The Regional Development and Research Center (RDRC) NGO was founded in 2002 by residents of Sevan, who were deeply concerned about the escalating ecological issues of Lake Sevan and the worsening socio-economic conditions of its coastal communities.

These two challenges are closely interconnected, as Lake Sevan has been the primary source of livelihood for local residents for centuries. In a high-altitude region (above 2000 meters above sea level), where agricultural conditions are harsh and the climate is unforgiving, people settled here because nature had miraculously stored vast reserves of fresh water with its endemic and highly valuable fish species.

For generations, people lived in harmony with the lake and nature, preserving the ecosystem, avoiding its degradation, and ensuring the renewal of natural resources. The elders recount that during the spawning season, even church bells were not rung to avoid disturbing the fish. However, with the establishment of Soviet rule in the early 20th century, the term “resource” came into circulation. The lake was no longer seen as an ecosystem but as a water and fish resource that had to be exploited for the needs of the planned economy.

As a result of this mismanagement, excessive exploitation of the lake’s water and fish resources, the use of pesticides and nitrogen-based fertilizers in the catchment basin, and the discharge of wastewater from growing cities, industries, and mining activities pushed Lake Sevan to the brink of ecological disaster. Nevertheless, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of economic crises in Armenia, the lake remained a crucial lifeline for local communities, serving as their last means of survival.

By the early 2000s, Lake Sevan was on the verge of an ecological catastrophe, and its restoration became an urgent necessity. In 2001, the National Assembly of Armenia adopted the “Law on Lake Sevan,” but its implementation required concrete actions. It was essential to reintroduce sustainable pre-Soviet environmental practices, reduce the use of harmful chemicals, explore alternative and sustainable income sources, support women whose husbands had left for work abroad and never returned, and educate the new generation with the right environmental values.

Under these conditions, it was natural for intellectuals born and raised on the shores of Sevan to feel the urge to act. Among them were Martin and Satik Badeyan, who, along with their friends and like-minded individuals, sought solutions.

Evening discussions and gatherings among friends revolved around the fate of Lake Sevan. At that time, Martin Badeyan, a former researcher at Sevan National Park and a monitoring specialist in an agricultural services state program, came across a 10-volume “NGO Management Handbook” published by the NGO Center. After reading the books in one sitting, he immediately contacted his friends, proposing to establish a non-governmental organization. The idea was met with unanimous enthusiasm.

The next day, on May 5, 2002, the founding meeting of the initiative group took place. It was unanimously decided that the president of the organization would be the only female representative in the group, Satik Badeyan. The NGO received state registration on May 30 of the same year and, by June, became involved in the preparatory work for Armenia’s first-ever Pan-Armenian NGO Conference.

The three-day conference significantly contributed to the development and public recognition of the organization. The environmental challenges of Lake Sevan raised during the conference caught the attention of the media, bringing the issue into the public eye and making the organization known. The connections and information gained during the event became valuable resources for future activities.

In the following months, the founders of RDRC actively participated in training sessions at the NGO Center, learning about organizational development and management. Despite difficulties, they persevered with determination. As a result, in January 2003, the organization received its first grant, and by the end of the program, it had 46 members—intellectuals from Sevan, each contributing their professional knowledge and skills to the growth of the NGO. Thus began the journey of RDRC—dedicated to the protection of Lake Sevan, the development of its coastal communities, and the promotion of sustainable environmental practices.