COP17: "Shen" NGO Highlights the Importance of Restoring Armenia's Green Shields
On October 19, “Shen” NGO organized a panel discussion titled "Restoring Armenia's Green Shields" as part of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) in Yerevan.
The event took place at the COP17 Blue Zone at the pavilion of the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC).
The panel discussion was moderated by Areg Karapetyan, Head of the Ecosystems and Landscapes Protection Department at “Soluton” LLC. The speakers included Varsik Martirosyan, Head of the Crop Production Department at the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia; Hayk Minassian, President of the Board of “Shen” NGO; Cecile Astier, Partnerships Manager at “A Tree for You” NGO; Milica Radanovic, Nature-based Solutions Project Officer at the IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO); and Anush Stepanyan, Senior Scientist at the A. Takhtajyan Institute of Botany.
Bringing together national and international experts, the discussion explored the restoration of windbreaks and protective forest belts as a strategic nature-based solution for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and more resilient agricultural landscapes.
Windbreaks play an important role in protecting agricultural land from wind erosion, supporting biodiversity, and contributing to ecosystem restoration. Their restoration can also strengthen climate resilience and create more favorable conditions for sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods.
"Restoring Armenia's windbreaks is not just about planting trees. It is about protecting our agricultural lands, strengthening biodiversity, and building resilience for rural communities," during the panel, emphasized Hayk Minassian, President of the Board of "Shen" NGO.
The panel also provided an opportunity to share “Shen” NGO's practical experience and ongoing initiatives in agroforestry and windbreak restoration, discuss lessons learned, and explore opportunities to scale up these efforts across Armenia.
“Shen” NGO has already gained valuable experience in developing agroforestry systems and establishing protective forest belts. In 2024, the organization launched a seven-hectare agroforestry restoration initiative in Shenavan village, Lori region, which included the establishment of a poplar windbreak.
These efforts are being further developed through the Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia (FORACCA) project, which envisages establishing a total of 60 hectares of agroforestry systems and windbreaks across five regions of Armenia.
The COP17 panel provided a valuable platform to exchange expertise, discuss practical approaches, and explore future collaboration to advance windbreak restoration on a broader scale.
Restoring Armenia's green shields represents a long-term investment in healthier ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, and stronger, more climate-resilient rural communities.
