UN Framework Convention on Climate Change National Focal Point: Developing SHPPs at Such Rate Not Justified

With relatively little income SHPPs do larger damage to environment, as UN Framework Convention on Climate Change National Focal Point Aram Gabrielyan said in his interview with EcoLur.

"Ecosystem is destroyed in the section where water is removed from the river, i.e. by solving one problem – reducing greenhouse gases, we generate another problem,” said UN Framework Convention on Climate Change National Focal Point Aram Gabrielyan, “I don’t know any river in Armenia, which has a preserved natural water flow. It used to be Debed, but now after constructing Ayrum SHPP, we don’t have Debed as a natural ecosystem. We have already lost the majority of endemic fish species in our rivers and lakes.”

Under Aram Gabrielyan, ecosystem approach should be introduced in Armenia, so as not to do harm to ecosystem when constructing a SHPP. “SHPPs can be constructed only on irrigation and drinking water systems, to adjust their operation with irrigation and drinking water systems thus preserving natural water flows.”

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change National Focal Point Aram Gabrielyan thinks that SHPP development is not justified, when the river regimes are violated, precipitation has increased, water is less than expected and is not sufficient for agriculture and drinking.