EcoLur
Gegharkounik Region is located 1500-2000 meters above the sea level. Because of heavy climate people get ready for the winter starting from the summer and gather wood. Annually a family spends not less than 20 cubic meters. Very few families heat their houses with gas. In the frames of ENPI EAST FLEG 2 project the expert group visited Aygut Village and Tchambarak Town in Geghakounik Region to have meetings with near-forest communities.
“Our village population is about 1000 people. People don’t live here they survive and barely meet ends,” this is how Aygut Village Head Mkhitar Karapetyan described the situation in the village.
The main source of income for near-forest community residents is cattle breeding. Agriculture is not that developed here, as the community doesn’t have irrigation system. Drinking water is also a big problem here – the village can’t get drinking water because of old and worn-out aqueduct. 90% of the population is unemployed, while cattle breeding is not profitable because of the decrease in the milk price. Villagers have to sell milk at 100-105 AMD instead of precious 150-180 AMD. The village is located in the landslide zone, and half of the houses have already collapses, which is also one of the reasons for emigration. Winter brings new problems to the existing ones – firewood.
As a near-forest village Aygut villagers are entitled to annually 8 cum of free-of-charge fallen deadwood. Nevertheless, according to Chief Forestry Officer Karen Grigoryan there is no fallen deadwood left in the forest. “Aygut village is a part of Getik forestry enterprise. There is no fallen deadwood since 2011, felling doesn’t generate that much fallen deadwood for people to come and gather…They gave their decree and continue living, but we turned into enemies for our people,” Karen Grigoryan said.
Only 10% of the houses in Aygut has gas supply, as there is no internal gas network in the village. According to Chief Forestry Officer, even if the whole village has gas supply, villagers will use it only for cooking meals and making coffee.
“The village had good times, when “ATP” opened tree nurseries here. They provided seeds to people, who grew them. It was our best time, when people worked and had money, but now if you pickpocket, you will hardly find 1000 AMD in two of them,” Village Head Mkhitar Karapetyan said.
Unlike Aygut Village, neighboring Chambarak Town is not even considered to be near-forest, therefore the locals are not even entitled to this free-of-charge 8 cum of fallen deadwood. Private houses are more than apartments, heated with firewood and kizyak. Annually people need 8-10 cum firewood, on average. People buy firewood at 15000 AMD for one cum, while annually 120,000-130,000 AMD is needed for heating,” said Tchambarak Mayor Yura Avalyan. In his opinion, making the town business tax-exempt will be a good stimulus for the development of Tchambarak as a borderline town.
Aygut village
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Chambarak Town |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
September 30, 2015 at 15:19