WILDLIFE FRIENDLY PARK: ARMENIA AND IRAN TO LAUNCH A UNIQUE GREEN PROJECT
By GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN

ArmeniaNow
May 16, 2012

The Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia reports that the works
of creating a wildlife friendly park on the Iran-Armenia border.

The news about the park was released by Iran’s official IRNA news
agency, quoting Sadig Najaf, Director of the Araz free economic zone,
Iran: “The project is aimed at advocating wild-life in the region.

Besides, the park will present the eco-tourism possibilities of the
two countries.”

(Armenia has a 40-kilometer border with Iran.)

Karen Papoyan, assistant to Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia,
told ArmeniaNow that the project was initiated by the Iranian side.

“Thus, we will have a green area in the southern part of Armenia
which will constantly be in the focus of attention. Funds will be
invested there for animals’ reproduction; works will be done for the
maintenance and increase of the area’s flora,” Papoyan says, adding
that the project will also promote tourism development.

Papoyan reports that most part of the project’s funds will be provided
by the Iranian side; and the group of specialists from both countries
after mapping the area, will try to finalize the project.

“There is an agreement that on April the presidents of the two
countries will meet on the border and they will see the green areas of
the park and will reach agreements over further deeds,” Papoyan says.

Inga Zarafyan, head of Ecolur NGO also appreciates this project.

“We lose our green areas day by day, and the creation of even a small
area rich in flora, is a great achievement,” Zarafyan says.