APA Chairman Visits Armenia

From February 20 through February 22, 2014, Rati Japaradize, Head of the Agency of Protected Areas, held a work-related visit to Armenia within the framework of the Transboundary Joint Secretariat (TJS). The visit aimed at discussing the possibilities of strengthening transboundary cooperation between Georgia and Armenia and the prospects of organizing joint events in the future.

During the visit, both Georgian and Armenian representatives agreed on the implementation of two activities important in terms of mutual cooperation. The activities are as follows:

The development of phone application for the Javakheti and Lake Arpi (Armenia) transboundary protected areas, which will include all important tourist sites, trails and guesthouses located on the territory of both PAs. Furthermore, the application will also have an interactive map equipped with a GPS navigation system, which will enable visitors determine their location, movement speed and other useful touristic information.

Holding some cycling tours in these two protected areas, in which Georgian and Armenian amateur bikers will participate and explore the transboundary PA. The landscape of both protected areas is quite convenient for these types of activities and in the future it will be possible to establish several new guided cycling trails there.

Additionally, the parties agreed to share/distribute ad materials on transboundary parks in their visitor centers, and also to exchange monitoring information on biodiversity. Both parties expressed their desire to regularly hold similar meetings and to exchange transboundary information with each other.