EcoLur
Clean drinking water flows from the spring directly under the canopy of trees. Under the spring is gorge of Azat River, while medieval monastery complex Havouts Tar is located 150-200 far from the spring. And all this can be found in the territory of “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve which has the highest protection level under IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
A pathway runs to the springs from the entrance to the reserve. You should walk one kilometer 700 meters to get there, i.e. the distance designed for road construction. Under Nature Protection Ministry explanations, the road is constructed for fire-prevention purposes.
The road construction caused real sensation in social networks, where an assumption is discussed that tycoons and top officials intend to seize Khosrov.
To clear up the situation on spot, on 6 July a group headed for Khosrov consisting of the following members: WWF-Armenia Director Karen Manvelyan, CNF, Caucasus Nature Fund, representative Arman Vermishyan, Lawyer Meri Khachatryan and EcoLur President Inga Zarafyan. Reserve employees and activists, Teghout supporters, joined the group on the spot.
The old road, which was used for transport movement is in expansion process. Heavy machinery has already reached the place where the old road finishes. Then cars have no run. You should walk on narrow pathway to reach the spring. Head of Garni Section of Khosrov Reserve Sargis Hovhannisyan explains, “If the road runs to the spring, workers can use spring in case of fires, while they are often phenomena here.” Nevertheless, the small spring is impossible to use for extinguishing fires. “Nobody extinguishes fire with water. We cover fire with shovels of land: people need water to drink and wash.” Explanations are accepted, now it comes to objections.
Khosrov reserve has a territory of about 30,000 ha, and fire can break out at any moment in any section. Why it was decided to construct a road in the place most frequently visited by tourists – Havouts Tar Monastery and spring. Whether almost two kilometers of road is laid with heavy machinery only for extinguishing fire and an opportunity to wash? And who will guarantee that the road will be used only in case of fires or other disasters? In our opinion, nobody will.
Reminder: it’s already a year and a half since the ministry can’t make it out what to do with suspended restaurant in Baybourt section (or Gilan section). The restaurant in the heart of reserve was constructed for tourism center, and for this purpose 118 ha was changed into wildlife preserve, i.e. a specially protected area with lower protection level. Now this section has recovered its status of a reserve, while the construction was left. Within this time period, the building gradually becomes dilapidated. The building materials have overgrown with grass, unfixed covers may collapse. Under all measures, this construction should have been destroyed as an illegal one. But the government didn’t accept this public offer. It’s still unknown who will own and accomplish the construction of this building. Now roads are complemented to all this staff.
WWF-Armenia Director Karen Manvelyan said, “The best way to move through the reserve is riding, and environmental funds can assist the reserve in this issue.” What about roads, Karen Manvelyan offers to stop its construction, and not to lay a new road on tourist route, so as tourists or lovers of fresh air were not attracted to have picnic near the spring. He also thinks barriers should be put at the entrance and seal them.
July 09, 2012 at 12:06