EcoLur
Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia tries to recover the status of a state reserve to Gilan Wildlife Preserve. On May 30 Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan made this statement in his meeting with a number of NGOs on May 30.
From NGO sector this meeting was participated by Silva Adamyan (Center for Bird Lovers), Sona Ayvazyan (Transparency International Anticorruption Center), Karine Danielyan (For Sustainable Human Development Association), Marina Oganezova (Armenian Botanical Company), Zhanna Galyan (Ecotourism Association), Mary Khachatryan (Legal Consultant at Aarhus Centers), from the Ministry Minister Aram Harutyunyan, First Deputy Minister Simon Papyan, Ministry Biodiversity Policy Department Head Tatyana Danielyan, Bioresources Management Agency Head Artashes Ziroyan, Specially Protected Territories Department Head Aram Aghasyan.
Reminder: Under Government Decision №673-Ն dated on 24 May 2007 “Gilan” State Wildlife Preserve was established in “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve, to which later the area of 118 ha called “Bayburd” was attached. The authorities explained the establishment of the wildlife preserve by people inhabiting in Bayburd. Actually Bayburd is rather far away from Gilan, while Gilanlar territory was attached to Gilan, which is not inhabited by people. On 18 November 2008 the Armenian Government adopted decision № 1203- Ն, under which 118 ha from Gilan was leased to “Hovazadzor” Company for 60 year with the permit of capital construction. It should be mentioned this decision is missing on the official website of the Armenian Government. When the building called “Paradise” started going upper and upper, the public started complaining against the decisions of the Armenian Government, they held meeting-discussions, visit with Nature Protection Ministry to the Khosrov State reserve, letters were sent to the Armenian President and all responsible bodies to solve this problem.
Under Silva Adamyan, the Presidential seat has sent NGOs letter to Nature Protection Ministry to finally solve this problem. She mentioned that Minister Aram Harutyunyan said after changing Gilan status the building constructed in Gilan will serve as visit centre and didn’t detail what kind of arrangements the Ministry has reached with “Hovazadzor” Company to manage the area it leased and constructed building. NGO representatives opposed to the preservation of this building saying it is not excluded this building will turn into restaurant in future.
The participant didn’t reach any agreement so they decided to meet once again.
May 30, 2011 at 18:13