Investment of more than 3.5 billion AMD, 300 new jobs and development of ecotourism: in 2022, 900 applications for lease of forest areas were submitted. The Forestry Committee examines them, approves ambitious and investment projects.
Vladimir Kirakosyan (Chair of Forestry Committee of Environment Ministry), “In 2022, a new form of contracts was approved by the decree of the Environment Minister, where the tenant undertakes to indicate the amount of investments, the schedule of the works to be implemented and the opening of jobs.
Most of the former 137 tenants did not use the forest areas for their purpose and caused significant damage to the nature, says the official of the sector. There are 30 criminal cases initiated in the prosecutor's office and the anti-corruption committee. The latest sensational revelations were related to the tenants of the forests in Tsaghkadzor, among whom were the wife of former Minister of Finance Gagik Khachatryan, businessman Samvel Mayrapetyan, former director of "ArmForest" SNCO Mikael Manukyan, a relative of Tsaghkadzor Mayor, Head of Hrazdan Forestry and others.
Vladimir Kirakosyan, “Main buildings are not allowed in the forest lands considered state property, only buildings with light construction. No trees and bushes are felled down, the given area when the tenant is recognized as the winner of the tender, the type and quantity of any tree is assessed and fixed in the contract.
Author: Hovhannes Vardanyan
May 08, 2023 at 17:18