Logging increased because of the rise in gas and electricity prices (video)
March 21 is the United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Forests, which promotes the importance of forests and trees in our lives. The day addresses important issues such as deforestation. Ruben Petrosyan, Chief Forester of “Hayantar” (ArmForest) SNCO under the Ministry of Agriculture, says Armenia lost 2 000 hectares of forest lands between 2000 and 2014 according to the research done by foreign organizations. Mr Petrosyan stresses that cases of illegal tree felling have increased in the country, which he says is due to the prices of gas and electricity. A total of 1043 trees were cut down in 2014 and 1972 in 2015. Armenia has 332 333 hectares of footrest lands, 25 per cent of which is managed by the Ministry of Nature Protection, the rest by the “Hayantar” SNCO.
