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HEAD OF DSEGH FOREST ENTERPRISE: 'ILLEGAL LOGGING CAN'T BE RULED OUT'
Larisa Paremuzyan
12:18, November 15, 2013
An interview with Dsegh Forest Enterprise Director Vahe Karyan.
Today, I was told that you and your staff rarely show up for work at
the Enterprise offices. What's your response?
In fact, we provide a report of our activities every month to the
HayAntar SNOC. Today was just that day. Our Chief Forestry Warden
and the accountant have gone to Yerevan, That's why our offices
were closed.
What about you and the others? Isn't there anyone else working at
the Dsegh Forest Enterprise?
It makes no sense for me to be sitting behind a desk at the office
all day. I'm at the office only when needed. I live in Vanadzor. They
can telephone me on matters that need my attention. What's so wrong
with that? The regions under our watch are huge. I spend most of my
time in the field and not in the office. We have three wardens and
14 forestry rangers on staff. I have my deputy. These aren't office
positions, per say. We are tasked with monitoring around 12,000
hectares of forested land. We do the best we can given our resources,
but we can't rule out illegal tree felling.
What was the extent of such illegal logging that you discovered
this year?
I don't remember the numbers but I can tell you the exact figures
tomorrow.
Residents of the Modkor villages say that if the present rate of
illegal logging continues, there won't be any forest left in the area.
No... who told you that? In reality, our annual plan involves the
sanitary cutting of 3,000 cubic meters. It's not an insignificant
amount. At first glance, it would seem that illegal logging is taking
place, but it's all included in the forestry plan. We still have 10%
to go to meet this year's sanitary cut plan.
Mr. Karyan, how would you explain the fact that whenever we want to
see the financial documents when timber is being transported out of
the forest, thos edrivers never seem to have such papers?
Who, for example?
I am speaking in general terms. But, as an example, we recently saw
a huge pile of timber next to the home of Marts Village Mayor Robert
Galstyan.
I do not know why they failed to show you any documentation. But the
mayor's son is on record as removing wood from our facility.
At what price do you sell one cubic meter of wood?
Our price is 7,200 AMD. It's the cost of one cubic meter of that tree
over there, plus the cost of transportation. A buyer can then resell
the wood. Nothing in the law prohibits it.
So, the son of the Marts Mayor can purchase timber from you at 7,200
AMD and then turn around and resell it?
Naturally.
What's your reaction to press reports about illegal cuttings? Are
there cases when you have to agree that such things happen?
Of course they happen. We can't rule such things out all together.
Is it possible that your forestry wardens are engaged in the timber
trade without your knowledge?
That's why I'm saying that we are constantly in the field. But,
I again say that such things can't be ruled out. Individuals and
business can buy timber from us, but only from the 3,000 cubic meters
that we legally cut down every year.
The Dsegh Forest Enterprise, a branch of "Hayantar" SNCO is located
in Armenia's Lori Province. It covers 13,790 ha, of which 12,128
is forested. The enterprise consists of 4 forest districts with 14
sub-districts. The Enterprise engages in forest fund protection,
defense, reproduction, logging and forestry.
http://hetq.am/eng/interviews/30781/head-of-dsegh-forest-enterprise-illegal-logging-cant-be-ruled-out.html
Larisa Paremuzyan
12:18, November 15, 2013
An interview with Dsegh Forest Enterprise Director Vahe Karyan.
Today, I was told that you and your staff rarely show up for work at
the Enterprise offices. What's your response?
In fact, we provide a report of our activities every month to the
HayAntar SNOC. Today was just that day. Our Chief Forestry Warden
and the accountant have gone to Yerevan, That's why our offices
were closed.
What about you and the others? Isn't there anyone else working at
the Dsegh Forest Enterprise?
It makes no sense for me to be sitting behind a desk at the office
all day. I'm at the office only when needed. I live in Vanadzor. They
can telephone me on matters that need my attention. What's so wrong
with that? The regions under our watch are huge. I spend most of my
time in the field and not in the office. We have three wardens and
14 forestry rangers on staff. I have my deputy. These aren't office
positions, per say. We are tasked with monitoring around 12,000
hectares of forested land. We do the best we can given our resources,
but we can't rule out illegal tree felling.
What was the extent of such illegal logging that you discovered
this year?
I don't remember the numbers but I can tell you the exact figures
tomorrow.
Residents of the Modkor villages say that if the present rate of
illegal logging continues, there won't be any forest left in the area.
No... who told you that? In reality, our annual plan involves the
sanitary cutting of 3,000 cubic meters. It's not an insignificant
amount. At first glance, it would seem that illegal logging is taking
place, but it's all included in the forestry plan. We still have 10%
to go to meet this year's sanitary cut plan.
Mr. Karyan, how would you explain the fact that whenever we want to
see the financial documents when timber is being transported out of
the forest, thos edrivers never seem to have such papers?
Who, for example?
I am speaking in general terms. But, as an example, we recently saw
a huge pile of timber next to the home of Marts Village Mayor Robert
Galstyan.
I do not know why they failed to show you any documentation. But the
mayor's son is on record as removing wood from our facility.
At what price do you sell one cubic meter of wood?
Our price is 7,200 AMD. It's the cost of one cubic meter of that tree
over there, plus the cost of transportation. A buyer can then resell
the wood. Nothing in the law prohibits it.
So, the son of the Marts Mayor can purchase timber from you at 7,200
AMD and then turn around and resell it?
Naturally.
What's your reaction to press reports about illegal cuttings? Are
there cases when you have to agree that such things happen?
Of course they happen. We can't rule such things out all together.
Is it possible that your forestry wardens are engaged in the timber
trade without your knowledge?
That's why I'm saying that we are constantly in the field. But,
I again say that such things can't be ruled out. Individuals and
business can buy timber from us, but only from the 3,000 cubic meters
that we legally cut down every year.
The Dsegh Forest Enterprise, a branch of "Hayantar" SNCO is located
in Armenia's Lori Province. It covers 13,790 ha, of which 12,128
is forested. The enterprise consists of 4 forest districts with 14
sub-districts. The Enterprise engages in forest fund protection,
defense, reproduction, logging and forestry.
http://hetq.am/eng/interviews/30781/head-of-dsegh-forest-enterprise-illegal-logging-cant-be-ruled-out.html