EcoLur team organized a meeting-discussion on how to respond to climate-related disasters and challenges and how to implement energy-saving measures at the local level at Ijevan Civil Youth Center in Tavush Region.
“We must always be prepared for phenomena caused by climate change. Last year, after the flooding of the Debed River, many people lost their homes and faced business-related issues that remain unresolved to this day,” noted Anna Baghdasaryan, a resident of Zorakan village in the Noyemberyan region.
“Months after the flooding, people still haven’t been able to recover, and one of the reasons is the lack of awareness. People don’t have the capacity or the understanding to independently get out of a difficult situation,” said Anna’s fellow villager Alen Virabyan, who is also President of Youth Council attached to the Noyemberyan Municipality.
Residents emphasized the careless attitude people often have toward nature. According to Anna Baghdasaryan, deforestation contributes to landslides. “Instead, we need to conserve resources and meet our needs through alternative means. In Zorakan, we established a garden with student participation. There’s no irrigation system—we water it using buckets,” she said.
The youth in Zorakan are trying to protect the environment through initiatives such as tree planting and waste collection. “These actions won’t eliminate disasters, but we’re trying to offer small-scale solutions,” said Anna. Alen Virabyan added that they also carry out awareness-raising efforts in schools. “We’ve put up informational posters, renovated the children’s playground, and solved lighting issues in the Marshals’ Park,” he said.
Sergey Simonyan, Head of External Relations of “Young Political Scientists’ Club” and a high school student, remarked: “Most people think patriotism means talking, singing, or giving toasts about the homeland. But real patriotism is demonstrated through action and love for nature. What can I do? At the very least—inform others and avoid polluting.”
Flora Khachatryan, a staff member at Ijevan Civil Youth Center NGO, presented the climate risks specific to Tavush Region: early spring floods, landslides, and hailstorms.
“One of the most predictable disasters is the flooding of the Aghstev River, since its riverbed isn’t cleaned. There are garbage accumulations in the river. In our community, the river flows through the city center, and it’s become a garbage channel not just for our town but also for Dilijan and the surrounding riverside settlements,” she said.
“We’ve had winter days with temperatures as high as 25°C (77°F). And year by year, winters are getting warmer. Especially this past winter, there was very little snowfall,” Flora added.
Referring to last year’s flood damage caused by the overflowing Aghstev River, Flora noted: “The government did provide compensation for the flood-related damage in the region. Ijevan was declared a disaster zone, and five businesses were affected by the flooding. But due to the absence of certain documents, the government didn’t provide compensation. Aid was provided in Ayrum and Dilijan.”
During the meeting, participants also discussed the potential for using alternative energy sources. “When you try to convert a natural resource into energy, you cause less harm to nature,” Flora noted.
She expressed opposition to small hydropower plants: “I believe their negative impact is significant. Hydropower plants don’t have a positive effect on the plant and animal life in river ecosystems. Last year, due to the flooding of the Aghstev River, the Khachtarak bridge was damaged. I believe this was also partly caused by a hydropower plant—the water built up, accumulated, and was suddenly released.”
Participants also noted that they lack the proper resources and platforms to raise awareness of these issues. EcoLur team informed them about its Public Journalists Platform, where youth can voice their community concerns and expect responses from relevant authorities. The young participants were excited about the opportunity to join the Public Journalists Platform and expressed their readiness to engage more deeply with climate and energy issues, as well as to exchange information with other platform participants.
May 08, 2025 at 11:18