“The FORACCA project is a systemic response that combines international expertise with local capacity building and is closely aligned with Armenia’s climate commitments,” said Ara Mkrtchyan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss challenges facing the sector. Land use, environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures, and taxation issues continue to hinder project implementation. These concerns raised by partners underscore the need for coordinated, cross-institutional solutions.
The Deputy Minister noted that addressing these challenges requires both systemic reforms and practical steps to resolve urgent issues.
The project is implemented with co-financing from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), as well as four member organizations of the Forest Alliance of Armenia: the “Shen” Charitable Non-Governmental Organization, the “My Forest Armenia” Environmental Non-Governmental Organization, the “ATP” Charitable Foundation, and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC).
The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are also partners in the project’s implementation.