Armenia's Shikahogh Nature Reserve and Mtnadzor Forest at Great Risk
Wednesday June 8, 10:05 am ET
Press Release
Source: Armenia Tree Project
YEREVAN, Armenia, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus which historically had forest cover of 40-45 percent, is today at perilous risk of becoming completely deforested. Current estimates place forest cover at around eight percent, and at current rates of cutting, the last of the forests could be gone in as little as 20 years.
Despite this, the Armenian government recently announced plans to build a highway in the southern part of the country right through the middle of the old growth Mtnadzor (Dark Canyon) forest, which occupies about half of the Shikahogh nature reserve, one of only three pristine reserves in the country.
[...]
A coalition including Armenia Tree Project (ATP), Armenian Forests NGO, World Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of America have been working together to identify viable alternatives to the proposed route and put a stop to the plan to begin immediate construction until public hearings are held.
[...]
To date, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Defense have stated their intention to move forward with construction plans. In response, the Minister of Nature Protection announced his intention to resign if the road is constructed through the reserve. [...].
"The construction of the proposed road through the preserve will introduce pollution from passing vehicles into this almost pristine forest, destroy the habitat for rare wildlife and migratory paths, and attract illegal logging, depriving future generations of Armenians of an irreplaceable resource. The encroachment by illegal loggers has already destroyed much of Armenia's forests during the past decade," added the ATP founder in her letter.
[...]
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears Here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Press Release
Source: Armenia Tree Project
YEREVAN, Armenia, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus which historically had forest cover of 40-45 percent, is today at perilous risk of becoming completely deforested. Current estimates place forest cover at around eight percent, and at current rates of cutting, the last of the forests could be gone in as little as 20 years.
Despite this, the Armenian government recently announced plans to build a highway in the southern part of the country right through the middle of the old growth Mtnadzor (Dark Canyon) forest, which occupies about half of the Shikahogh nature reserve, one of only three pristine reserves in the country.
[...]
A coalition including Armenia Tree Project (ATP), Armenian Forests NGO, World Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of America have been working together to identify viable alternatives to the proposed route and put a stop to the plan to begin immediate construction until public hearings are held.
[...]
To date, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Defense have stated their intention to move forward with construction plans. In response, the Minister of Nature Protection announced his intention to resign if the road is constructed through the reserve. [...].
"The construction of the proposed road through the preserve will introduce pollution from passing vehicles into this almost pristine forest, destroy the habitat for rare wildlife and migratory paths, and attract illegal logging, depriving future generations of Armenians of an irreplaceable resource. The encroachment by illegal loggers has already destroyed much of Armenia's forests during the past decade," added the ATP founder in her letter.
[...]
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears Here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 8:13 AM
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