NEW SECTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA HIGHWAY CAUSES NO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO SHIKAHOGH FOREST RESERVE

arminfo
2008-01-23 11:54:00

ArmInfo. The construction of the new section of Iran-Armenia road that
was completed at the end of 2007 caused no serious damage to Shikahogh
forest reserve in Syunik region, Armenia. About 1.5 thousand trees
were cut instead of the envisaged 20,000 oaks and 117,000 bushes and
young trees, Shikahogh Reserve Director Rubik Lazarian told ArmInfo.

He said only 316 valuable tree types such as oak, hornbeam and
beech, were cut. Generally, about 6.5 km of the reserve territory
was alienated, which embraced just part of the reserve border where
animal migrations are rarely observed. ‘Actually, the protests by the
Armenian public, international organizations and donors of ecological
projects in the country proved useful and the government hanged the
project. One can say now that the only original forest Mtnadzor in
Armenia is saved. It is very important for some 600-700 age valuable
trees can be found only in that forest’, Lazarian said. The initial
project of Iran- Armenia highway implied construction of a 14 km
section of the highway directly across Shikahogh forest reserve. To
implement this project, 19,085 valuable trees were to be cut, which
would cause a total of 5 billion drams damage, specialists say.

In addition, Lazarian said he submitted the project of ecological
migration paths to the government’s consideration. The paths will
ensure the safe highway crossing by animals. The government has not
studied the project of construction of some tunnels under the highway
so far.

Shikahogh reserve was founded in 1959. It occupies 10,000 ha on the
northern foots of Meghri Mountain, Kapan region, Armenia. Eighteen
types of flora and many animals in the reserve have found them in
the Red Book.