Green City Action Plan
In 2017, Yerevan Municipality, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, developed a strategy to improve the capital's environmental conditions. This document covers key areas of city life: public transportation, street lighting, waste management, water resources, and green spaces. The program aims to create a comfortable environment for residents by 2030, reduce harmful emissions, and take a systemic approach to preserving the city's natural assets rather than addressing problems piece by piece.
The Yerevan Council of Elders has officially approved this strategy, making it a primary guide for municipal services when planning budgets and new projects. However, the document is not a directly enforceable law that imposes immediate penalties for non-compliance. Instead, it serves as a roadmap, and its effectiveness depends on available funding and the consistency of the authorities' administrative decisions.
Key takeaways related to trees
[1] Significance of green space recovery. Yerevan experienced severe deforestation in the 1990s due to an energy crisis, losing a significant portion of its tree cover for fuel. Although the city has made efforts since 2004 to replant and revitalize public green spaces, bringing them closer to pre-1990 levels, the current vegetation structure differs from the original, possessing lower gas absorption capacity and an insufficient natural dust barrier (page 121).
[2] Current green space per capita. As of 2016, the ratio of public green space in Yerevan was approximately 7.6 square meters per inhabitant. While this represents an improvement from previous years, it remains below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of 9 square meters per capita, limiting its effectiveness as a dust barrier for the city (page 122).
[3] Master plan targets vs. reality. The City's Master Plan set an ambitious long-term goal to triple green areas to nearly 2,400 hectares by 2020. However, achieving this target has proven difficult because much of the designated land is no longer available, contaminated, or eroded. Consequently, the city needs to reassess available public land and redefine its concept of green space development to set more reachable goals (page 122).
[4] Role of brownfield sites. Potential exists for creating new green spaces by remediating brownfield sites—former industrial or commercial lands that may be contaminated. The city lacks a comprehensive inventory of these sites, but plans to develop one to identify locations that can be cleaned up and transformed into public green areas or amenities (pages 123, 135).
[5] Importance for air quality. The loss of vegetation has directly contributed to poor air quality in Yerevan, specifically high concentrations of dust and particulate matter, because the city lacks sufficient natural obstacles to block wind and trap pollutants. Re-establishing a green barrier around the city is considered a critical step to mitigate this issue and improve overall environmental health (pages 45, 121).
[6] Biodiversity challenges. Biodiversity in Yerevan has declined, indicated by the state of bird communities, which have shifted from a diverse mix of species to being dominated by a few common types like crows. The city’s vision includes integrating biodiversity into urban planning to preserve local flora and fauna, acknowledging that green spaces must be interconnected to effectively support diverse ecosystems (pages 44, 46).
[7] Irrigation constraints. The maintenance and expansion of green spaces are heavily constrained by the availability of irrigation water and infrastructure. Each hectare of green space requires approximately 7,000 cubic meters of water annually; therefore, sustainable irrigation solutions and the modernization of the existing network are essential for the survival of new and existing plantings (pages 45, 122).
[8] Green transport infrastructure. New green space initiatives are being linked to sustainable mobility. The action plan includes installing green transport infrastructure, such as bike stands and electric vehicle charging points, within or near public buildings and green areas. This approach aims to create synergies between land use and transport, promoting walking and cycling in a more pleasant urban environment (pages 126, 128).
[9] Commercial development contribution. Given the scarcity of public funds and land, private commercial developments are expected to play a role in increasing green coverage. Regulations oblige developers to allocate at least 30% of their project areas to green spaces, which is seen as a necessary contribution to meeting the city's overall greening targets (page 122).
[10] Public awareness and education. The plan emphasizes the need for public engagement through a "Green City Awareness Centre" and cooperation with schools and NGOs. These initiatives aim to educate citizens about the value of green spaces and biodiversity, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship that supports the city's reforestation and conservation efforts (pages 48, 69).