Specially protected nature areas include four national parks, covering 233,358.5 hectares, which represents 7.96% of the country’s total area
Map
National Parks
The National Park is a state non-comercal organization established in 2002 (replacing the state reserve founded in 1958), with the aim of ensuring the preservation of landscapes and biodiversity, promoting harmonious socio-economic development, and safeguarding historical and cultural heritage within the basins of the Aghstev and Getik Rivers.
The “Dilijan” National Park SNCO covers an area of 33,765 ha and is located primarily in Tavush Province of the Republic of Armenia, with smaller sections extending into Lori and Gegharkunik Provinces.
The Park stretches along the slopes of several Mountain Ranges at altitudes ranging from 1,070–2,400 m above sea level.
Protected objects:
- Caucasian mesophytic beech and oak forests
- unique yew grove
- natural and historical-architectural monuments
- 1,150 species of vascular plants
- 286 species of vertebrates
- Date of establishment: 1978
- Area: 147,343 ha (including Lake Sevan); excluding the surface area of Lake Sevan – 22,585 ha
- Location: Gegharkunik Province of the Republic of Armenia, within the Lake Sevan Basin, surrounded by the Areguni, Geghama, Vardenis, Pambak and Sevan Mountain Ranges, at an altitude of 1,900–2,000 meters above sea level.
Protected object:
- highland ecosystems
- endemic plant species
- fish and other fauna
- key habitat and residence area for migratory wetland birds
- Date of establishment: 16 April 2009
- Area: 21,039.3 ha
- Location: In the north-western part of the Republic of Armenia, in the Ashotsk region of Shirak Province. The Reserve consists of the Western, Eastern, Ardenis, Alvar and Akhuryan Gorge sections.
Protected objects:
- Biodiversity of the Javakhk–Shirak Plateau and the Arpi Lake Basin, meadow-steppe, subalpine meadow and wetland ecosystems
- Nesting and resting places of migratory birds
- Plant and animal species registered in the Red Book of Armenia, protection of natural monuments
- Date of establishment: 11 October 2009
- Area: 31,211.19 ha
- Location: Extreme southern part of the Republic of Armenia, in the Meghri region of Syunik Province, connected to the province via the Meghri and Shishkert Mountain Passes
Protected objects:
- Landscape and biological diversity of the typical mountain floristic region of Meghri, Zangezur and Meghri Mountain Ranges
- Endemic, rare and endangered species
- Caucasian leopard, Bezoar goat, brown bear, otter, Caspian snowcock, Caucasian grouse, Armenian viper and other species