ArmInfo
ArmInfo News Agency conducted its own investigation on illegal deforestation and export of fine wood from the territories of forestry in Lori, Tavush and Syunik regions of Armenia.
Shots were made during this investigation, where lorries without number plates, loaded with wood, are traced. Transportation of the cut threes is organized by the "wood mafia" at nighttime. The lorries with fine wood can be seen on the republican highways almost every day. These are routes Shikahogh-Kapan-Goris in Syunik region, Dsekh-Vanadzor in Lori region and a highway Noyemberyan-Ijevan-Dilizhan in Tavush region. For security purposes, the shootings were carried out secretly. Numerous attempts to get explanations from the management of "Armleskhoz" (Armenian Forestry) failed.
Moreover, Head of the "Gugark" forestry in Lori region Gagik Amiryan said that the existing 60 sawmills and furniture workshops, according to the local residents, use only wood, cut during sanitary cleanups. The explanations of the forestry representative seemed strange to the State Ecological Inspection of Armenia and the latter promised to investigate the actual proofs, given by ArmInfo.
Despite this, by information of RA Prosecutor General's Office, one case on illegal deforestation near Shikhogh natural reserve in Syunik region was investigated over the last three months, during which the violator paid penalty at the rate of about 250,000 drams. Moreover, the Ecological Inspection of Armenia detected illegal cutting of 200 cub m of wood in Tavush region of Armenia. Inspectors detained lorries, loaded with fine wood on Vanadzor-Yerevan highway. The traces of "criminal" forest working were found out in the territory of Noyemberyan forestry, which received no permission for cutting, even a "sanitary" one. In the issue of illegal deforestation, the blame is laid only on forestry, however, it is obvious that more influential persons put strings of the executors, who control this business.
Meanwhile, according to the results of the recent economic investigations, carried out by OSCE order by the "Economy and Values" Center, the volume of annual deforestation in Armenia makes up 339 400 cub m that, in its turn, is equal to 169 700 cub m of a building board. The main wood products of 157 700 cub m is sold in the local market and that to the sum of $ 2,7 mln is exported to Russia, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, unique products, that is, rootstocks with a trunk called warts are exported.
By the way, by clients' order, the woodcutters refused to sell the wood cut that day. By ArmInfo-available information, the fine wood, like oak and beech, with diameter of 25 cm are sold in the "black market" at 72,000 and 24 thsd drams per one cub m. To note, the annual shadow turnover of wood business, upon results of the above-mentioned investigation, is estimated of $ 132 mln.
Moreover, Head of the "Gugark" forestry in Lori region Gagik Amiryan said that the existing 60 sawmills and furniture workshops, according to the local residents, use only wood, cut during sanitary cleanups. The explanations of the forestry representative seemed strange to the State Ecological Inspection of Armenia and the latter promised to investigate the actual proofs, given by ArmInfo.
Despite this, by information of RA Prosecutor General's Office, one case on illegal deforestation near Shikhogh natural reserve in Syunik region was investigated over the last three months, during which the violator paid penalty at the rate of about 250,000 drams. Moreover, the Ecological Inspection of Armenia detected illegal cutting of 200 cub m of wood in Tavush region of Armenia. Inspectors detained lorries, loaded with fine wood on Vanadzor-Yerevan highway. The traces of "criminal" forest working were found out in the territory of Noyemberyan forestry, which received no permission for cutting, even a "sanitary" one. In the issue of illegal deforestation, the blame is laid only on forestry, however, it is obvious that more influential persons put strings of the executors, who control this business.
Meanwhile, according to the results of the recent economic investigations, carried out by OSCE order by the "Economy and Values" Center, the volume of annual deforestation in Armenia makes up 339 400 cub m that, in its turn, is equal to 169 700 cub m of a building board. The main wood products of 157 700 cub m is sold in the local market and that to the sum of $ 2,7 mln is exported to Russia, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, unique products, that is, rootstocks with a trunk called warts are exported.
By the way, by clients' order, the woodcutters refused to sell the wood cut that day. By ArmInfo-available information, the fine wood, like oak and beech, with diameter of 25 cm are sold in the "black market" at 72,000 and 24 thsd drams per one cub m. To note, the annual shadow turnover of wood business, upon results of the above-mentioned investigation, is estimated of $ 132 mln.
August 30, 2007