During the roundtable discussion on "Green Zone: Assessment of Situation and Perspectives" held at "EcoLur" Press Club, the representatives of Yerevan Municipality, experts, and members of civil society discussed the issues of green spaces in the capital.
Arthur Khalatyan, Deputy Director for Development of Yerevan Municipality's "Landscape Greening and Environmental Protection" SNCO, noted that over 90 percent of the city's parks are leased, with some parks leased for up to 90 years.
"These contracts were signed back in the 2000s for the long term. Lease agreements for the use of properties have been signed, which state that the tenant must properly maintain that green area. When we want to dispute, we cannot succeed because it is written very vaguely," said Gorik Avetisyan, Deputy Head of Environmental Protection Department of Yerevan Municipality.
The participants of the discussion addressed the issue of air pollution in the capital, noting that it can be mitigated through proper greening. According to Anush Nersesyan, a researcher at Institute of Botany named after Armen Takhtajyan of NAS RA, the method of deep pruning of trees conducted in Yerevan needs to be changed.
"No matter how much we green the city, we won't be saved from dust. The main dust comes from outside. We need to restore the forests around Yerevan," Ruben Petrosyan noted.
As a result of the discussion, the participants made suggestions:
- Mature trees should be assessed before being cut down to determine if they are already non-viable and subject to replacement.
- Deep pruning should be prohibited and replaced with careful maintenance.
- The issue of pests should be addressed not through cutting or deep pruning, but by implementing tree treatment measures, primarily using biological methods.
- Yerevan needs trees with large crowns, as the air is dry due to climatic conditions and hot in summer.
- The factor of tree regeneration should be considered. First, plant a new tree near the old one, wait for it to grow, and then cut down the old one.
- To restore the green areas in and around Yerevan.
- It is necessary to raise residents' awareness about the role of trees for air purity and human health.
- It is essential to regulate the construction sector, setting norms that will require the presence of green spaces.
- It is necessary to create a unified database for general landscaping data.
- It is essential to regulate the leasing and subleasing issues of community lands.
- Forests around Yerevan should be restored.
The round table was attended by Gorik Avetisyan, Deputy Head of Environmental Protection Department of Yerevan Municipality, Mary Hovhanyan, an employee of "Landscape Greening and Environmental Protection" SNCO, researchers Anush Nersesyan and Alexander Rudov from Institute of Botany named after Armen Takhtajyan of NAS RA, expert Ruben Petrosyan from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Mari Chakryan, Coordinator of the 3rd working group of the Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, as well as Silva Ayvazyan, Coordinator of Yerevan Aarhus Center, Vahram Soghomonyan, a member of “We Are Owners of This City” Civic Initiative, Ruzanna Ghazaryan, President of “Dalma-Sona” Foundation, Nazeli Vardanyan, President of “Forests of Armenia” NGO, Mary Minasyan, the representative of “Transparency International” Anti-Corruption Center, Dana Vergilush, Head of “Green Green” Eco-Center, Nune Avetisyan, Public Radio Journalist, and Ecolur Team.
“Green Belt: Assessment of Situation and Prospects” roundtable was organized by EcoLur Informational NGO with the support of People Powered-Global Hub for Participatory Democracy in cooperation with Yerevan Municipality, as part of "Civil Society Becomes an Active Participant in Yerevan's Green Transition" project.
April 11, 2025 at 12:50