Associated Regions

Armash Wetland

Armenia, Ararat Province

Local Authority

Name: Aslan Avetisyan

Website: Ararat Municipality

Contact information of site  coordinator:

Narine Zadoyan, dutch80@yandex.ru

Sister site: March floodplains in Austria/Slovakia

Photos: BirdLinks Armenia NGO

Site description

Armash Wetlands are artificial wetlands constructed in 1972 as a carp farm. The area immediately became a very popular site for the breeding and migratory waterbirds, which were suffering from the mass drainage of wetlands in Ararat Plain. In late 1990s, after breaking up of the Soviet Union, the area was privatized and now consists on two large and several small carp farms. These carp farms have interesting specifics, these are large 1×1 km ponds where the fish grows on natural fodder. The banks are covered by the reed and other water plants, providing shelter for the waterbirds. The ponds are alternated by brackish marshes and semi-desert areas, which are occupied by other bird communities.

Ecosystem

There are two types of wetland habitats in this area. The artificial ponds, with the banks covered by reed, cattail, and other water plants, are inhabited by a number of ducks, herons, cormorants, and rails, including the globally threatened white-headed duck, ferruginous and common pochards, and marbled teal. The brackish marshes covered by scarce vegetation provide habitat for a number of shorebirds, including nationally protected white-tailed lapwing, Kentish plover, and black-winged stilt. The water level in the ponds is lowered in spring and autumn, and in that time, hundreds of thousands of waterbirds find these areas as a beautiful stopover point.

Facts & Figures

1,000,000+ migratory waterbirds pass through Armash Wetlands annually.

30+ globally threatened animals and plants occur in Armash Wetlands

1000+ wildlife tourists visit Armash Wetlands annually.

235 bird species are recorded in Armash Wetlands

Challenges

The largest challenge for wetland restoration is the fact that the March River forms the border between Austria and Slovakia. Area losses due to re-connection of meanders in one country have to be compensated by area gains in the other country. Thus, large scale restoration actions can only be implemented based on bilateral concepts and mutual agreements of the various stakeholders and decision makers in both countries.
Further challenges are:

ꕥ The protection status of present rare plant and animal species (no deterioration expected by the restoration)

ꕥ Invasive species

ꕥ The decreasing water levels during the last decade due to climate change and riverbed incision.

Location

Armenia, Ararat Province, N 39.76; E 44.76

Size

The total size of the area is about 4,400 ha. Out of that, 890 ha are degraded. In frames of the current project, about 100 ha will be restored.

The brackish marshes of Armash Wetlands host over one million waterbirds annually, being located at the crossroads of three global migration flyways.

Existing projects

Official adoption of Armash Wetlands as an Emerald Site and development of its management plan.

Assessment of Armash Wetlands as a Ramsar Site.

Development of a combined model of the area’s management based on birdwatching and bird-friendly carp farming.

Excluding Armash Wetlands from Public Hunting Lands.  

National Bird Monitoring in Armash Wetlands.

Feasibility Study of restoration of brakish marshes in Ararat Plain of Armenia.

ꕥ Restoration of brakish marshes in Armash Wetlands.

Restore4life implementation plans

Improvement of water circulation in the secondary channels and restoration of at least 100 ha of brackish marshes.

Increase the communities’ financial stability via the development of birdwatching.

ꕥ Implementation of ongoing bird monitoring based on citizen science

Involvement of the community

The community will benefit from the development of nature tourism in the area, as it will be able to:

Provide catering and accommodation services.

Provide guiding service.

Sail the agri-food directly to the end customer, thus increasing the margin and overall income.

Expected Impact

 

The long-term goal of the project is to develop sustainable model of management of Armash Wetlands, which can be mutually beneficial for both, the wetland ecosystems and their biodiversity and local communities.

 

Site gallery