Raise Environmental Awareness
We want to build environmental awareness, and allow visitors, both locals and tourists alike, to learn more about how to treat nature with nurture and care. Our trails will help visitors learn more about the biodiversity and how to enjoy the wonders of nature responsibly. Through environmental education, we would like to improve human-environment interaction.
Develop Ecotourism
We want to create and develop the proper infrastructure for ecotourism ranging from everything between creating trails, materials filled with interesting and educational information, and improving the accessibility for different demographics over time. By developing ecotourism, we are optimistic that tourists and visitors will be encouraged to navigate through the protected areas in southern Armenia in an ecologically sustainable way, and contribute to sustainable livelihoods of surrounding communities.
Promote Tourism to Armenia
It is our pleasure to host volunteers from all across European countries and immerse them in the marvels of Armenian nature and culture. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to exchange expertise and for the combined effort which will result in the final product of this project. We believe that they will have a positive experience during their time in Armenia, and act as “ambassadors” who help to promote ecotourism in Armenia.
BarevTrails is a 3 year project. It is a cooperation between Wesser Foundation and WWF Armenia. Each year over 60 volunteers take a journey to mountainous Armenia to work in Protected Areas such as Khosrov Forest State Reserve, Gnishik Protected Landscape, Tatev Planned National Park and Zangezur Biosphere Complex.
These amazing volunteers will work with a group of 10 local volunteers in developing ecotourism in these Protected Areas, by creating trails and developing all the necessary materials needed. The nature of the work includes various activities, installing signboards and informational boards, trailblazing, building vista points, small bridges over streams, cleaning the trails by collecting trash, etc.. Volunteers will also be mapping the trails with GPS devices and editing all of the useful and educational information for tourists and visitors to read on the maps and signages.
Each group will be hosted in Armenia for 9 days, of which 7 days will be completely dedicated to the actual project. These educational hiking trails will be focusing on providing information on the nature and biodiversity of a specific area, including the flora, fauna, cultural monuments and other objects of visitor interest. Each trail will be across scenic sites in these protected areas, and it is expected that the trail conditions will be improved over time.
In addition to building the infrastructure necessary to create the trails and develop ecotourism, volunteers will be given the opportunity to visit other sites in Armenia, so that they can become acquainted with the splendid natural and cultural heritage of the country.