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Surface Area
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2 980 000 ha
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|
Cultivated Area
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555 000 ha
|
|
Cultivated Area %
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18.6
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|
Population
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3 016 000
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|
Average Annual Precipitation
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592 mm/year
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Average Annual Volume of Precipitation
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16.71 billion m3/year
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Renewable Surface Water
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4.858 billion m3/year
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Renewable Groundwater
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4.311 billion m3/year
|
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Total Renewable Water (natural)
|
9.169 billion m3/year
|
|
Total Renewable Water (actual)
|
9.169 billion m3/year
|
Locating in the Caucasus region, Armenia has a total area of 29 800 km2. Armenia is a mountainous country, with 77 percent of its territory located at 1 000 to 2 500 m above sea level. Influenced by the topographical structure, most of the agricultural area lies within an altitude range of 600–2 500 m. The cultivable area is estimated at almost 1.4 million ha, which is 47 percent of the total area of the country. The cultivated area is estimated at 555 000 ha. (1)
Having a highland continental climate with hot summers and cold winters, Armenia has an average annual precipitation of 592 mm. The driest regions are the Ararat Valley and the Meghri region, where the annual precipitation is 200–250 mm. The maximum precipitation is observed in high mountainous areas with more than 1 000 mm/year. (2)
The total population is approximately 3 million, of which about 36 percent is rural. In 2006, access to improved drinking-water sources was 96 percent. According to data for 2009, Armenia’s GDP was US$ 8,7 billion and agriculture accounted for 18 percent. More than 98 percent of gross agricultural production comes from the private sector. (3)
66 percent of total water withdrawal is for agricultural purposes while the shares of municipal and industrial purposes are 30 percent and 4 percent respectively in Armenia which have a total actual renewable water resource of 7.769 km3/year. Groundwater sources provide about 95 percent of the water used for drinking purposes. The largest water-using industrial enterprise is the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant which uses about 35 million m3/year. (4)
The rivers in Armenia are tributaries of the main rivers the Aras and the Kura. About 76 percent of the Armenian territory is part of the Araks basin and 24 percent of the Kura basin. The outflow to Georgia through the Debet River is estimated at about 0.89 billion m3/year and the outflow to Azerbaijan through the Agstay River at about 0.35 billion m3/year. Both these rivers are located in the Kura basin. The total outflow to Azerbaijan through the Aras and its tributaries, Arpa, Vorotan, Vokhchi, is estimated at about 5.62 billion m3/year. The Aras River forms the border between Turkey and Armenia and further downstream, between Iran and Armenia, it flows into Azerbaijan and joins the Kura River about 150 km before its mouth at the Caspian Sea. (5)
The 14 sub-basins of the Aras-Kura river basin have been grouped into five basin management areas: Akhuryan (Arpaçay), Northern, Sevan-Hrazdan, Ararat and Southern basins. About 9 500 rivers and streams with the total length of 23 000 km flow in Armenia. The Sevan and Arpi lakes are the most important lakes of Armenia who has more than 100 small lakes some of which regularly dry out in the dry season. The Hrazdan and Akhuryan rivers originate from these two lakes. Lake Sevan which is the largest lake of Armenia have great hydrological, economic and ecological importance. Since 1960s two inter-basin transfer schemes were implemented to restore the ecology of the lake and its storage capacity as a strategic water reserve which is used in energy production and irrigation. Hence, some 250 million m3 of water is diverted annually from the Arpa River to Lake Sevan by using a 48 km tunnel. By a similar project which was completed in 2004, 165 million m3 of water diverted annually from the upper Vorotan River to the Arpa River through a 22 km tunnel. The second most important lake, Arpi, became a reservoir with the construction of a dam for irrigation purposes. Most of the reservoirs were constructed during the Soviet period. In 2004, there were 83 reservoirs operating in Armenia and their total capacity was estimated at 1 399 million m3. (6)
One of the most important institutions involved in water resources development and management in Armenia is The National Water Council (NWC). It is the highest advisory body in the water sector and chaired by the Prime Minister. It advises on water management issues, and makes recommendations on policies, legal documents, and the National Water Program. Other institutions are The Ministry of Nature Protection, The Ministry of Agriculture, The Vorogum-Jrar Closed Joint Stock Company, The Public Services Regulatory Commission, The Ministry of Territorial Administration, The Armenian State Hydrometeorological and Monitoring Service and Environmental Impact Monitoring Center, and The Hydrogeological Monitoring Center which is responsible for monitoring all groundwater bodies. (7)
Reforms in the water sector have been initiated with the implementation of “Integrated Water Resources Management Project” in 1999–2000 which was supported by the World Bank. One of the most important steps towards reform in the water sector was the adoption of a new Water Code on 4 June 2002. The Law on “Fundamental Provisions of the National Water Policy”, which is about development of water resources and strategic use and protection of water systems, was adopted in 2005. (8)
Most river basins are transboundary and through a number of bilateral agreements Armenia uses these international waters. Armenia has an agreement with Turkey concerning the use of the Aras and Akhuryan rivers, according to which the water of these two transboundary rivers is divided equally between the two countries. Another agreement with Turkey concerns the joint use of the dam and the reservoir of the Akhuryan River. According to an agreement between Iran and Armenia, the water of the Aras River is divided equally between them. These agreements were signed by the USSR; however Armenia is considered a successor country. There have been agreements signed between Armenia and Georgia concerning the Debet River. Besides, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed agreements concerning the use of the water of the Arpa, Vorotan, Aghstay and Tavush rivers. (9)
In 1998, Armenia ratified the agreement with Georgia on cooperation in protection of the transboundary ecosystems. The Ministry of Nature Protection (MNP) develops and implements international environmental projects, some of which are related to water issues.
Under the implementation of the “Ecoregional Nature Protection Programme for Southern Caucasus” which is a part of the Caucasus Initiative, launched by the German Ministry of Cooperation and Development, three Caucasus countries, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been covered in the programme. From 2000 to 2002 South Caucasus Water Management Project which was designed to strengthen co-operation between water-related agencies at all local, national and regional levels, and demonstrated integrated water resources management was implemented in collaboration with USAID. Between 2000 and 2006, the EU and the Technical Assistance Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS) have developed the Joint River Management Programme on Monitoring and Assessment of Water Quality on Transboundary Rivers in order to provide prevention, control and reduction of trans-boundary pollution impact. The programme covers four basins, including the Kura River Basin. Moreover, USAID supports the national project for Sustainable Water Resources Management in Armenia. (10)
Between 2002 and 2007, the NATO-OECD has developed the South Caucasus River Monitoring Project. This project aims to establish the social and technical infrastructure for an international, cooperative, transboundary river water quality and quantity monitoring, data sharing and watershed management system. Countries participating in this project are Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Moreover, the project “Reducing Transboundary Degradation” in the Kura-Aras River Basin which is implemented by the UNDP in collaboration with GEF and supported by Sweden has been realized. This project involved four of the basin countries; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran, and aims to ensure the regional cooperation that will monitör quality and quantity of water throughout the Kura-Aras River Basin. (11)
References
(2) FAO, Irrigation in the Middle East region in figures;
Aquastat Survey-2008, FAO Water Reports 24, Roma, 2008, p. 127
(4) op. cit.
(5) FAO, 2008, p.131.
(6) op. cit.
(7). op. cit., p.141.
(8) op. cit.
(9) op. cit., p.134.
(10) op. cit.
(11) op. cit., p.135.