Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan says the 2026–2030 biodiversity programme also commits Armenia to cleaning at least ten rivers and conserving at least 20% of land and freshwater ecosystems by 2030.
Armenia’s 2026–2030 biodiversity programme commits the country to reducing phosphorus and nitrogen pollution in Lake Sevan by at least 30%, Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan said on October 23. The programme combines pollution controls with river cleanups, sustainable pasture management and ecosystem conservation.
The water targets were already part of an approved ministerial plan. Ecolur reported on July 30, 2026 that Matevosyan’s Decree No. 100-L set out five goals and 30 targets for conserving, restoring and sustainably using biodiversity—the variety of living things and their ecosystems—by 2030.
Speaking in Yerevan during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP17, Matevosyan described the commitments as health measures as well as conservation measures. Healthy ecosystems provide clean water and safe food, he said. The October 23 discussion focused on One Health, an approach that links human, animal and environmental health, Armenpress reported.
| Area | Commitment |
|---|---|
| Lake Sevan | Reduce phosphorus and nitrogen pollution by at least 30% by 2030. |
| Rivers | Clear plastic and other solid waste from at least ten rivers and their banks by 2030. |
| Pasture and grassland | Sustainably manage at least 150,000 hectares. |
| Land and freshwater ecosystems | Conserve at least 20% by 2030. |
For Lake Sevan, the plan envisages farming practices that protect the environment, withstand climate pressures and use resources efficiently. It also calls for a 30% reduction in the volume of domestic wastewater discharged into the lake from nearby settlements and enterprises, according to Ecolur’s July report. That wastewater target is separate from the overall phosphorus and nitrogen pollution target.
Matevosyan also listed controls on the use of what he termed “unwanted pesticides”. His October 23 outline did not specify baseline pollution levels, programme funding, a detailed implementation timetable or which pesticides the controls would cover.
The plastic-bag commitment has a separate legislative timetable. In a March 25, 2026 announcement, Armenia’s Environment Ministry said the National Assembly had adopted a package banning the sale and use of polyethylene bags and pouches, along with specified single-use plastic and polystyrene containers and tableware, from January 1, 2027. Those restrictions were therefore not yet in force at the October discussion.
The package covers shops, catering establishments, markets and other sales venues. It includes exceptions for loose-produce bags, garbage bags made from recycled materials and certain plastic containers with lids.
Alongside the January restrictions, the biodiversity plan schedules work during 2026–2027 to assess pollution risks to aquatic ecosystems from pesticides, chemicals and plastic waste. According to Ecolur, that work includes analysing existing conditions and developing a programme of cleanup and prevention measures.
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