EcoLur
The answer to the question whether international environmental funds will stop cooperating with Nature Protection Ministry is already available. Yes, they will stop it. This reply was given at the press conference on 27 November by WWF-Armenia Head Karen Manvelyan and CNF Representative Arman Vermishyan. This time the stumbling rock was “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve. The Ministry expressed its preliminary approval in the course of the competition held on 23 November, though the only candidate has his specialization in “commodity expert”, but he has no idea what an ecosystem is and has no experience in the management of specially protected areas. According to rumours, the candidate has some relations with illegal hunting.
This isn’t the first case, when the Ministry appoints in top management positions of specially protected areas such people who have an image of poachers. According to the information we have, in 2011 a person was hired in “Arevik” National Park with “Jackal” nickname. There were rumor it was Jackal who killed the female Caucasian leopard. Naturally rumours are rumours, but reserves need people with unstained reputation, who can never be mentioned as poachers. Otherwise, the whole protection regime is undermined.
As a fact, poaching is recognized to be one of the main reasons, which caused many species in Armenia to appear on the verge of extinction. By the way, this statement is recorded in the Red Book, which the Nature Protection Ministry is so proud of.
November 29, 2012 at 13:17