Protecting mountains means protecting identity, water security and communities’ future, says Hambardzum Matevosyan

For Armenia, protecting mountains also means protecting its identity, water security and the future of its communities. With this conviction, the “Yerevan Platform for Mountains and Associated Freshwater Ecosystems”, one of the initiatives of Armenia’s COP17 presidency, has been launched during the conference.

Armenian Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan announced this in a post on his official Facebook page.

“Through the platform, we aim to bring mountain countries together and help ensure that the conservation of mountains and freshwater ecosystems is prioritised in national biodiversity plans, climate strategies and state budgets. For us, Lake Sevan is one of the clearest examples of this connection: conserving it brings together nature, water resources and people’s well-being.

“I have invited partner countries to join the platform, and international organisations and donors to provide technical assistance and investment. Our aim is to turn cooperation on conserving mountain ecosystems into concrete projects implemented in individual countries,” the minister stressed.