ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS A MENTALITY TO BE CULTIVATED AT SCHOOL

Noyan Tapan

Se p 9, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The 50th anniversary of foundation
"Khosrov Forest" and "Shikahogh" state preserves and "Dlijan" national
park was celebrated at an event in Yerevan on September 9. In the words
of the RA minister of nature protection Aram Harutyunian, the necessity
of preserving the biodiversity and the role of specially protected
areas in this issue was conceived in Armenia long ago. The specially
protected areas currently occupy about 309 thousand ha which makes
up nearly 10% of Armenia’s territory. Forest ecosystems occupy 54%
of these areas. The minister said that 60% of the Armenian flora and
fauna, including the majority of rare, endemic species and those on
the verge of extinction, as well as genetic resources are protected
in the indicated areas.

According to A. Harutyunian, the 2003-2010 national program of state
strategy and measures for development of the specially protected
areas of Armenia’s nature aims to expand these areas and solve their
problems. "In the environmental protection sphere, it is necessary
to continue persistent practical work on improving the system of
specially protected areas in nature for the purpose of sustainable
development of our country," the minister stated.

The RA prime minister Tigran Sargsian said that most seruous
environmental protection problems exist in Armenia which can be
solved only by joint efforts. "Unfortunately, the society does not yet
pay attention to environmental problems. Relying on its supervisory
functions only, the state fails to solve these problems," the prime
minister noted, adding that environmental protection is a mentality
to be cultivated in people at school.

During the festive event, a number of employees of the sphere were
handed letters of thanks of the RA prime minister and the minister
of nature protection, gold departmental medals and souvenirs.