YEREVAN.- Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection held debates on Khosrov natural reserve. Experts on environmental law, ornithology and biodiversity participated in the meeting presided by Minister Aram Harutyunyan.

A group of young activists who were not invited beforehand expressed willingness to take part in the meeting.

Addressing the participants, Hovik Tamazyan, director of the natural reserve, said GP locators and other equipment had been recently acquired.

Most experts opposed the idea of opening the natural reserve for hunters.

“Twenty-two species of bird of prey can be found here along with several species of butterflies,” ornithologist Mamikon Kasabyan said.

As regards ecotourism, most experts offered to forward it to national parks, not national reserves, which have a different status.

“Compared with foreign protected areas, we must realize Yellowstone, for instance, have routes for tourists but there is also a territory closed for people, even scientists. We must differentiate national park from national reserve,” Kasabyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Minister Harutyunyan recalled that under national reserve’s present regulations, the entrance is open for scientists and ecotourists.

“If you offer to withdraw permission for ecotourists, we are ready to consider the proposal. Nevertheless, the entrance issues should be regulated as there are cultural sites in the territory,” he added.