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Min. of Nature Protection Vows to Consider Alternatives to Shikahogh

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  • Min. of Nature Protection Vows to Consider Alternatives to Shikahogh

    "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
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