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Plan presented in the document refers to a number of
concrete measures over the short, medium and long-
term that take into account national climate change
trends and forecasts:
• By 2015, develop a framework followed by an
Ecological Network plan for the entire Caucasus
Ecoregion.
• Undertake all necessary measures to increase
forest resilience to climate change.
• Protect and sustainably manage rivers and/or lake
catchment areas.
• Develop and begin implementation of regional
strategies and coordinate mechanisms for a
number of species in light of the potential climate
change-induced habitat changes in each country.
An interesting trend can be observed when comparing
the previous Ecoregional Conservation Plan
developed in 2006, with the updated 2012 plan (WWF
2006; WWF/CBC 2012). Given that harmonization of
approaches and commitment for joint action between
the CBD and UNFCCC is a fairly recent development,
it is not surprising that climate change adaptation was
not explicit in the 2006 version of the Ecoregional
Conservation Plan. This can also be seen when
comparing the priorities of the national strategies
of the South Caucasus countries initially submitted
to the CBD over the 1999–2006 period with more
recently submitted national reports (CBD 2015). The
same trend can be observed in the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity which was updated to include the Aichi
Biodiversity Targets for the 2011–2020 period, and two
specific targets on climate change (CBD n/a). In earlier
strategy documents climate change and, in particular,
climate adaptation is rarely mentioned, while recent
documents, including both reports and strategies,
address climate change related issues as top priorities.
In general, policy papers on the South Caucasus
countries cover biodiversity better than any other
environmental topic – all three countries have
biodiversity strategies and consequently all have
action plans under the strategies, which are regularly
monitored and updated.
Armenia
The Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Armenia
(MoNP and GEF 1999) does not specifically address
the issues of climate change nor its mountain regions.
However, the recent national report submitted
to the CBD in 2014, clearly addresses both issues
(CBD 2014). Mountain ecosystems protection and
conservation is central to this policy document, as
one would expect in a report on such a mountainous
country as Armenia. The main climate change threats
– their causes and mechanisms – to ecosystems and
important components of biodiversity, are addressed
in a dedicated section. According to the report, as
a result of climate change an expansion of the arid
ecosystems, reduction of the areas covered by forests
as well as sub-alpine and alpine landscapes, and
increased vulnerability of forests are expected. Based
on climate modelling of 452 species registered in
Armenia’s Red Book, ecosystem and habitat changes
triggered by climate change will affect the survival of
74 species of high vascular plants. Moreover, climate
change can increase water temperature in water
reservoirs, such as Lake Sevan, which will threaten
particular species. Also the report states that climate
change will, in the long run, affect the well-being
and health of the Armenian population through its
impact on the food and water supply.
In light of the above, in the current draft Strategy
and State Programme of the Republic of Armenia on
Conservation, Use and Reproduction of Biological
Diversity (2016–2020), climate change is mentioned
as among the main threats to biodiversity (Ecolur
2015). The national target to “Improve protection of
biodiversity habitats to prevent their degradation”
is connected with Aichi target number five. The
draft action plan includes planning of the following
measure: “Carry out vulnerability assessment for key
ecosystems of Armenia given the predicted climate
change, including modelling of changes”.
Azerbaijan
The National Biodiversity Strategy of Azerbaijan
(President of Azerbaijan 2006) approved in 2006,
as in the documents of the same period of the other
two countries of the South Caucasus, has neither a
reference to climate change, nor mountain regions.
However, the Fifth National Report to the CBD
clearly indicates the importance of protecting
high mountain ecosystems, both in a regional and
national context, and climate change is presented
as one of the key pressures on biodiversity (MoENR
2014). In addition, issues specific to vulnerable
ecosystems are also highlighted such as overgrazing,
competition for scarce resources such as water, and
Georgia