Tert.am
“Ararat, Armavir and Aragatsotn Regions are more inclined to desertification where water superdeficiency results in the spread of stony and dry lands not suitable for cultivation,” Khoyetsyan said and added incorrect agricultural and environmental strategy significantly assists to this fact.
The specialist said that only two programs were implemented within recent two years: introduction of new irrigation system in Garni and the program of combating landslips in Tavush Region with a total cost of 70,000 USD, but these two programs are “a sand grain among thousands needed.”
Armenia Becoming Desert
Tert.am
“If 50-60 years ago we had a problem with rearmament for the war, at present we have a problem with people – nature relations where desertification is one of the main components,” Ashot Khoyestyan, Dr. in Geological Sciences, Professor and Academician said and added each year people suffer damages of 50 billion USD because of desertification.
Ashot Khoyetsyan mentioned Armenia has joined the strategy plan to combat desertification since 1997, nevertheless, there are no serious investments from the state budget for these sphere.
Under Khoyetsyan, around 80% of the population in Armenia is subject to desertification process, and more than 30% faces the danger of heavy desertification: “We are a dry country plus the human impact, such as non planned cultivation of lands areas, incorrect use of water resources etc led to the soil degradation. Meanwhile we should prevent all this with an appropriate strategy taking into consideration the natural conditions we have,” he said.
August 02, 2011 at 13:35