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DRAFT FOREST CODE DISCUSSED
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Director of the organization Forests
of Armenia Nazeli Vardanian stated at the April 6 discussion of
the new draft RA Forest Code that Illegal forest exploitation has
a mass character in Armenia and is threatening with disaster. The
papers presented at the discussion bear witness to the fact that
illegal deforestation makes about 1 mln cubic meters each year. Yet,
according to the reports drawn up, the annual volume of illegally
felled timber makes only 5-6 thousand cubic meters. Thus the state
budget loses millions of dollars (according to some estimates,
3-4 mln) and irreparable damage is caused to the environment. In N.
Vardanian's opinion, the main amendments to the Forest Code should
be related to the right of property, the right to rent and forest
status change. She proposed that forests should continue being state
property within the same limits as they are now. If anyone plants a
forest on his/her own territory, it may become private property. As
regards forest status, N. Vardanian proposed distinguishing protection,
specially secured and industrial forests, which, in her view, will
reduce shadow forest exploitation.
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Director of the organization Forests
of Armenia Nazeli Vardanian stated at the April 6 discussion of
the new draft RA Forest Code that Illegal forest exploitation has
a mass character in Armenia and is threatening with disaster. The
papers presented at the discussion bear witness to the fact that
illegal deforestation makes about 1 mln cubic meters each year. Yet,
according to the reports drawn up, the annual volume of illegally
felled timber makes only 5-6 thousand cubic meters. Thus the state
budget loses millions of dollars (according to some estimates,
3-4 mln) and irreparable damage is caused to the environment. In N.
Vardanian's opinion, the main amendments to the Forest Code should
be related to the right of property, the right to rent and forest
status change. She proposed that forests should continue being state
property within the same limits as they are now. If anyone plants a
forest on his/her own territory, it may become private property. As
regards forest status, N. Vardanian proposed distinguishing protection,
specially secured and industrial forests, which, in her view, will
reduce shadow forest exploitation.