EcoLur
Arthur Ghazaryan, Chairman of Kapan-based “Union of Employees’ Rights Protection” NGO has addressed an open enquiry to Nature Protection Minister Aramayis Grigoryan on the outcomes of the projects carried out in the specially protected areas of Syunik Region and financial reporting.
The program on establishing Zangezour biospheric complex left as inheritance from Ex Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan to the current Ministry staff can't be still determined either in its geography, or regime or the frames of its own competences. The government adopted a resolution 1465-N on establishing Zangezour biospheric complex dated on 19 December 2013, i.e. one year ago. As a result, Arevik National Park, Shikahogh State Reserve and a number of nature sanctuaries under one protected area unit making it one of the region’s largest protected areas – 60,000 ha.
The letter says, “The budget of KfW funded “Support to Specially Protected Areas of Caucasus” program makes u 8.25 million Euros, and a part of these funds are to be directed to the solution of socio-economic problems of the adjacent communities to “Zangezour” Biospheric Complex in Syunik Region”.
The studies of our experts showed that the borders of the specially protected areas and adjacent communities in Syunik Region were not specified.
The observations leave an impression that so far the projects implemented in the specially protected areas in Syunik Region haven’t been effective and the distribution of these funds was not transparent.
It was also found out that geoprospecting and soil management licenses were issued for the land areas located within the borders of the specially protected areas in Syunik Region and its adjacent areas. However, Article 17(2) of RA Law “On Specially Protected Areas of Nature” says, any geoprospecting in the recreation zone of the national park is forbidden.
We would like to ask you to provide information on the following within the statutory time period:
· List of the companies having conducted mapping of borders of “Zangezour” biospheric complex in Syunik Region and the results of their activities.
· What is the substantiation for such contradicting activities, as mining within and beyond the borders of the specially protected areas of nature,
· What are KfW-funded projects implemented in the Republic of Armenia during the last 10 years,
· Which organizations have implemented environmental projects funded by KfW in the Republic of Armenia during the last 10 years,
· We would like to ask you to provide us the outcomes of the projects funded by KfW and participated and/or implemented by Nature Protection Ministry and financial reporting in the Republic of Armenia during the last 10 years.
February 04, 2015 at 15:19