On June 4th, an agreement was signed in the village of Arates in Vayots Dzor, focused on conserving and preserving the natural and cultural values of the region. The aim of this agreement is to implement new measures that will protect the biodiversity in Arates, renowned for its stunning nature. The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values (FPWC), along with employees from the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, played a crucial role in reaching this agreement.

Based on preliminary data, a 38-year-old resident of Arates recently encountered a bear near the village but managed to escape. The incident occurred while the resident was out hiking, and the bear attacked, causing commotion and scaring away the animal. Fortunately, the resident was unaware that there was another bear in the area, which had become used to human presence.

The incident took place in the Hermon administrative territory, and the resident of Arates has sustained various injuries. Currently, they are receiving medical assistance at the “Yeghegnadzor” Medical Center.

The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values has been working tirelessly for years to encourage local residents to actively participate in conserving and preserving biodiversity within the Vayots Dzor region. The foundation has provided electricity to the village, protected its forests, planted trees, cleaned up litter, and organized alternative employment opportunities for locals. Recently, the foundation launched the “Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change on Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Armenia” program, which includes the study of climate change’s effect on wildlife behavior, particularly the movement of bears in search of food and the subsequent rise in human-bear conflicts.

It’s important to note that the brown bear (Ursus arctos) is listed in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Armenia and categorized as “Least Concern” in the IUCN Red List (ver. 3.1). According to the IUCN Red List criteria, the species is assessed as “Vulnerable” (VU B2ab (iii, iv)). Data suggests that this species is widespread in Europe and North America and has a substantial population. It can be found in the regions of Ararat, Vayots Dzor, Syunik, Tavush, Lori, Kotayk, and Gegharkunik.

The above information has been provided by an organization through a press release.

Source: NEWS.am – on Telegram

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