The first agroforestry conference (AFCA 2024) will be held in Armenia on October 25. The event is part of the “Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia” (FORACCA) project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In the opening phase of the recently launched FORACCA project, the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) team is conducting research for the design and implementation of agroforestry systems in Armenia.
A pre-conference event – “Agroforestry: Practices in Armenia and the world” discussion will be held at the AgriTech classroom of ANAU on October 24. And AFCA 2024 Field Day will be organized for participants on October 26 to visit agroforestry sites selected in the framework of the FORACCA project as well as similar sites. See the full agenda of conference events here։
The AFCA 2024 aims to present and discuss the possibilities of establishing agroforestry systems in Armenia from an environmental and socio-economic perspective.
“We believe that this event will foster cooperation among key stakeholders, which will help creating an inclusive and enabling environment for the implementation of agroforestry systems in Armenia,” – the FORACCA coordinator at the ANAU and Advisor to the Rector Dr. Emil Gevorgyan noted.
“Agroforestry has the potential to increase soil fertility, crop yield and at the same time preserve the landscapes and biological diversity; reduce pest and disease pressure as well as improve food quality; increase the efficiency of resource use․ Our goal is to establish different agroforestry systems in Armenia which could serve as examples for the local and international partners for addressing climate change related challenges” – the SDC Senior National Programme Officer Mr. Hamazasp Danielyan noted.
The conference will start with the welcoming remarks from Hambardzum Matevosyan, Chief Advisor to the RA Prime Minister; Ursula Laubli, Regional Director of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency; Hakob Simidyan, RA Minister of the Environment; Gevorg Papoyan, RA Minister of Economy; and Hrachya Zakoyan, Acting Rector of NAAU.
Topics to be discussed at the conference include: “The Importance of Agroforestry and Expected Outcomes,” “Introduction to and Current State of Agroforestry in Europe,” and preliminary findings of the “Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia” (FORACCA) project and its agroforestry component, as well as “Agroforestry Practices in Armenia.”
Additionally, three panel discussions are planned: “Promoting Social Inclusion: Community Needs and Benefits,” “Supporting Agroecological Transformation for Sustainable Economic Development,” and “Contributing to an Enabling Environment: Legal Challenges and Opportunities.”
The conference will conclude with the launch of a working group for the establishment of the Armenian Agroforestry Association.
