Khosrov Forest State is a nature reserve in Ararat Province of Armenia. The reserve is one of the oldest protected areas in the world having a history of about 1700 years. It was founded in the 4th century (334-338) by the order of Khosrov Kotak, King of Armenia, who gave it his name. It was founded to improve the natural climatic conditions of adjacent territories of Artashat - the capital city of Armenia of the given period and the newly established city of Dvin to ensure conservation and enrichment of flora and fauna species; serve as a ground for royal hunting, military exercises and entertainments.
This area was designated as a state reserve in September 1958 and covers around 23213.5 ha at elevations from 700 to 2800 m above sea level. The Khosrov reserve protects juniper (Juniperus polycarpos) and oak (Quercus macranthera) forests from Tertiary Period, arid associations of semidesert and phrygana landscapes and other Mediterranean relict plant ecosystems as well as the genetic fund of rare animals and plants adapted to the reserve conditions. It also includes wetlands of international importance. Khosrov Forest State Reserve, thanks to its numerous peculiarities, is unique not only in Armenia but also in the whole Caucasus ecoregion.
The following protected areas are under the subordination of the Khosrov Forest State Reserve:
- Khosrov Forest state reserve, which at present is divided into four districts- Garni (4253 ha), Kaqavaberd (4745 ha), Khosrov (6860.8 ha), and Khachadzor (7354.7 ha),
- Goravan Sands state sanctuary (95.99 ha),
- Khor Virap State Sanctuary (50.28 ha).
Realizing the importance of the reserve, on 26 August 2013 Khosrov Forest State Reserve SNCO was awarded with European Diploma of Protected Areas.
The reserve in the region is characterized by the richness of the species composition of its flora and the high density of species. 1849 species of plants (more than 50% of the flora of Armenia and about 1/3 of the Caucasus flora) grow in the territory of the reserve, which makes up 1% of Armenia, which are represented by 588 breed and 107 families.
80 species of plants are registered in the Red Book of Armenia. 24 of the growing plants in the reserve area are endemic.
There are 283 species of vertebrates in the reserve, of which:
- birds - 192 species,
- mammals - 44 species,
- reptiles - 33 species,
- fish - 9 species,
- amphibians - 5 species․
58 species of vertebrates are registered in the Red Book of Armenia, and 51 species in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
