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ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 926-8733
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
June 6, 2005
Armenia's Shikahogh Nature Reserve and Mtnadzor Forest at Great Risk
--ATP working with coalition of NGOs to protect this irreplaceable national
treasure
Armenia, a country 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.
Despite this, the government recently announced plans to build a new highway
in southern Armenia right 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.
According to news reports, the plans call for cutting at least 14,000 old
growth trees and 90,000 younger ones. 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 and the ensuing traffic pollution.
A coalition of organizations and individuals, including Armenia Tree Project
(ATP), Armenian Forests NGO, World Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of
America have been working together to identify viable alternatives to the
proposed route which would do less environmental damage, and put a stop to
the plan to begin immediate construction until public hearings are held.
ATP founder Carolyn Mugar sent a letter on May 25 to President Robert
Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, in addition to the Minister
of Nature Protection, Minister of Transportation, and other high-ranking
officials. `The Shikahogh forest reserve provides unique habitats for many
rare and endangered plants and animals whose survival depends upon the
government's responsible stewardship. We call on you to protect this reserve
for the sake of future generations of Armenians and the world's ecosystem,'
wrote Ms. Mugar.
The Armenian government has cited `strategic' reasons for choosing the route
through the reserve, but hasn't provided adequate justification for the
plan, which would violate numerous national laws and internationally signed
treatises to protect such nature preserves, which are widely regarded as
part of a national heritage.
To date, the Ministry of Transportation as well as the Ministry of Defense
have stated their intention to move forward with construction plans and
ignore any proposed alternatives. In response, the Minister of Nature
Protection announced his intention to resign if the road is constructed
through the reserve. This stated determination to ignore alternative routes
has led many to question the true motivation for the government's plan,
given the monetary value of the oak trees from the old growth forest that
will be destroyed.
`The construction of the proposed road through the preserve will introduce
pollution from passing vehicles into this almost pristine forest, destroy
the habitat for rare wildlife and migratory paths, and attract illegal
logging, depriving future generations of Armenians of an irreplaceable
resource. The encroachment by illegal loggers has already destroyed much of
Armenia's forests during the past decade,' added the ATP founder in her
letter, which was also sent to government officials by Armenian Assembly of
America Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.
`[If Armenia's government] does not demonstrate responsible management of
its natural and historical heritage, it weakens its ability to protect
Armenia from the impact of destructive policies in neighboring countries.
Any gains that may be realized by building this road through the preserve
will be far outweighed by the long-term environmental and political damage
that Armenia will suffer. We most urgently ask you to consider an
alternative route,' concluded Ms. Mugar in her appeal.
The full text of the letter from ATP is available on the Web site
www.armeniatree.org. Those who wish to express their opinions on this issue
are encouraged to communicate with Minister of Nature Protection Vardan
Ayvazyan via the Web site www.mnpiac.am, and send letters to President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, and Minister of
Transportation Andranik Manukyan, via Tatoul Markarian, Armenian Ambassador
to the United States, 2225 R Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202)
319-1976, fax (202) 319-2982.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Shikahogh reserve.jpg
A coalition including Armenia Tree Project, Armenian Forests NGO, World
Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of America are advocating for an
alternative to the proposed route of a highway in the Shikahogh nature
reserve in southern Armenia (Photo courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)
Construction machinery.jpg
As of late last month, construction equipment was lined up at the site to
begin construction through the Shikahogh nature reserve in southern Armenia,
which would result in the cutting of at least 14,000 old growth trees and
90,000 younger trees (Photo courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)
Leopard in Armenia.jpg
The Shikahogh nature 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 (Photo
courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 926-8733
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
June 6, 2005
Armenia's Shikahogh Nature Reserve and Mtnadzor Forest at Great Risk
--ATP working with coalition of NGOs to protect this irreplaceable national
treasure
Armenia, a country 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.
Despite this, the government recently announced plans to build a new highway
in southern Armenia right 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.
According to news reports, the plans call for cutting at least 14,000 old
growth trees and 90,000 younger ones. 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 and the ensuing traffic pollution.
A coalition of organizations and individuals, including Armenia Tree Project
(ATP), Armenian Forests NGO, World Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of
America have been working together to identify viable alternatives to the
proposed route which would do less environmental damage, and put a stop to
the plan to begin immediate construction until public hearings are held.
ATP founder Carolyn Mugar sent a letter on May 25 to President Robert
Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, in addition to the Minister
of Nature Protection, Minister of Transportation, and other high-ranking
officials. `The Shikahogh forest reserve provides unique habitats for many
rare and endangered plants and animals whose survival depends upon the
government's responsible stewardship. We call on you to protect this reserve
for the sake of future generations of Armenians and the world's ecosystem,'
wrote Ms. Mugar.
The Armenian government has cited `strategic' reasons for choosing the route
through the reserve, but hasn't provided adequate justification for the
plan, which would violate numerous national laws and internationally signed
treatises to protect such nature preserves, which are widely regarded as
part of a national heritage.
To date, the Ministry of Transportation as well as the Ministry of Defense
have stated their intention to move forward with construction plans and
ignore any proposed alternatives. In response, the Minister of Nature
Protection announced his intention to resign if the road is constructed
through the reserve. This stated determination to ignore alternative routes
has led many to question the true motivation for the government's plan,
given the monetary value of the oak trees from the old growth forest that
will be destroyed.
`The construction of the proposed road through the preserve will introduce
pollution from passing vehicles into this almost pristine forest, destroy
the habitat for rare wildlife and migratory paths, and attract illegal
logging, depriving future generations of Armenians of an irreplaceable
resource. The encroachment by illegal loggers has already destroyed much of
Armenia's forests during the past decade,' added the ATP founder in her
letter, which was also sent to government officials by Armenian Assembly of
America Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.
`[If Armenia's government] does not demonstrate responsible management of
its natural and historical heritage, it weakens its ability to protect
Armenia from the impact of destructive policies in neighboring countries.
Any gains that may be realized by building this road through the preserve
will be far outweighed by the long-term environmental and political damage
that Armenia will suffer. We most urgently ask you to consider an
alternative route,' concluded Ms. Mugar in her appeal.
The full text of the letter from ATP is available on the Web site
www.armeniatree.org. Those who wish to express their opinions on this issue
are encouraged to communicate with Minister of Nature Protection Vardan
Ayvazyan via the Web site www.mnpiac.am, and send letters to President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, and Minister of
Transportation Andranik Manukyan, via Tatoul Markarian, Armenian Ambassador
to the United States, 2225 R Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202)
319-1976, fax (202) 319-2982.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Shikahogh reserve.jpg
A coalition including Armenia Tree Project, Armenian Forests NGO, World
Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of America are advocating for an
alternative to the proposed route of a highway in the Shikahogh nature
reserve in southern Armenia (Photo courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)
Construction machinery.jpg
As of late last month, construction equipment was lined up at the site to
begin construction through the Shikahogh nature reserve in southern Armenia,
which would result in the cutting of at least 14,000 old growth trees and
90,000 younger trees (Photo courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)
Leopard in Armenia.jpg
The Shikahogh nature 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 (Photo
courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)