EcoLur Informational NGO, with the support of the People Powered Global Hub for Participatory Democracy and in cooperation with Yerevan Municipality, implemented “Civil Society Becomes an Active Participant in Yerevan’s ‘Green Transition” project, a roundtable titled “Green Belt: Assessment of Situation and Prospects” was organized within its framework.
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.
As a result of the discussion, participants made the following recommendations:
- When cutting a tree, it is necessary to consider how many decades it has lived. Large, mature trees should be assessed before cutting to determine whether they are no longer viable and subject to replacement.
- Deep pruning should be prohibited and replaced with careful maintenance to prevent a severe imbalance between the root system and the canopy, reduction of green mass, and harm to bird nests.
- Insect problem should not be solved by cutting or deep pruning, but by implementing tree treatment measures-primarily using biological methods.
- Yerevan needs trees with large canopies because the air is dry due to climatic conditions, and summers are hot. The Albizia selected by the municipality looks beautiful but is pointless to plant near roads because it is not a large tree and its leaves open late. The Judas tree will also not become a large tree. Sakura is not a large tree either and is expected to be susceptible to diseases common to the Rosaceae family.
- When proposing new species, it is mandatory to test them for several years under nursery conditions to determine whether they are suitable for Yerevan’s local climate, also considering the varying elevations above sea level in the capital.
- It is necessary to consider the factor of tree succession. First, plant a new tree near an old one, wait for it to grow, and only then cut the old tree.
- Tree cutting should be done only in strictly necessary cases-for example, when it blocks traffic signals, poses a risk of falling, etc.
- Green zones in and around Yerevan must be restored.
- Public awareness about the role of trees in air purification and human health needs to be increased.
- A law must be adopted that will define liability for each case of tree cutting or damage.
- Trees should be numbered.
- Mass high-rise construction is taking place in Yerevan without green spaces, while private houses with green yards are disappearing. It is necessary to regulate the construction sector and set standards that require green areas.
- A unified green space database must be created, which will include data on public parks, gardens, and forests.
- Issues related to the lease and sublease of community lands need to be regulated, as the current unregulated state creates obstacles for the planning and implementation of greening programs.
- Forests around Yerevan must be restored because dust also comes from outside the city. Some of these zones have been developed, some privatized, but are not greened.
May 30, 2025 at 17:43