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The State Revenue Committee’s (SRC) Training Center plays a role in supporting biodiversity conservation by equipping customs officers and other public servants with the knowledge and skills needed to implement environmental requirements in practice, SRC officials said.
All international commitments to biodiversity conservation, as well as ratified conventions, can be implemented in practice only when the professionals responsible for achieving these goals have sufficient knowledge and skills.
In an interview with Armenpress, Ani Jabaghyan, Head of the Research and Innovation Department at the SRC Training Center, and Syuzanna Ghazaryan, Head of the Cooperation and Development Department, discussed the Training Center’s activities and how they relate to the COP17 agenda.
“The role of the SRC Training Center is precisely to ensure the continuous development of these capacities. This link is particularly evident and crucial in the case of the customs service, since controlling goods transported across borders is extremely important for detecting and preventing the illegal trade in both wild animals and plants, as well as the illegal transportation of hazardous waste and restricted substances,” Ghazaryan said.
She added that, as part of the training provided to customs officers, the Training Center’s instructors address internationally established environmental requirements, as well as methods for preventing risks. One of the Training Center’s priorities is to turn environmental knowledge into practical skills that can be applied in day-to-day work.
Jabaghyan, in turn, noted that a “green mindset” is formed and developed when people recognize and understand the connection between their work and the environment and know what changes they need to make in their everyday decisions. Therefore, effective education should combine awareness-raising, practical assignments, and the development of responsible behavior.
“Through its e-learning platform, the Training Center makes this content accessible to public servants working in the regions and at border crossing points as well. Videos, reading materials, quizzes, and case studies help them not only acquire information but also apply it to make the right decisions,” Jabaghyan said.