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EXPERT: SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS DAMAGE ARMENIA'S ECOSYSTEMS
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=1DC788D0-A385-11E2-B84BF6327207157C
Friday, April 12, 19:22
Small hydropower plants damage Armenia's ecosystems, Bardukh
Gabrielyan, Director of the Scientific Center of Zoology and
Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, told ArmInfo.
In particular, the expert said that the construction of small HPPs
on the spawning streams is unacceptable. Gabrielyan said that the
Law "On fauna" forbids construction of any facilities in the sites
of inhabitation and breeding of endemic or disappearing species of
animals. However, the current legislation has not become an obstacle
for construction of a number of HPPs on the rivers of the Sevan basin,
which are the spawning sites of the Sevan trout and barbells. It was
pointed out that these fish species are endemic and are included in
the Red Book and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The negative factor of the given HPPs is that they lack fish-passes,
and the fish cannot get to the spawning site. Gabrielyan said that in
2012 the Commission of experts on Lake Sevan made a number of proposals
on the HPPs' activities in the Sevan basin, however, no specific
steps have been taken so far. He pointed out that it is more correct
to build the small HPPs on the stream flows, which are safer for fish.
One more negative factor is that the operation of the small HPPs
results in the change of water temperature, which affects the ecosystem
itself. "If one looks at the situation globally, the small HPPs are
considered to be eco-friendly, therefore, the international community
and funds encourage them. But from the local point of view, they are
harmful for Armenia, as they destroy our ecosystems", he stressed.
Experts have repeatedly pointed out the negative sides of the small
HPPs. For instance, the National Park "Arpi", which includes mountain
steppes, rivers, as well as pre-alpine and alpine meadows, became the
victim of the HPPs. In 2012 the operation of the small HPPs on the
river Akhuryan resulted in the drop of the level of Lake Arpi, and
the two islands, where the Red Book Dalmatian pelicans and Armenians
seagulls lay eggs, turned into peninsulas.
To recall, mass protest actions were held against several projects
of of small HPPs. The Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection gave up
the project on construction of a HPP on the Trchkan waterfall under
the public pressure. In 2012 the residents of a number of villages
of Tavush region protested against the projects of construction of
Khachaghbyur-2 HPP on the tributary of the river Aghstev. After the
protest actions, it was decided to revise the given project.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=1DC788D0-A385-11E2-B84BF6327207157C
Friday, April 12, 19:22
Small hydropower plants damage Armenia's ecosystems, Bardukh
Gabrielyan, Director of the Scientific Center of Zoology and
Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, told ArmInfo.
In particular, the expert said that the construction of small HPPs
on the spawning streams is unacceptable. Gabrielyan said that the
Law "On fauna" forbids construction of any facilities in the sites
of inhabitation and breeding of endemic or disappearing species of
animals. However, the current legislation has not become an obstacle
for construction of a number of HPPs on the rivers of the Sevan basin,
which are the spawning sites of the Sevan trout and barbells. It was
pointed out that these fish species are endemic and are included in
the Red Book and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The negative factor of the given HPPs is that they lack fish-passes,
and the fish cannot get to the spawning site. Gabrielyan said that in
2012 the Commission of experts on Lake Sevan made a number of proposals
on the HPPs' activities in the Sevan basin, however, no specific
steps have been taken so far. He pointed out that it is more correct
to build the small HPPs on the stream flows, which are safer for fish.
One more negative factor is that the operation of the small HPPs
results in the change of water temperature, which affects the ecosystem
itself. "If one looks at the situation globally, the small HPPs are
considered to be eco-friendly, therefore, the international community
and funds encourage them. But from the local point of view, they are
harmful for Armenia, as they destroy our ecosystems", he stressed.
Experts have repeatedly pointed out the negative sides of the small
HPPs. For instance, the National Park "Arpi", which includes mountain
steppes, rivers, as well as pre-alpine and alpine meadows, became the
victim of the HPPs. In 2012 the operation of the small HPPs on the
river Akhuryan resulted in the drop of the level of Lake Arpi, and
the two islands, where the Red Book Dalmatian pelicans and Armenians
seagulls lay eggs, turned into peninsulas.
To recall, mass protest actions were held against several projects
of of small HPPs. The Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection gave up
the project on construction of a HPP on the Trchkan waterfall under
the public pressure. In 2012 the residents of a number of villages
of Tavush region protested against the projects of construction of
Khachaghbyur-2 HPP on the tributary of the river Aghstev. After the
protest actions, it was decided to revise the given project.