COP17 Media School: Media Tour to the FPWC Caucasus Wildlife Refuge

Over the past two months, journalists interested in environmental reporting have been preparing for the COP17 Conference by deepening their understanding of biodiversity-related issues.

Through online discussions with scientists and leading experts, as well as field media tours, participants are not only gaining theoretical knowledge but also having the opportunity to observe environmental challenges firsthand and explore the solutions being implemented.

The Caucasus Wildlife Refuge of the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) was the first field destination of the COP17 Media School.

The two-day media tour began at the FPWC Caucasus Wildlife Refuge Eco-Center, combining strategic discussions with hands-on field activities.

Together with Ruben Khachatryan, participants discussed Armenia’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the outlook for COP17. They then explored the refuge’s innovative monitoring systems, including camera traps and wildfire prevention technologies.

Guided by Sona Kalantaryan, the journalists visited the greenhouse to learn about forest restoration methods, while Tsovinar Hovhannisyan introduced practical approaches to mitigating human–wildlife conflict, including the use of electric fencing and supplementary feeding.

In the natural habitat, participants observed bezoar goats and numerous bird species – an encouraging sign of a healthy and recovering ecosystem.

The media tour was organized by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC).

The COP17 Media School is organized by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia, the United Nations Office in Armenia, and GIZ, with the support of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.