The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) is proud to announce that on 15 October 2025, our founder and director, Ruben Khachatryan, was officially elected as the IUCN Regional Councillor for Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia. This achievement marks a historic milestone not only for FPWC, but also for Armenia and the wider region.

Ruben’s election took place during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, where FPWC — alongside partners ArAves and SunChild NGOs — is actively showcasing Armenia’s conservation achievements and future ambitions.

A Recognition of Two Decades of Impact

Ruben Khachatryan’s appointment reflects more than 20 years of leadership in biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and community-centered ecological restoration. His legacy includes:

• The Caucasus Wildlife Refuge — Armenia’s first privately protected area, now spanning over 35,000 hectares.

• The Wildlife Rescue Center, which has rehabilitated over 50 bears rescued from illegal captivity and wildlife trafficking.

• Long-standing, trust-based partnerships with local communities to restore habitats, mitigate human–wildlife conflict, and strengthen national conservation networks.

Ruben has long championed a simple principle: effective conservation begins with people — with communities, education, and collaboration across borders. His new role at IUCN will give a stronger voice to an underrepresented region and bring its priorities into global conservation policy.

Armenia’s Expanding Role in Global Conservation

At the Congress, FPWC held a series of high-level engagements, including welcoming Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). She showed great interest in FPWC’s work in biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and wildlife rescue.

Armenia’s Minister of Environment, Hambardzum Matevosyan, also took part in discussions as the country prepares to host the historic CBD COP17 in 2026.

A major milestone during the Congress was the official handover of Armenia’s State Membership Certificate by the IUCN Director General — reaffirming the nation’s commitment to global conservation efforts.

Thought Leadership at the IUCN Congress

Throughout the Congress, Ruben contributed to several important thematic sessions:

Privately Protected Areas & Restoration

He presented the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge as a model demonstrating how private initiative and community partnerships can scale restoration and climate resilience.

Combating Wildlife Trafficking

In the session on combating illegal wildlife trade, Ruben showcased FPWC’s integrated approach involving law enforcement, customs, vets, communities, and responsible zoos — a model that has successfully exposed trafficking routes and rehabilitated confiscated wildlife.

Public Governance & Civic Spaces

Ruben spoke about the essential role of civic freedoms, integrity, and accountability in conservation, emphasizing that transparent governance is foundational to achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Across all sessions, his message remained clear:
“When communities, private actors, and nature unite, both biodiversity and people thrive.”

Looking Ahead

As Armenia prepares to host CBD COP17 in 2026, Ruben’s election significantly strengthens the region’s presence in global decision-making. It affirms Armenia’s growing role in conservation leadership and underscores the importance of FPWC’s long-standing, community-driven work.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all partners and supporters who believed in this vision during the IUCN election process.