## 1 Introduction  
### Context  
The Republic of Armenia (RA) is located at the junction of the biogeographic zones of the Lesser Caucasus and the Iranian and Mediterranean zones and exhibits both a great range of altitudinal variation from 375 m to the 4090 m peak of Mount Aragats, as well as a diversity of climatic zones. This combination has resulted in a variety of landscapes and ecological communities with a distinct flora and fauna, including many regionally endemic, relict, and rare species. Therefore, in the country's small territory of 2,974,300 ha, there are about 3800 species of high vascular plants, 428 species of soil and water algae, 399 species of mosses, 4207 species of fungi, 464 species of lichens, 549 species of vertebrates and about 17,200 species of invertebrates [1]. The first Forest Code of Independent RA that was accepted in 1994 was rather conservative and logically connected to the former Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR)Forest Code established in 1978. According to that law, any production loggings in Armenian forests were forbidden and only certain so-called sanitary cuttings such as the removal of dead and infected trees were allowed. In 2005, the new Forest Code was approved where protection and special categories for production forest (along with state border, green zones, etc.) were introduced. Despite the clear indications of limited regular logging potential from Armenian forests, illegal and unregulated loggings with different intensities, which started in 1992 due to transportation and energetic blockade of the country, continue to this day [2]. A network of specially protected areas (SPAs) was first established in Armenia in 1958 to protect ecosystems and habitats as well as rare, endemic, and threatened species. The first specially protected nature areas of Armenia were Dilijan, Khosrov Forest and Shikahogh Reserves. The same year, six reservations were also established. All of them were of forest protection significance. Later, the network of SPAs was extended: in 1981, Erebuni Reserve was established in the vicinity of Yerevan to protect wild-growing cereals; in 1987, Sev Lich (\"Black Lake\" in Armenian) Reserve was established to protect the natural complex of the relict volcanic lake and in 1978, Sevan National Park was established based on the extremely important task to conserve fresh-water resources of Lake Sevan for the whole Transcaucasus, as well as on the national significance of fish resources [3]. In 1999, there were five State Reserves, 22 State Reservations and one National park registered with 311,000 ha or 10% of the surface of the RA. Around 60% of Armenian species are represented within the protected area network, however there is a bias towards forest habitats, and a need to expend the system to include better representation of other ecosystems [4]. Currently, SPAs are implemented under four different national designations: (1) state reserves (Khosrov, Shikahogh and Erebuni); (2) national parks (Sevan, Dilijan, Lake Arpi and Arevik); (3) state preserves (a total of 27 state preserves); and (4) national monuments (a total of 232 natural monuments). The total area of nationally designated protected areas covers 12.90% of the terrestrial territory and inland waters of RA. However, some efforts are still needed to reach the Aichi biodiversity target 11, which aims to have 17% of national territory protected [1]. Several decisions have been elaborated and approved by the Government of the RA for the improvement of legislation related to specially protected nature areas and the protection of flora and fauna objects. In particular: (a) The RA Government adopted decree No.