Law No. HO-211-N on Specially Protected Nature Areas.

This Law regulates legal relations concerning the establishment, classification, protection, conservation, use and management of specially protected nature areas in the Republic of Armenia. It defines the objectives of preserving, restoring, reproducing and sustainably using ecosystems, natural complexes and natural objects of environmental, scientific, educational, historical-cultural, recreational and other value, and establishes the legal framework governing specially protected nature areas.
The Law classifies specially protected nature areas according to their significance and category, and establishes rules governing their creation, modification, ownership, management and financing. It regulates management plans, monitoring, cadastre, scientific research and the respective powers of the Government, the competent authority, territorial administration bodies and local self-government bodies in the administration of protected areas.
The document sets out the legal regimes applicable to nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries, natural monuments and protected landscapes. It specifies the conditions for their establishment, management and use, defines zoning requirements where applicable, and establishes permitted and prohibited activities relating to conservation, scientific research, monitoring, ecological tourism, recreation, restoration measures and the use of biological resources.
The Law further regulates protection zones surrounding specially protected nature areas, valuable natural ecosystems, ecological corridors, ecological networks and biosphere territories. It contains provisions regarding the protection and supervision of protected areas, users’ rights and obligations, management and service fees, stakeholder participation, and liability for violations of the legislation governing specially protected nature areas.