RA MINISTER OF NATURE PROTECTION IN FAVOR OF TREE CUTTING ON 500 HECTARES OF TEGHUT FOREST
Noyan Tapan
Feb 19 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "If the Armenian government gives
consent, in all likelihood Manes and Valex company will cut trees on
about 500 ha of Teghut Forest." The RA Minister of Nature Protection
Vardan Aivazian said this at the February 16 press conference. In
his words, the ministry is in favor of granting such permission.
V. Aivazian noted that Manes and Valex submitted this bid because
about 150 thousand tons of molybdenum and 1 million 600 thousand
tons of copper were discoverted in the Teghut mine. According to
the minister, tree felling will be done in this 500-ha area within
25 years. Manes and Valex assumes the obligation to plant trees in
other parts of Teghut Forest during the indicated period.
By the way, this 500-ha area contains about 60 thousand cubic meters
of wood, whereas according to official data, 100 thousand cubic meters
of wood is cut annually in Armenia, while by the World Bank’s data,
the volume of illegal tree cutting makes 600-700 cubic meters.