YEREVAN. –  Since 1994 the cases of illegal tree cutting have permanently been reduced in Armenia, said chief forester   of ArmForest NGO Ruben Petrosyan.

A total of 1,320 trees were illegally cut in 2012 and only 928 last year.

Over the past two years 714 hectares of forest were planted. Nevertheless, the programs conducted with the support of international organizations are insufficient to fully restore the forests. But these programs are very important, given the low yield class of forests in Armenia, he added.

The forest area in Armenia currently is 332,300 hectares.