Professional knowledge must underpin nature conservation efforts, Armenian minister says at SPFB

The 7th Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity (SPFB) opened on October 24 at the Meridian Exhibition Center as part of COP17.

The forum has brought together scientists, policymakers, practitioners, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and other stakeholders to bridge the gap between biodiversity science and policy by turning scientific knowledge into practical action.

The forum will explore practical ways to advance biodiversity action, including stronger collaboration across biodiversity, climate, land, food, water, and health, as well as more effective science-policy engagement.

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan attended the opening of the forum. 

In her remarks, Andreasyan said that nature must first and foremost be understood and studied in order to be protected, and that professional knowledge must form the basis of measures and decisions aimed at nature conservation.

“All reforms in the fields of science and research in our country are based on this very important agenda. Last year, we adopted a new Law on Higher Education and Science, which provides a new foundation for the development of higher education and research, as well as for the integration of these two fields. This year, we adopted a new science development strategy, which identifies 12 priority areas. These include environmental, agricultural, and Earth sciences, which can provide a very important basis for addressing the issues and challenges we face in these areas,” the minister said.

She assured attendees that these were not merely words on paper, noting that the Government of Armenia was making tremendous efforts to secure investment in the field and create opportunities for researchers to work in these very important areas.

Andreasyan recalled that more than 40 billion drams had been allocated for science and research last year, nearly three times the amount allocated seven years earlier.

“As a result, researchers’ salaries have been gradually increased by up to 300%. This enables young researchers to enter the field and carry out new projects and research, creating new opportunities for policy development and decision-making as well,” Andreasyan said, emphasizing that providing modern equipment for research is also very important for promoting the development of science.

She stressed that over the past five years, 20 billion drams had been allocated and more than 20 grant programs had been implemented in the field, creating opportunities for both Armenian and foreign researchers.

“It is truly important for us to connect researchers in Armenia with their colleagues working abroad, and we have special grant projects for this purpose. In recent years, more than 40 researchers from different countries have come to Armenia to conduct joint research with our researchers. Another 60 researchers work remotely with our researchers, creating new opportunities for cooperation,” the minister emphasized.

According to her, another very important project implemented by the Government of Armenia is the establishment of an artificial intelligence center at Yerevan State University. The center provides new opportunities and capabilities that can also support environmental studies and the modeling of processes related to climate change.

“Speaking specifically about the very important biodiversity agenda, I would like to note that studies on these topics have their place and role in the overall grant system in our field. We have various projects under European Union programs, including the European Green Deal, and we have also provided support for joint research, such as joint research projects between Armenia and Germany. Environmental studies are a specific component of these projects. We also attach great importance to incorporating all these principles into the education sector. For example, under the T-Green Erasmus+ project, we are developing master’s programs that can contribute to the development of the green economy and technologies. Another important partnership for us is the international GLOBE program, implemented with NASA’s support. Through this program, schoolchildren have the opportunity to become involved in such studies from the early years of their education,” Andreasyan said.

The minister said it was very important to understand how these achievements could be linked to practical policies. She noted that tools such as the Global Atlas of Ecosystems could play an important role in this regard. The ministry is ready to support this initiative, be part of it, and use the country’s scientific potential and data to advance this shared agenda.

According to Andreasyan, the Academic City project is a very important part of the Government of Armenia’s program.

“This is a major project, and it requires a new environment for our universities and scientific organizations. Academic City will be established as a new university complex built entirely around a green approach, covering everything from water resources to biodiversity. This is a truly important part of our work: not merely talking about these approaches, but implementing them and incorporating them into our ongoing projects and policies. It is truly important for us, when discussing biodiversity and nature conservation, to have an education and research system that serves this agenda. We need research that can help us understand and assess changes taking place in nature, research findings that can serve as a basis for the decisions we make, and the development of behavior that encourages our citizens to act more responsibly toward nature and society,” the minister emphasized.