Shikahogh Reserve

Projects

Scientific research in the reserve has been carried out through individual projects, by the Institute of Botany NAS RA and the Scientific Centre of Zoology and Hydroecology (former Institute of Zoology) NAS RA. For example, in 2004-2007 I. Khorozyan and A. Malkhasyan conducted the leopard Panthera pardus and prey studies on the Meghri Ridge. Results of these efforts are published in a number of papers:

“Persian leopard photographed in Armenia”, Cat News, 2005 (English, pdf, 531 KB).
“The Persian leopard prowls its way to survival”, Endangered Species Update, 2005 (English, pdf, 2.98 MB).
“The leopard and its resilience to human pressure in the Caucasus”, Zoology in the Middle East, 2007 (English, pdf, 2.61 MB).
“The leopard in Armenia”, Caucasus Environment, 2008 (Russian and English, pdf, 709 KB).
«Presence-absence surveys of prey and their use in predicting leopard densities: a case study from Armenia», Integrative Zoology, 2008 (English, pdf, 923 KB).

Results of botanical research in Shikahogh (E. Gabrielyan, G. Faivush, N. Khanjyan) are published in these works:

“Shikahogh Reserve”, a chapter in the book “Reserves of the Caucasus”, 1990 (Russian, pdf, 778 KB). This information is also available at the website of the Armenian Travel Bureau.
Chapter about Shikahogh Reserve in the book “Specially protected nature areas of Armenia” by N. Khanjyan, 2004 (English, pdf, 608 KB).

Beginning from 2004, Armenian (A. Aghasyan, L. Aghasyan), American (J. Ettling – page 1 and page 2) and Russian (N. Ananjeva, N. Orlov) scientists continue their investigations of the Armenian viper Montivipera raddei on the Meghri Ridge.

Conservation projects in the reserve have been carried out since 2002 due to cooperation between the Ministry of Nature Protection, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). These projects include monitoring of the leopard and other large mammals using the specially developed protocols, preparation of infrastructure and information for ecotourism development (visitor centre, booklets, road signs and billboards, website), building of technical capacities (jeeps, GPS’s, rangefinders, binoculars, uniforms, tents) and professional training. The boundaries of Shikahogh Reserve and Plane Grove Sanctuary are officially delineated and registered in state entities.

Particular attention has been paid to awareness raising among reserve and sanctuary personnel and local people about biodiversity and the importance of its conservation. Relevant activities include school contests with memorable gifts for winners and dissemination of information. Moreover, in-depth measures have been taken to promote economic development (gardening, beekeeping) of local communities. Some results are published:

Booklet of about Shikahogh Reserve published by Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment non-governmental organization, 2008 (Armenian, pdf, 544 KB).

“Promoting sustainable resource use among local communities”, CEPF Newsletter, May-June 2008 (English, pdf, 547 KB).

The website was created in 2009 as part of the project “Biodiversity Protection and Community Development: Implementing Ecoregional Conservation Plan Targets in South Armenia”. The project was implemented by WWF Norway and WWF Armenia with the financial support of the Norwegian Government.