ArmInfo
The business sector has targeted at the Armenian forests. The forests of the Tavush region have become a sweet spot. They may be deforested for development of the wood industry, the head of the NGP "Ecolur" Inga Zarafyan told Arminfo correspondent. She also added this initiative was discussed together with representatives of the "Armforest", Armenian Agriculture Ministry and Administration of Tavush region in Ijevan, in February of the current year.
"It is already for several months that "Armforest" says they have to get rid of old forests, the trees which are more than 100 year old, which may break, and a road should be laid for that. This suggestion discloses intentions of "Armforest", as it needs roads not for the forest sanitation, but for making the industrial wood available", - Zarafyan said and added that the situation with the forests of the Tavush region is catastrophic.
"We visited three village communities of Tavush where they told us that there is no industrial wood or the trees for the forest sanitation in the villages of the Tavush region in the radius 5-6 km. It is no secret that in winter local residents use wood for heating. They get the wood illegally making arrangement with the needed people about cutting", - she said.
As ecologists say, reduction of forests has been noticed in Armenia over the last 20 years and at present we have just 7% of forests instead of the former 25%.
"If this programmes becomes reality, we shall quickly lose the rest percents, and statements by American specialists that by 2020 Armenia will have no forest, will become true", Zarafyan said.
"To preserve forest, we should stop business in this sphere and start fighting illegal forest sanitation. We need a state programme to save forest. Unfortunately, Armenian Nature Protection Ministry is idle in this matter", - she said.
March 29, 2011