Forest Felling Near Marmarik

EcoLur

Forest felling is in progress in Marmarik Village, Kotayk Region. Under Activist Samvel Martirosyan, newly-cut stubs are covered with land, so you can notice them when approaching. Some trees are still lying there; probably they will be taken away later. In his telephone conversation with EcoLur Samvel Martirosyan said he raised the alarm signal to the Nature Protection Ministry, and they promised to send the local environmental inspection to reveal the circumstances. It should be mentioned August us a ‘hot’ period for illegal forest felling, as “ArmForest” has acknowledged, as the residents cut down 1-2 cubic meters of forest for sale so as to prepare their children for school. “School belongings are expensive stuff, and forest comes to rescue villagers,” told EcoLur one of the forestry officers, while a community head (upon his request we don’t mention his name) confirmed these words.

Based on this alarm signal, EcoLur has sent an enquiry to “ArmForest” SNCO and State Center for Forest Monitoring, as well as to the State Environmental Inspection.

Taking into account the consideration that the management plan for Kotayk Region forests is missing on the official website, www.hayantar.am, while according to specified data, certain territories in Hanqavan and Meghradzor Forests were recognized as pastures of adjacent communities, a number of questions arise:                      

- whether the forest felling is factually in progress in the territory of Kotayk region forestry, or in the forests recognized as pastures?

- whether the felling comply with the management plan: how many trees and where should be cut down?

- if the territory is not involved in the territory of ArmForest, who bears responsibility for it?

 We would like to ask “ArmForest” SNCO, the Center for Forest Monitoring and State Environmental Inspection to inform us about the results of the raised alarm signal.

Photos by Samvel Martirosyan

August 05, 2011 at 16:38