Torrential rains of the last few days have caused the waters of the Debed River in northern Armenia to overflow its banks. As a result, the Armenian Copper Programme’s “Metalurg” athletic field in the town of Alaverdi has been flooded out and a bulwark protecting fields and gardens of local residents has also been washed away.

This scene is an annual occurrence at the start of spring. The Debed River, due to snow melt and spring rains, overflows its banks and floods area homes and fields.

Attorney Hayk Alumyan has told Hetq that on March 23, the RoA Administrative Court will review the suit drafted by a group of environmental organizations seeking to halt mining in the Teghut forest.

The court had refused to hear the suit, arguing the plaintiffs were professionally not suitable to argue the merits of the case. The court partially reversed its decision and has only allowed the group “EcoDar” to act as plaintiff.

On March 23, the Administrative Court of the RoA will hold the first hearing of a suit brought by the group “EcoDar” regarding the Armenian government’s go-ahead to develop and operate a mine in Teghut.

The lawsuit seeks to overturn the government’s decision to allow the Armenian Copper Programme, a subsidiary of the Vallex Group, to operate a copper and molybdenum mine in the forested area of northern Armenia. »»»»»

Mariam Sukhudyan and Friends Stumble on Some Disturbing Evidence in Forest

On February 20, a group of young people travelled to Dilijan for a hike in the woods. Upon entering the forest they heard a familiar but unwelcome sound. »»»»»

An agreement was signed today between A. Harutyunyan, the RoA Minister of Nature Protection, and David Morrison, Executive Director of the Caucasus Protected Areas Fund. The agreement will pave the way for the transfer of 282,045 Euros to Armenia, earmarked for maintaining and expanding specially protected lands in the country.

The decision to provide the assistance was first proposed by the Fund’s Board of Directors last October to support the Khosrov Forest National Reserve in Armenia. The Fund plans to work with the Armenian government to yearly increase lands in the country’s protected areas.

“I saw the smashed street lamps. When I looked hard, I realized that next to each smashed street lamp there are stumps of newly cut down trees.” This alert was raised by Tigran Mangasaryan, the publisher of National Geographic Traveler in Armenia. »»»»»

Following up on a “Hetq” report of January 23 that swarms of dead fish were spotted in the Hrazdan River, the RoA Ministry of Nature Protection stated today that preliminary water samples from the affected site show traces of active chlorine.

The Ministry says that the chemical could have destroyed the fish and over aquatic animals. The case has been sent to the RoA Police Department’s regional office in Kotayk for a follow-up investigation.

Residents nearby the Arzni health resorts have telephoned “Hetq” saying that scores of dead fish have been spotted washed-up along the banks of the Hrazdan River. Residents say that gulls and other birds are having a field day gorging on the easy prey.”Hetq” has reported the news to Karen Papoyan, Chief of the Environmental Inspectorate at the Ministry of Nature Protection.

YEREVAN–In 2009, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) planted more than 56,000 trees at dozens of urban and rural sites around the country as part of its Community Tree Planting (CTP) program. The huge public demand for trees and the professional capacity of ATP program staff, along with the production of fruit and decorative trees at the Karin and Khachpar nurseries, resulted in the planting of 56,244 trees in 2009. »»»»»

A group of young environmental activists will usher in the New Year with a bike ride on the eve of December 31 through downtown Yerevan.

Mariam Sukhudyan, one of the activists and a vegetarian to boot, says that she wants to welcome 2010 on “two wheels” and without polluting the environment. After the bike ride, the activists will sit down to a festive table decked out with assorted vegetarian goodies. No meat; thank-you very much…

Armenia Tree Project (ATP) has been collaborating with the RA government, World Wide Fund for Nature Armenian Branch (WWF Armenia) on an unprecedented large-scale reforestation program in the communities of Jrashen and Tsaghkaber in the northern region of Lori. »»»»»

There’s a stamp and die press operating on the first floor of a residential building in the center of Yerevan. Residents in the building have been complaining for years about the noxious fumes emanating from the facility.

However, since it belongs to the daughter of former RoA President Robert Kocharyan, they have been leery of filing any type of official complaint. Residents claim that during the course of the work day the fumes get so bad that they have trouble breathing.

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The RoA Ministry of Nature Protection has launched a new Environmental Hotline for residents and reporters to call if they witness environmental violations taking place or an issue, say illegally dumped building waste, that needs removal.

Citizens can call (+374 10) 51-91-82 and (+374 10) 52-38-35 to report violations. The Hotline will not operate on Saturday and Sunday.

“Hetq” had recently reported that trees had poplar trees had been felled in Tzitzernakaberd Park, next to a local restaurant, and followed up by informing the Yerevan Municipality.

The Municipality wrote back saying that it had given permission to the owners of the Olympia Restaurant to prune fourteen poplar trees in danger of falling from the effects of heavy winds given their age. We also asked the Municipality if such work shouldn’t be carried out by arbour specialists and were told that this simple pruning was involved there was no need to call in specialists. »»»»»

The Presidential Commission assigned to study the issues confronting Lake Sevan convened today and its head, Vladimir Movsisyan, gave an overview of the committee’s activities in 2009 and its project outline for the coming year. Attending the meeting was Presidential Chief of Staff Karen Karapetyan.

Mr. Movsisyan stated that based on the research and findings of the commission, a number of specific proposals had been submitted to the government regarding the raising of the lake’s surface, efficient water resources utilization, limiting water losses, water purification and measures aimed at replenishing the lake’s decimated fish populations. »»»»»