Presenting the Yeghegis Valley Riverside Restoration Project in Cambridge

Ruben Khachatryan, Founding Director of FPWC and IUCN Regional Councillor for Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia, presented the Yeghegis Valley Riverside Restoration Project at the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme Partners Meeting in Cambridge.

The Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme is managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative — a partnership between the University of Cambridge and ten world-renowned conservation organisations Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, supporting partners to restore landscapes and seascapes across Europe for the benefit of nature and people. Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme The Partners Meeting brought together restoration practitioners and leading conservation organisations from across the continent to exchange experience and advance landscape-scale approaches to nature recovery.

Tucked away in the Caucasus region, the Yeghegis Valley harbours a stunning array of globally and regionally threatened species, including elusive predators like the Persian Leopard, wildcats and lynx, as well as the endangered Armenian Mouflon — of which fewer than 200 individuals remain in Armenia. BirdLife International FPWC's presentation highlighted the Foundation's ongoing work to restore river ecosystems, reforest degraded slopes, and strengthen biodiversity across this exceptional landscape through science-based, community-rooted restoration.

FPWC, BirdLife International's Partner in Armenia, is leading restoration efforts such as reforesting slopes and reviving biodiversity, with strong support from the local community. BirdLife International The long-term vision is ambitious: fully restored forests across the Yeghegis Valley, sustainably managed by local communities; at least ten hydropower plants removed or restored to allow the river to flow freely; and riparian forests and wetlands recovered into a vibrant mosaic of habitats.

Reflecting on the significance of the work, Ruben Khachatryan noted: "We are at the start of an exciting new chapter for the Yeghegis Valley. By fostering harmony between nature and local communities, we hope to protect this beautiful gem and help its forests, rivers, and wildlife thrive for future generations."

The Cambridge meeting provided a vital platform for FPWC to stand alongside partner organisations working across the region — sharing lessons, deepening collaboration, and affirming that landscape-scale restoration, when grounded in science and community, can deliver lasting impact.