Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia (FORACCA)
Significant climate change challenges hinder effective forest management in Armenia. To tackle these issues and support the country’s international commitments, the project combines Switzerland's expertise in climate adaptation and forestry with the experience of local NGOs' in forestry. This collaboration aims to strengthen the capacities of public institutions and communities in sustainable management, monitoring, and restoration of forests, as well as in climate-resilient agroforestry.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Armenia |
Climate change and environment
Forestry policy
Biodiversity |
01.12.2023
- 31.12.2028 |
CHF 5’960’000
|
- State institutions capacitated for national climate services;
- Strengthened and disseminated scientific knowledge base on climate-smart management of forests;
- Established National Forest Monitoring and Assessment System (NFMA);
- Strengthened environmental policy frameworks on climate change adaptation and community based forest restoration and management;
- Established and sustainably managed agroforestry systems and restored forests on community lands;
- Local communities capacitated for climate change adaptation and local toolbox for climate-resilient development tested and institutionalized.
- Confirmed the assumption that in comparison to state institutions, specialized local NGOs are better capacitated, more innovative and cost effective for forest restoration and piloting agorforestry
- Identified all forest restoration and agroforestry sites, and the Agrarian National University of Armenia reviewed the restoration and management plans
- Designed the modalities for the support of the necessary scientific knowledge-base on climate and forest management, the establishment of a forest monitoring system and improved coordination for policy-dialogue
- ETHZ Zurich
- Food and Agricultural Organisation
- Other Swiss Non-profit Organisation
- Foreign private sector South/East
- Swiss Private Sector
- Research Organisation of South East
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Land-scape Research (WSL) - Forest Alliance Consortium (Lead: Shen NGO)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation FORESTRY
GENERAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Forestry policy
Bio-diversity
Cross-cutting topics The project promotes biodiversity.
The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Aid Type Mandate with fiduciary funds
Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project and programme contribution
Technical assistance inclusive experts
Project number 7F10749
| Background | Armenia has prioritized Forest Landscape Restoration as a crucial climate mitigation strategy within the framework of the Paris Agreement. With only 11% forest cover, the country confronts various challenges stemming from its susceptibility to climate change, limited technical and financial resources, low agricultural productivity, and extensive land degradation. Additionally, Armenia struggles with a lack of reliable data and knowledge regarding forest conditions and climate impacts, which hampers its ability to formulate effective governmental strategies and meet its commitments to climate change adaptation. |
| Objectives | The goal of the project is strengthened climate resilience and sustainable resource management at the national and local level based on enhanced scientific knowledge and inclusive processes. |
| Target groups |
Local level beneficiaries will be the popu-lation of selected municipalities, in particu-lar Agroforestry Initiative Groups, farmers, and individuals engaged in Forest Land-scape Restoration. National level beneficiaries will be state institutions (such as Armhydromet and Hayantar), academia (e.g. Armenian Na-tional Agrarian University), specialised NGOs represented in the Forest Alliance and relevant private interest groups. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: Public institutions, specialized NGOs, academia and private interest groups develop and implement sustainable policies and practices based on improved climate services and forest related knowledge. Outcome 2: Local communities initiate climate change adaptation measures and women and men benefit from sustainable forest landscape restoration and agroforestry. |
| Results |
Expected results: Results from previous phases: Key results from the opening phase |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Foreign academic and research organisation International or foreign NGO Private sector Swiss Academic and Research Institution Swiss Non-profit Organisation United Nations Organization (UNO) |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | The project will explore synergies with other donor funded initiatives, such as RESILAND (GEF/World Bank) and other SDC projects, mainly with the Local Self Governance Project. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 5’960’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 1’724’079 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 318’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 10’000’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 1 01.12.2023 - 31.12.2028 (Current phase) |
