RA OMBUDSMAN’S REPORT: ILLEGAL TREE FELLING IN 2014 MORE THAN PAST TWO YEARS

15:11 April 15, 2015

EcoLur

In 2014 the indicators of illegal tree felling exceeded the indicators
of the past two years. In this regard, the Ombudsman’s report “On
Human Rights Defender’s Activities and Violation of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms in Armenia for 2014” outlines as the Ministry’s
dereliction of duty, “In 2014 proper supervisions and effective
prevention measures were not carried out to prevent illegal tree
felling, which resulted in exceeding the number of felled down trees
as compared with the indicators for the past years.

In 2013 the total number illegally felled down trees accounted for 2031
as compared with 1860 in 2012, while the number of the illegally felled
down trees was recorded 2114 trees in 2014. As compared with 2013,
the number of detected violations increased for 2014, while damage
caused to environment because of violations boosted by 75,400,000
AMD as compared with 102.450.000 AMD recorded for 2013.

Proposal: to take effective preventative measures to prevent illegal
tree felling, as well as to enhance supervision particularly to
exclude tree felling in specially protected areas.”