NGO CREATING A SPECIAL RESERVE ZONE IN ARMENIA’S SOUTH

Armenpress
Oct 20 2006

KAPAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: An environmental non-governmental
organization in southern Armenian province of Syunik has launched
this past April a new project aimed to create a special reserve zone
that stretches from Kaputan Mountain to Gazanalich small lake.

The organization, called Khustup, has received $174,000 from Critical
Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to carry out the project. Vladik
Martirosian, the chairman of this organization, said this area was
chosen to become a special reserve because of its unique geographical
location. It is about 2000 meters above sea level with many animals,
birds and plants registered in Armenia’s Red Book.

The projected is being assisted bye experts from Zoology and Botanic
research institutes affiliated with the Armenian National Academy
of Sciences. The project is to last 2.5 years and only then the
organization will ask the government to declare this area as reserve.