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In 2026, the total amount of funding for 25 measures included in the framework of 6 budget programmes of the Ministry of Environment will amount to about 15.4 billion drams, which is 813 million drams more than the budget approved in 2025. About 2.4 billion drams of the amount designed for 2026, are international grants, and about 13 billion drams are state budget allocations.

The RA Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan said this at the joint sitting of the Standing Committees on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment Protection and on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs. The 2026 draft budget was debated.

The Minister touched upon the organizational work and financial allocations for the 17^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17) to be held in Yerevan in October 2026. 1 billion drams will be allocated to The Ministry, and the remaining amount will be provided from the reserve fund of Government.

The total allocation for the Forest Management programme is more than 7 billion drams. With the adoption of the law On Eco-Patrol Service, the protection of forest and specially protected areas of nature should be carried out through the eco-patrol service. According to the draft state budget for 2026, 5.7 billion drams will be allocated to the eco-patrol service. Within the framework of the system implementation process, work continues on staffing and re-equipping eco-patrols, involving investment programmes and with the support of international partners.

475.5 million drams will be allocated to the maintenance costs of the Hayantar (Armforest) State Non-Commercial Organization (SNCO), which constitutes 42 percent of the SNCO’s salary. The main part of the organization’s maintenance costs is designed to be provided at the expense of its own income from entrepreneurial activities.

The volume of financing for the implementation of forest restoration and afforestation works has decreased by 50 percent, amounting to 500 million drams.

About 391 million drams are envisaged for the fight against harmful organisms in forests.

An environmental subsidy of 686 million drams is designed for 17 affected communities.

The Minister presented a number of current environmental programmes, spoke about the measures designed for 2026. In the city of Kapan, cleaning works will be carried out on the Voghji River bed. A project for the collection of rainwater and the creation of an irrigation system will be implemented in the Nor Nork administrative district of Yerevan.

1.11 billion drams will be allocated for the implementation of the Management of Natural Resources and Specially Protected Areas of Nature programme. 624.5 million drams will be allocated for the maintenance costs of 6 SNCOs implementing the management of specially protected areas of nature. The allocation for the rehabilitation of the Sevan Trout Resources Restoration and Fish Farming Development Fund is 467.7 million drams, which is about 28 million drams or 6 percent less than the 2025 indicator.

Hambardzum Matevosyan presented in detail a number of programme indicators being implemented in the sector, after which answered the MPs’ questions.