SCIENTISTS RAISE THE ALARM ON THE DYING BOTANIC GARDEN OF ARMENIA.

arminfo
2007-07-10 14:36:00

The scientific management of the Botanic Institution of Armenia
submitted a package of suggestions to the Armenian Government,
suggesting a range of measure in order to improve the conditions
of the Botanic Institution of Armenia and the botanic garden in
Yerevan. Basic suggestions were moved today during the general meeting
of the Department of Natural Sciences of the National Academy of
Sciences of Armenia.

As Jirayr Vardanyan, director of the Institution, mentioned in his
talk with ArmInfo correspondent, the modernization of greenhouses
and orchard-houses, the reconstruction of the Herbarium Museum,
the installation of a heating system and the irrigation of the
whole garden territory remain a problem still relevant today for
the Institution and the botanic garden. According to him, for
initial work, it will be sufficient to double the volume of budget
funding, which amounts to 50mln AMD. In the Herbarium Museum, where
about half a million specimen were compiled during 70 years, they
lack basic conditions necessary for the preservation of exsiccate,
which are unique and are of great interest for the scientific world,
which examines endemic plants. Besides, none of the greenhouses is
heated. Moreover, glass is broken in all of them, while the apertures
are stuck with polyethylene bags.

The main orchard-house of the garden is in even worse condition. Here
for a decade it is impossible to grow species typical for tropical
climate. The exotic species held here before, have almost completely
died out. Yerevan’s semiarid climate and the broken-down irrigation
system don’t allow taking an adequate care for the plants including
more than 5 thousand species compiled in the Caucasus, North
America, East Aisa and in Armenia. The Director mentioned that
not only 80ha territory of Yerevan botanic garden, but also 10ha
territory of Vanadzor and 5ha territory of Sevan botanic gardens are
in a deplorable situation. During hot season all the misfortunes of
the garden are added by frequent fires, and cowokers are not able to
fight them with their own forces. About a hundred scientific coworkers
of the institution, neglecting their own material problems because
of low salary rates, look forward to certain measures taken by the
Armenian Government.

"It is not only absurd, but it’s also impermissible to lose
such a wealth, which is of great scientific interest of the world
community",-Eleanora Gabrielyan, Doctor of Biological Sciences, member
of the Armenian Botanic Society emphasized, addressing her colleagues.