mainstreaming and horizontal cooperation in environmental management (focus
biodiversity) (Peter Johan Schei)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Mainstreaming _Environmental_Management.ppt
Norwegian environmental policy. Good governance: Ambitions and realities?
(Steinar Andresen)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Norway_Goo d_Governance.ppt
Vertical cooperation and risk analysis/EIAs in nature management (Peter Johan
Schei)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Vertica l_Nature_Management_EIAs.ppt
Development of protected areas in Armenia (Karen Manvelyan, WWF Armenian Branch)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Development_ Protected_Areas_Armenia.ppt
The role of 'NGO's: Lessons from the international arena (Steinar Andresen)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Role_of_NG Os.ppt
Civil society and public participation. The Norwegian and Russian cases (Pål
Skedsmo)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/C ivil_Society_Public_Participation.ppt
Environment al NGOs in Armenia: Their relations to authorities and international
donors (Anna Jenderedjian, REC Caucasus)
http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/Environmen tal_NGOs_Armenia.ppt