Excursion to the Planned Dilijan Biosphere Reserve during COP17

On the occasion of the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, an excursion to the planned Dilijan Biosphere Reserve in Armenia took place on 22 October 2026. The excursion was organised by the Michael Succow Foundation and its Armenian partner SOLUTON. Participants included Dr Jan-Niclas Gesenhues, environment spokesperson of the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group in the German Bundestag.

The route led from Lake Sevan via Haghartsin Monastery into Dilijan National Park. At the monastery, the project team presented the concept of the planned biosphere reserve: its zonation and the aim of linking nature conservation beyond the national park’s boundaries with sustainable development for the people of the region. At the Caucasian Red Deer Reintroduction Centre, the national park administration introduced the area’s biodiversity values. Over lunch in Dilijan, participants exchanged views with representatives of the municipality and local businesses, key stakeholders for the future biosphere reserve. 

The excursion took place within the project “Towards the Establishment of the Dilijan Biosphere Reserve in Armenia – Nomination and Enabling Framework”. Together with the Armenian Ministry of Environment and local stakeholders, the project is preparing the nomination of Armenia’s first UNESCO biosphere reserve. It is funded by the German Federal Environment Ministry’s Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP) and supervised by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), with co-financing from Stiftung Überlebensrecht. 

We thank all participants for the open exchange and their strong support for the idea of a Dilijan Biosphere Reserve. 

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Excursion biosphere reserve Dilijan. Picture: N. Malazonia / Michael Succow Stiftung Excursion biosphere reserve Dilijan. Picture: N. Malazonia / Michael Succow Stiftung