The Caucasus, Armenia
One of the world’s lesser known biodiversity hotspots, the Caucasus covers an area of over 500,000 sq km between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, and includes parts of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran and Turkey.
The region is home to a wealth of wildlife – including the Caucasian Leopard, Brown Bear, Grey Wolf and Bezoar Goat – and has a high level of endemism, meaning many of the species that live here are found nowhere else on Earth.
Since 2010, World Land Trust (WLT) has been supporting conservation projects in Armenia’s Caucasus region. Find out how the WLT is helping...
Project Aim
WLT is funding land purchase and protection projects to extend the 1,084 acre (439 hectare) Caucasus Wildlife Refuge and strengthen a ranger team to tackle illegal hunting within the region.
Partner:
Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) »
Other projects in Armenia:
How WLT is helping
WLT was instrumental in helping FPWC establish the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, in collaboration with our partner IUCN Netherlands, who provided a grant to fund the reserve and its expansion over the next five years.
FPWC is constantly looking to protect more threatened habitat in the region with support from Armenian and international partners, such as WLT.
In the meantime, we are helping FPWC reduce illegal hunting by supporting their rangers through Keepers of the Wild programme. Not only are the rangers increasing protection of the region and its wildlife by reducing uncontrolled hunting and poaching, but as local members of the community they are also playing a vital role in challenging the cultural acceptance of wildlife hunting through educational campaigns and awareness raising.
Urgent funding needed
WLT is focusing its fundraising efforts in Armenia on the Keepers of the Wild programme and funds will go towards supporting four rangers including Manuk Manukyan – a trained vet and one of the experienced nature guides in the country.
Donate to Keepers of the Wild »
In September 2012, WLT launched a Special Appeal to urgently raise £20,000 to Save the Caucasian Leopard; funds will help expand the scope of FPWC’s conservation activities to protect a vital leopard corridor, to strengthen their research and monitoring of this subspecies in the region, while helping to further reduce illegal hunting and raise environmental awareness.
Biodiversity
An area of great ecological importance, the Caucasus is included in the list of biodiversity hotspots; one of the 25 regions which together cover only 1.4 per cent of the Earth's land surface but contain nearly half of all plant species and a third of all terrestrial vertebrate species.
Mammals:
Over 152 species including: Caucasian Leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica), Bezoar Ibex (Capra aegagrus aegagrus), Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), and Caspian Red Deer (Cervus elaphus maral).
Birds:
Over 380 species including: the endemic Caucasian Black Grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) and Caucasian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caucasicus), as well as Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and globally threatened waterbird species, such as Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus), and White Headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala).
Plants:
About 7,500 species, of which 35 per cent are endemics.
Threats to Armenia's Caucasus region
Uncontrolled hunting and poaching is a serious issue throughout Armenia as killing extremely rare species bolsters standing with the community, while also fetching a high price on the black market.
Degradation and destruction of wildlife habitat is caused by illegal logging, plant gathering and overgrazing, as well as human-induced wild fires.
To help tackle these threats, along with land protection projects, FPWC is working to raise environmental awareness through media campaigns and educational groups, which includes running the Sun-Child eco club.
They have also held environmental festivals and conferences, aimed to create a network of conservation partners throughout the country to safeguard the Caucasus region, which is largely unprotected.
The Caucasus Wildlife Refuge
The rugged and cliffy terrain of the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge boarders the 60,000 acre Khosrov State Reserve, located south-east of the capital Yerevan on the south-western slopes of the Geghama mountains.
FPWC protects the1,084 acre (439 ha) refuge and all its wildlife with a small but dedicated team of rangers, led by Manuk Manukyan who is supported by WLT’s Keepers of the Wild programme. This ranger team has successfully reduced illegal logging and hunting in the region, with FPWC reporting an increase in wildlife sightings thanks to the rangers’ efforts.
The rangers also lead environmental activities on the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge with members of the Sun-Child eco club, helping to teach young people about the importance of conserving our natural world.
Sir David Attenborough, WLT Patron
