FOREST BUSINESS OF ARMENIA EXTENDS BORDERS

arminfo
2007-08-30 20:17:00

ArmInfo. ArmInfo News Agency conducted its own investigation on
illegal deforestation and export of fine wood from the territories
of forestry in Lori, Tavush and Syunik regions of Armenia.

Shots were made during this investigation, where lorries without number
plates, loaded with wood, are traced. Transportation of the cut threes
is organized by the "wood mafia" at nighttime. The lorries with fine
wood can be seen on the republican highways almost every day. These are
routes Shikahogh-Kapan-Goris in Syunik region, Dsekh-Vanadzor in Lori
region and a highway Noyemberyan-Ijevan-Dilizhan in Tavush region. For
security purposes, the shootings were carried out secretly. Numerous
attempts to get explanations from the management of "Armleskhoz"
(Armenian Forestry) failed.

Moreover, Head of the "Gugark" forestry in Lori region Gagik
Amiryan said that the existing 60 sawmills and furniture workshops,
according to the local residents, use only wood, cut during sanitary
cleanups. The explanations of the forestry representative seemed
strange to the State Ecological Inspection of Armenia and the latter
promised to investigate the actual proofs, given by ArmInfo. Despite
this, by information of RA Prosecutor General’s Office, one case
on illegal deforestation near Shikhogh natural reserve in Syunik
region was investigated over the last three months, during which the
violator paid penalty at the rate of about 250,000 drams. Moreover,
the Ecological Inspection of Armenia detected illegal cutting of
200 cub m of wood in Tavush region of Armenia. Inspectors detained
lorries, loaded with fine wood on Vanadzor-Yerevan highway. The
traces of "criminal" forest working were found out in the territory of
Noyemberyan forestry, which received no permission for cutting, even a
"sanitary" one. In the issue of illegal deforestation, the blame is
laid only on forestry, however, it is obvious that more influential
persons put strings of the executors, who control this business.

Meanwhile, according to the results of the recent economic
investigations, carried out by OSCE order by the "Economy and Values"
Center, the volume of annual deforestation in Armenia makes up 339
400 cub m that, in its turn, is equal to 169 700 cub m of a building
board. The main wood products of 157 700 cub m is sold in the local
market and that to the sum of $2,7 mln is exported to Russia, Germany
and the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, unique products, that is,
rootstocks with a trunk called warts are exported.

By the way, by clients’ order, the woodcutters refused to sell the
wood cut that day. By ArmInfo-available information, the fine wood,
like oak and beech, with diameter of 25 cm are sold in the "black
market" at 72,000 and 24 thsd drams per one cub m. To note, the annual
shadow turnover of wood business, upon results of the above-mentioned
investigation, is estimated of $132 mln.