NO TREE HAS BEEN PLANTED IN GYUMRI

A1+
"Tsayg" TV Company, Gyumri
[12:06 pm] 16 January, 2008

Over 400-hectare timberland was cut down in Shirak Marz in the
90s. Today only one percent of Gyumri is afforested.

Under a Government decree tree-planting was organised in the marz
in 2007. The initiative is considered unprecedented over the past
10 years.

"Forestation was realised only in the region of Artik," Arman
Harutiunian, Head of the "ArmForest" CSJC says. Gyumri was left out
of the programme as under a Government decree over 2000-hectare land
belonging to the forest management was allotted to the Municipality.

Recently, the land turned out to belong to the "ArmForest" because
of a wrong wording of the document.

The area will likely be afforested next year provided the issue of
irrigation is addressed in due time.

Presently, the company lacks technics, therefore most work is carried
out by rented equipment.

The Company needs about ten years to have fertile soil as trees need
constant care. Each sapling needs at least twenty years to foliate.