Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body (EPMIB) identified a number of violations in forest use at the “Tumanyan Forestry Enterprise” branch of “ArmFores5” SNCO including the illegal felling of 496 trees.The damage caused to flora was estimated at 114.7 million AMD.
The inspection was conducted as part of the 2026 inspection programme and covered the period from November 2022 through June 2026.
According to the Inspection Body, the 496 illegally felled trees were of different species and trunk diameters. The trees were felled without authorization from the competent authority and without a positive conclusion from an environmental impact assessment and expert examination.
The inspection also identified violations related to road construction in forest areas. In particular, a total of 8,320 square meters of roads had been constructed, but the works were carried out without the required approval of the relevant project documentation, without a positive conclusion from the environmental impact assessment and expert examination, and without authorization from the competent authority. The Inspection Body also noted that the roads had been constructed in the absence of forest management plans.
Violations were also identified concerning documentation confirming forest-use rights and the related accounting procedures. According to the inspection findings, following the exploitation of felling sites, the volumes of timber obtained from broken and fallen trees were added to the volumes recorded in the felling permits and were also included in the accounting documents.
At the same time, the information recorded in the felling permits did not correspond to the data established by the forest management plans. Documents confirming the right to use the forest were issued after the forest management plans had been approved and did not correspond to the management plan.
The necessary forest restoration measures** had not been implemented on forest lands subjected to extensive logging, while timber residues left at the felling sites had not been removed.
According to the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body, some of the violations identified during the inspection contain indications of an apparent criminal offense. A report concerning these cases was submitted to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.
Administrative sanctions prescribed by law are to be applied in relation to the other violations identified.
August 18, 2026 at 15:35