

"Our country ranks among the countries with the driest climatic conditions, and our mountainous terrain, the sparseness of the vegetation and the indiscriminate use of nature have led to the fact that about 70 percent of the territory of the republic is subject to varying degrees of desertification, and 30 percent to severe desertification," RA Environment Minister Hakob Simidyan noted at the 2nd meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought of the Convention to Combat Desertification held in Yerevan on March 14, 2023, where 30 experts from different countries of the world participated to develop actions aimed at combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.
According to the minister, one of the means of combating desertification is reforestation and protection of water resources.
Narine Hakobyan, Deputy Head of Lands and Mining Policy Department of Environment Ministry, National Coordinator of Convention to Combat Desertification, noted: "Desertification phenomena are more intense in Ararat Valley and Shirak region. The reasons are different: severe warming of climatic conditions, non-use of land, lowering of groundwater, not using land for its intended purpose". According to her, plans are being implemented to curb the human impact on the desertification process.
"The government is implementing a number of agricultural programs that help farmers introduce high technologies for smarter agriculture. On the other hand, it is necessary to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, which affects the quality characteristics of soils," Narine Hakobyan said.
March 15, 2023 at 18:37