Over 60 Percent Bird Wildlife On Verge of Extinction Due to Lack of Water (Photos)

EcoLur

On 5 October the Armenian Association for the Protection of Birds carried out the Eurobirdwatch in Armenia in the area of fish farms in Armash, Ararat Region. Among the participants was the US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern and First Nature Protection Minister Simon Papyan.

According to co-founder of the Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds Luba Balyan, Armash is one of the richest spots and the most significant in regard with birds and probably the only place in Armenia where such biodiversity of birds can be observed. Armenia has 360 registered bird species, and around 220 species, i.e. over 60%, were recorded in the fish farms in Armash.

'Many lakes in Armash are dried down nowadays and are used as agricultural land areas. If this tendency continues, over 60% of our bird wildlife will get extinct,' Luba Balyan was beating an alarm signal.

'In different seasons of the year we can meet different bird species, which need water. The USAID and the US Embassy have provided experts and engineers to solve this problem currently existing in Armash in close cooperation with Nature Protection Ministry,' John Heffern outlined.

First Nature Protection Minister Simon Papyan said the following on the problem, ' I could see the scheme of getting water to Armash lakes and I could see our obvious omissions here, which we should correct. I would like to ask not fish farmers to apply the ministry, but the environmentalists to prepare a serious letter addressed to Nature Protection Minister Aramayis Grigoryan substantiating the significance of preserving the biodiversity in Armash lakes and outlining the main problems and the measures aimed at preserving the biodiversity here, particularly the preservation of birds. I promise the problems outlined by you will gradually get their solutions.'

October 06, 2014 at 17:36