EcoLur
The Armenian Government is going to establish “Jermuk” National Park in 2017. This activity is included in the draft governmental programme, which will be submitted for the approval of the National Assembly on 20 October.
On 25 September 2014 the Armenian Government adopted its resolution 1059-A “On approving strategy, conservation and use of strictly preserved areas of nature in the Republic of Armenia, state programme and measures”, which says “Jermuk” National Park shall be established within 2017-2020 by RA Nature Protection Ministry with the consent of NAS RA and WWF Armenia with the financial means of the state budget and other sources not permitted by law.
With the establishment of “Jermuk” National Park the following reserves will be united - “HerHer”, “Jermuk Forest” and “Jermuk Hydrological” reserves. It will enable to ensure the conservation of integrity of ecosystems and to support economic development of communities located in the buffer zone of the national park, promote tourism development and increasing living standard of the population,” says the Strategy of Strictly Preserves Areas of Nature approved by the Armenian Government.
The boundaries of the planned national park are near Amulsar gold mine, which is going to be developed by Lydian International Company as represented by its subsidiary – Lydian Armenia.
In the potential area of “Jermuk” National Park there are around 50 red-listed animal species and 40-50 red-listed plant species. There are 22 endangered species in Amulsar mine area.
Reminder: WWF Armenia Director Karen Manvelyan recently announced that their organization refused from Lydian Armenia Company’s proposal to fund the establishment of “Jermuk” National Park. “When you destroy nature on one hand and try to establish a national park on the other hand, it doesn’t coincide each other,” Karen Manvelyan substantiated.
October 19, 2016 at 17:25