Resilience for Lake Sevan: Leveraging the Economic Value of Ecosystem Services for Strategic Pollution Control Investments in Armenia

This publication examines how Lake Sevan, Armenia’s largest freshwater lake, is threatened by unsustainable practices and considers water treatment scenarios to protect its biodiversity and critical ecosystem services. Valuing Lake Sevan’s water supply, hydropower, and other ecosystem services at approximately $397 million per year, the publication analyzes the impact of eutrophication and outlines three wastewater treatment scenarios. It recommends upgrading wastewater management systems, addressing industrial and agricultural pollution, strengthening governance, and building a sustainable tourism industry in Armenia to help tackle environmental stressors and ensure Lake Sevan’s long-term resilience.