Armenia will hold its inaugural Agroforestry Conference (AFCA 2024) on October 25 as part of the Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia (FORACCA) project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The conference will bring together high-level officials, including Hambardzum Matevosyan, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister, Ursula Laubli, Regional Director of SDC, Hakob Simidyan, Minister of Environment, Gevorg Papoyan, Minister of Economy, and Hrachya Zakoyan, Acting Rector of the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU).
According to Dr. Emil Gevorgyan, FORACCA coordinator at ANAU, the conference aims to create an inclusive environment for implementing agroforestry systems in Armenia. SDC Senior National Programme Officer Hamazasp Danielyan highlighted that agroforestry could enhance soil fertility, crop yields, and biodiversity while addressing climate change challenges.
The event's agenda includes discussions on agroforestry's importance, its current state in Europe, and preliminary findings of the FORACCA project. Three panel sessions will focus on social inclusion, agro-ecological transformation, and legal frameworks. The conference will conclude with the establishment of a working group for the Armenian Agroforestry Association.
Currently, ANAU's research team is conducting studies for the design and implementation of agroforestry systems as part of the FORACCA project's initial phase.
