Evaluation of Importance of Teksar Mountain of Armenia for Bird and Butterfly Protection

Abstract

The Teksar Mountain requires evaluation as a potential Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and as a Prime Butterfly Area (PBA), especially because the networks of those areas in Armenia are underdeveloped. There are 131 species of birds recorded in the area, among which 101 are breeding and 30 occur during migration or found in breeding season having this site as part of their foraging range. The site fits several criteria of IBA: A1, B1a, B1b, as well as the criteria of PBA: it hosts a number of globally threatened and nationally threatened species, as well as the regional endemics. The site faces a number of threats, related to poaching, overgrazing, uncontrolled mowing, arsons, small Hydro Power Plants, and potentially – metal mining. The existing Yeghegis State Sanctuary covers only 17% of the valuable ecosystems and doesn’t function properly. It is proposed to evaluate the area as an Emerald Site, with further development of the site’s management plan. Such a management plan should consider extraction of the area from the public hunting lands, development of sustainable grazing and mowing schemes, improvement of the local communities’ livelihood through development of wildlife tourism, and an extensive training and educational program.