Sevan and Dilijan National Parks do not meet Category II (National Park) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), WWF-Armenia Head Karen Manvelyan has told ArmInfo.
The expert points out the need to change the approach to the Sevan National Park. "Perhaps, in this case we need a special protected area rather than a national park," says Manvelyan. This way it would be possible to focus on the ishkhan (Armenian trout) spawn rivers running into Lake Sevan, as well as on the small ponds in the Sevan basin. In addition, more attention should be paid to the near-shore areas, for instance, the Areguni chain.
Manvelyan stresses that even the foreign experts do not doubt that Sevan is not a national park.
The Dilijan National Park faces a similar situation. In the meantime, Manvelyan points out some progress in that matter. A management plan has been elaborated with the participation of the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF). Under the plan, the Dilijan National Park is to be brought in compliance with the national park category standards within the next 10 years through investments, training courses and other programs.
The CNF will shortly submit the draft management plan to the Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection. "The same should be done for Sevan National Park. But this needs time and resources," says Manvelyan.