MEMORANDUM FOR REHABILITATION OF LAKE GILI SIGNED
ArmenPress
Oct 14 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian nature protection
minister, the governor of Gegharkunik province and the UNDP
Resident Representative in Armenia signed October 15 a memorandum
for rehabilitation of Lake Gili. The rehabilitation project, worth $1
million, is to be implemented by UNDP and Global Ecological Fund (GEF).
The main objective of the project is protection of rare and endemic
biodiversity already present in Lake Gili as part of the Lake Sevan
basin, and the provision of a first-best habitat for threatened wetland
biodiversity in Armenia (currently found in second-best habitats).
Nature protection minister Vartan Aivazian said some 560 hectares of
land belonging to residents of a nearby village of Norakert will be
covered by water. He said the residents will get new land plots from
state-owned reserve fund.
UDDP Resident Representative Lise Grande said the UNDO and GEF will
help the Norakert community to avoid the negative consequences of
the project by assisting it to solve its social issues and improve
water supplies.