Advancing protected area management planning in Armenia: A case study of Sevan National Park

This article presents the case study of Sevan National Park to showcase the evolving conservation planning and management of protected areas in Armenia. We highlight the first application of the basic principles of the Open Standards for the Practice of Con-servation in the country, which has been piloted within the Park’s management planning process. We also address recent institutional reforms, including the establishment of the EcoPatrol service, to examine their implications for centralized protection. Further-more, efforts to align the management plan of Sevan National Park with the EU Biodiver-sity Strategy 2030, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the feasibility of designating the area as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve are discussed. Our findings demonstrate how Sevan National Park can serve as a potential model for adaptive con-servation planning across Armenia. Ultimately, the case of Sevan National Park provides valuable insights for countries aiming to bridge ecological conservation with inclusive and sustainable development.