“Environmental Protection of Lake Sevan” (EU4Sevan) project, aimed at water monitoring and management capacities for the Lake Sevan watershed, has kicked off.

The project is funded by the EU and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The launch ceremony today was attended by Armenian Minister of Environment, Romanos Petrosyan, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin, and Ambassador of Germany to Armenia Michael Johannes Banzhaf.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also contributes to the project.

In her opening remarks UNDP Resident Representative Mihaela Stojkoska has highlighted the relevance of the project at the current stage of the environmental situation of Lake Sevan and emphasized the fruitful cooperation on environmental issues of all the partner organizations.

“In addition to the key outputs of EU4SEVAN, the Project will implement fast track activities aimed at neutralizing the economic and social consequences of COVID-19 jointly with the Ministry of Environment and “Restoration of Riparian Zones in Armenia” COVID-19 Response Project implemented by GIZ. The activities include the planting of around 600,000 willow cuttings and fruit trees in the riparian zones of a number of rivers in Gegharkunik as well as the collection of waste from riverbeds and riverbank vicinities and ensuring short-term employment for 750 residents most affected by the socio-economic consequences of COVID-19.

Within the COVID-19 fast response measures, the EU4SEVAN project is planning to support local farmers in cultivating new varieties of cabbage on around 3 ha area providing significantly 2-3 times more income for local farmers, 2 times less water consumption through ecosystem-friendly cultivation practices,” the project organizers said in a press statement.