Lianna Asoyan, Gavar Aarhus Center
'EcoLur' Informational NGO and Gavar Aarhus Center, in the frames of 'State Program in Eyes of Sevan Residents' (financially supported by Counterpart International), visited Noraduz, Hayravanq, Berdknuk, Tsovagyugh, Ltchap communities and held meetings both with the heads of local communities and residents. The project is implemented by EcoLur together with Gavar Aarhus Center and local 'Blejian' and 'Territorial Center for Development and Studies' NGOs.
As a matter of fact, in 2011 the government approved the annual program of actions on recovery, reproduction and use of Lake Sevan ecosystem costing 193 million AMD. This program has direct impact on 37 communities of Gegharkounik region. Nevertheless, this program hasn't been discussed in the communities and the residents haven't been involved in the program.
The communities a number of proposals, and here are some of them: to make Sevan free from barriers. Many people here say that their ancestors decided to live in these places because of the lake, but now the whole village is in fences and barriers. They can't even come up to the shore. Because of these barriers, the lake can't be seen in several places.
Opinions were expressed about the letting the young fish into the lake (we speak about the program on recovering endemic species of trout, when the young fish bred in artificial conditions is let out into lake). They expressed their opinion how to fight with poaching, about flooded and not cleaned facilities and territories, social issues how to earn their living, if the main job here is fishing. Sevan has no fish left, the fishermen say, what kind of preservation can we speak?
The program is still in underway and all these proposals will be directed to competent public bodies.
June 14, 2012 at 16:06