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NGO ENQUIRING: WHETHER NATURE PROTECTION MINISTER DOESN'T HAVE CONFLICT OF INTERESTS IN CASE OF ZANGEZOUR BIOSPHERIC COMPLEX
15:19 February 04, 2015
EcoLur
Arthur Ghazaryan, Chairman of Kapan-based "Union of Employees' Rights
Protection" NGO has addressed an open enquiry to Nature Protection
Minister Aramayis Grigoryan on the outcomes of the projects carried
out in the specially protected areas of Syunik Region and financial
reporting.
The program on establishing Zangezour biospheric complex left as
inheritance from Ex Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan
to the current Ministry staff can't be still determined either in
its geography, or regime or the frames of its own competences. The
government adopted a resolution 1465-N on establishing Zangezour
biospheric complex dated on 19 December 2013, i.e. one year ago. As
a result, Arevik National Park, Shikahogh State Reserve and a number
of nature sanctuaries under one protected area unit making it one of
the region's largest protected areas - 60,000 ha.
The letter says, "The budget of KfW funded "Support to Specially
Protected Areas of Caucasus" program makes u 8.25 million Euros,
and a part of these funds are to be directed to the solution of
socio-economic problems of the adjacent communities to "Zangezour"
Biospheric Complex in Syunik Region".
The studies of our experts showed that the borders of the specially
protected areas and adjacent communities in Syunik Region were not
specified.
The observations leave an impression that so far the projects
implemented in the specially protected areas in Syunik Region haven't
been effective and the distribution of these funds was not transparent.
It was also found out that geoprospecting and soil management licenses
were issued for the land areas located within the borders of the
specially protected areas in Syunik Region and its adjacent areas.
However, Article 17(2) of RA Law "On Specially Protected Areas
of Nature" says, any geoprospecting in the recreation zone of the
national park is forbidden.
We would like to ask you to provide information on the following
within the statutory time period:
· List of the companies having conducted mapping of borders of
"Zangezour" biospheric complex in Syunik Region and the results of
their activities.
· What is the substantiation for such contradicting activities,
as mining within and beyond the borders of the specially protected
areas of nature,
· What are KfW-funded projects implemented in the Republic of Armenia
during the last 10 years,
· Which organizations have implemented environmental projects funded
by KfW in the Republic of Armenia during the last 10 years,
· We would like to ask you to provide us the outcomes of the projects
funded by KfW and participated and/or implemented by Nature Protection
Ministry and financial reporting in the Republic of Armenia during
the last 10 years.
http://ecolur.org/en/news/biodiversity/ngo-enquiring-whether-nature-protection-minister-doesnt-have-conflict-of-interests-in-case-of-zangezour-biospheric-complex/6993/
15:19 February 04, 2015
EcoLur
Arthur Ghazaryan, Chairman of Kapan-based "Union of Employees' Rights
Protection" NGO has addressed an open enquiry to Nature Protection
Minister Aramayis Grigoryan on the outcomes of the projects carried
out in the specially protected areas of Syunik Region and financial
reporting.
The program on establishing Zangezour biospheric complex left as
inheritance from Ex Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan
to the current Ministry staff can't be still determined either in
its geography, or regime or the frames of its own competences. The
government adopted a resolution 1465-N on establishing Zangezour
biospheric complex dated on 19 December 2013, i.e. one year ago. As
a result, Arevik National Park, Shikahogh State Reserve and a number
of nature sanctuaries under one protected area unit making it one of
the region's largest protected areas - 60,000 ha.
The letter says, "The budget of KfW funded "Support to Specially
Protected Areas of Caucasus" program makes u 8.25 million Euros,
and a part of these funds are to be directed to the solution of
socio-economic problems of the adjacent communities to "Zangezour"
Biospheric Complex in Syunik Region".
The studies of our experts showed that the borders of the specially
protected areas and adjacent communities in Syunik Region were not
specified.
The observations leave an impression that so far the projects
implemented in the specially protected areas in Syunik Region haven't
been effective and the distribution of these funds was not transparent.
It was also found out that geoprospecting and soil management licenses
were issued for the land areas located within the borders of the
specially protected areas in Syunik Region and its adjacent areas.
However, Article 17(2) of RA Law "On Specially Protected Areas
of Nature" says, any geoprospecting in the recreation zone of the
national park is forbidden.
We would like to ask you to provide information on the following
within the statutory time period:
· List of the companies having conducted mapping of borders of
"Zangezour" biospheric complex in Syunik Region and the results of
their activities.
· What is the substantiation for such contradicting activities,
as mining within and beyond the borders of the specially protected
areas of nature,
· What are KfW-funded projects implemented in the Republic of Armenia
during the last 10 years,
· Which organizations have implemented environmental projects funded
by KfW in the Republic of Armenia during the last 10 years,
· We would like to ask you to provide us the outcomes of the projects
funded by KfW and participated and/or implemented by Nature Protection
Ministry and financial reporting in the Republic of Armenia during
the last 10 years.
http://ecolur.org/en/news/biodiversity/ngo-enquiring-whether-nature-protection-minister-doesnt-have-conflict-of-interests-in-case-of-zangezour-biospheric-complex/6993/