OSCE-supported environmental awareness activities in Armenia held on the occasion of World Ozone Day

Discussion on environmental issues, training courses and educational tours for schoolchildren were among the activities held on 15-17 September 2016 in Khosrov State Reserve to mark the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

 The events were organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in co-operation with Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Offices in Yerevan.

Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Argo Avakov said: “The OSCE Office pays great attention to environmental education among young generation and environmental awareness among the civil society to better contribute to the decision making on environmental issues.”

Some 200 schoolchildren from the nearby communities participated at the tours aimed to expand their knowledge of environment, preservation of endemic and rare species of plants and animals, importance of the protection regimes in special protected areas.

The ozone layer and other environmental issues were in focus of the roundtable discussion held on 16 September bringing together some 25 representatives from the Ministry of Nature Protection, environmental NGOs and international organizations, Climate Change Centre, Ozone Unit and the national focal points on environmental conventions.