RAMSAR CONVENTION DECLARES KHOR VIRAP WETLANDS SPECIAL RESERVE AREA

Armenpress
Jun 08 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS: The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands will
declare soon a wetland area near a mediaeval Khor Virap church in
the Armenian province of Ararat a special reserve area. The request
was initiated by Armenian ministry of nature protection.

In 1993 two first wetland areas in Armenia, the basin of Lake Sevan
and areas near lake Arpi were declared special reserve areas by the
Ramsar Convention. Two areas more, the Armash Lake and relict lakes
in Lori province will be included in the Ramsar List. The broad aim
of the Convention on Wetlands, adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 is
to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve those that
remain through wise use and management.

The Convention was signed by representatives of eighteen nations at
a small Iranian town called Ramsar in 1971. There are now more than
135 Contracting Parties to the Convention who have designated more
than 1200 wetland sites throughout the world to the Ramsar List of
Wetlands of International Importance.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress