NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAM OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA.

This National Forest Program is a multisectoral policy document aimed at the prevention of general processes of ongoing degradation of natural resources, loss of biodiversity and desertification. Forest rehabilitation activities is a priority issue, particularly rehabilitation of clear-cut and partly logged forest areas as well as stimulation of afforestation activities to optimize the current low level of the forest cover in the Republic. National Forest Program of Armenia will significantly promote sustainable forest management, namely guarding, protection and use, as well as the increase of economic, social and environmental role of the forests.
The goal of the National Forest Program of RA is to guard forest ecosystems, rehabilitate degraded forest ecosystems, use forest resources in a continuous and efficient manner and ensure sustainable forest management strategy.
The objectives of the National Forest Program of RA shall be as follows: (a) plan and implement activities aimed at sustainable management of forests and forest land in line with the National Forest Policy and Strategy of RA; (b) promote the development of state, community and other types of ownership; (c) stimulate cooperation at national and international levels; (d) support the involvement of internal and external investments: and (e) implement measures promoting sustainable forest management in compliance with international treaties of RA.
The complex measures aimed at sustainable forest management should be implemented as: (a) perspective development strategic forest planning (once in ten-year period); (b) tactical forest planning (once in five-year period); and (c) annual operative forest planning.
In the following 6 years the following measures shall be performed: (a) increasing public awareness; (b) alleviating rural poverty; (c) community forestry programs; (d) alternative fuel programs; (e) increasing supply of legitimate forest products; (f) restructuring forest institutions, human resource development and technical capacity building; (g) capacity building of monitoring and control systems; and (h) forest certification.