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GOVERNMENT BENDS TO PROTESTS AND AGREES TO LEAVE INTACT SHIKAHOGH RESERVE
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS: Bending to the daily mounting protest of
ecologists and public at large against its plans to build a highway
in the southern part of Armenia through the middle of the old growth
Mtnadzor (Dark Canyon) forest, which occupies about half of the
Shikahogh nature reserve, one of only three pristine reserves in the
country, the government has backpedaled on its intention and formed
a task force to examine the feasibility of an alternative route that
will connect Armenian Meghri with Kapan and provide a safe road to
neighboring Iran.
Armenian communication and transport minister Andranik Margarian
revealed today that he handed the alternative plan yesterday to
president Kocharian.
He said the task force was told to present the feasibility scheme
to the government in a week. The alternative route is said to be 7
km longer than the previously designed one and will run across a 155
meters higher mountain pass. Manukian said it will be 6.6 meters wide
allowing the traffic to move at 50-60 km speed.
Ecologists say Armenia, which historically had forest cover of 40-45
percent, is today at perilous risk of becoming completely deforested.
Current estimates place forest cover at around eight percent, and at
current rates of cutting, the last of the forests could be gone in
as little as 20 years. The Shikahogh reserve, established in 1958,
is home to innumerable rare and endangered plant and animal species,
including up to 12 leopards, whose habitats would be gravely threatened
by the road's construction.
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS: Bending to the daily mounting protest of
ecologists and public at large against its plans to build a highway
in the southern part of Armenia through the middle of the old growth
Mtnadzor (Dark Canyon) forest, which occupies about half of the
Shikahogh nature reserve, one of only three pristine reserves in the
country, the government has backpedaled on its intention and formed
a task force to examine the feasibility of an alternative route that
will connect Armenian Meghri with Kapan and provide a safe road to
neighboring Iran.
Armenian communication and transport minister Andranik Margarian
revealed today that he handed the alternative plan yesterday to
president Kocharian.
He said the task force was told to present the feasibility scheme
to the government in a week. The alternative route is said to be 7
km longer than the previously designed one and will run across a 155
meters higher mountain pass. Manukian said it will be 6.6 meters wide
allowing the traffic to move at 50-60 km speed.
Ecologists say Armenia, which historically had forest cover of 40-45
percent, is today at perilous risk of becoming completely deforested.
Current estimates place forest cover at around eight percent, and at
current rates of cutting, the last of the forests could be gone in
as little as 20 years. The Shikahogh reserve, established in 1958,
is home to innumerable rare and endangered plant and animal species,
including up to 12 leopards, whose habitats would be gravely threatened
by the road's construction.