“Khosrov Forest” State Forest Awarded European Diploma of Protected Areas

EcoLur

The Khosrov Forest State Reserve received a European Diploma of Protected Areas from the Council of Europe, the Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection informs. Armenia is the first country in the region, which was awarded European Diploma of Protected Areas.

In this regard, on September 3 Nature Protection Ministry invited a conference at the House of Governmental Receptions, participated by the Delegation of the European Council, international partners of “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve and the representatives of the Armenian executive and legislative bodies.

“I would like to outline that “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve is the first protected area in the region to be awarded the European diploma and we particularly value this event as this year we celebrate the 55^th anniversary of establishing protected areas in Armenia. We are happy with the fact that we have a protected area, which complies with the European criteria and it is included in the list of the European natural heritage,” Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan said in his speech and added that the European diploma sets new mark of responsibility and raises new problems, and the ministry is ready to their solution.

Handing the diploma the Chair of the Committee of Specialists on the European Diploma for Protected Areas Michael Usher mentioned in his speech that Armenia takes measures needed to conserve specially protected areas, and the European diploma is not only the evaluation of this works, but an obligating document.

September 04, 2013 at 17:32