“IF AN ALTERNATIVE WAY PASSING BY SHIKAHOGH FOREST RESERVE IS
SUBMITTED AND I FAIL TO “PUSH ITS THROUGH,” I WILL RESIGN,” NATURE
PROTECTION MINISTER OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. “If an alternative way passing by Shikahogh
forest reserve is submitted and I fail to “push its through,” I will
send in my resignation,” has recently stated Nature Protection
Minister of Armenia Vardan Ayvazyan.
The minister said no alternative way has been submitted by ecological
public organizations or anyone else. He could not answer the question
which institution was charged with ecological examination of the
project of highway Meghri-Shvanidzor-Verishen-Tsav-Kapan. Besides, an
alternative way passing by the reserve was submitted to the Ministry
of Transport and Communication of Armenia by Syunik
Administration. Meanwhile, at a recent press conference speaking on
inadmissibility of the 4 alternative ways submitted by the public
organizations, Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik
Manukyan said that they were longer by 18 km and 300 meters higher
than the way via the reserve. Both ministers state that the new
highway to Iran has a strategic importance, and this conclusion does
not meet the national or international law, a political decision will
be made in favor of the highway’s construction via the forest reserve.
The colleges also share an opinion that the construction of the
highway will not cause as much damage as public and international
ecological organizations say.
It is necessary to remind the minister that the state ecological
examination department of the Nature Protection Ministry held an
ecological examination of the possible damage of the highway’s
construction to Shikahogh forest reserve. The final decision on the
fate of the reserve is expected during public hearings to be held
within the nearest future.
The motor highway is planned via Shikahogh forest reserve located on
the northern mountainside of Meghri mountain range, Kapan region,
Armenia. Preservation of the landscape and biological diversity of
Shikahogh forest reserve is under question because of the new project
of Armenian Transport and Communication Ministry on construction of a
highway via Meghri mountain range in direction of the Iranian
boundary. The projects provides for construction of the highway
through Mtnadzor section of the reserve and Meghri forest economy. The
implementation of the project will lead to felling of a unique oak
forest, extermination of the population of leopards in Armenia as well
as rare types of animals included not only in the Red Book of Armenia
but also in the International Red Book. It will led to liquidation of
springs supplying water to the nearing villages etc..
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress