EcoLur
“Jrvezh” forest park acquires new supporters. On 5 August S.O.S. Tegout youth environmental movement, “Ecodar” NGO and the Institute for Rights Democratization famous for their moves for nature protection held a trip to “Jrvezh” forest park. “We saw what a huge wealth Jrvezh forest is. This is the only preserved forest, a kind of “green zone” for our city that protects Yerevan from dust and provides oxygen,” Mariam Sukhudyan, the representative of the youth movement, said.
The trip to Jrvezh was held due to S.O.S. signal given by “Ecolur” in regard to the Government decision 684-N “On Approving the Description and Territory Size of “Jrvezh” Forest park and Amending RA Government Decision N 1046-N dated on 18 July 2002” on 18 June of this year. According to the description attached to the decision, the size of the park is suggested to leave unchanged, 400,43 ha, but to change the boundaries. Instead of 23 ha of forest-covered area located near Yerevan-Garni highway, a mountainous land area with no vegetation and water has been introduced, but this land area has never been included in the territory of “Jrvezh” forest park. One of the hardest consequences is the deprivation of the irrigation system as the central pipes run through the alienated land area. The deprivation of the irrigation system is a death sentence for Jrvezh. The park will wither in 1-2 year without any water.
“We sat under these pines, breathed in this air, walked barefooted and realized what we may lose,” Mariam said.
The youth movement together with “EcoLur” and other NGOs intends to hold a protest demonstration for the protection of Jrvezh and to call on “SAVE JRVEZH, SAVE YEREVAN, SAVE YOURSELF.”
August 12, 2009