YEREVAN. - The main activity of Armenia’s Nature Protection Ministry in 2015 was discussed at the Government today. The discussion, which also included Armenian Government’s Action Plan for last year, implementation of priority issues and reports of the persons in charge, was conducted by Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan, Armenian Government press-service reports.
Armenia’s Nature Protection Minister Aramayis Grigoryan noted that progress has been recorded in the sphere of water consumption as a result of the work on closing or conservation of illegal wells, or their conversion into a valve regime.
The Minister also noted that as of 31 December 2015, the level of Lake Sevan was 1900,19 m, which is 6 cm higher as compared to the same period in 2014.
According to the Minister, 366,7 thousand and 238,8 thousand juvenile fishes were released into Sevan by means provided by the state budget and Foundation for restoration of Sevan trout stocks and development for aquaculture respectively.
Consequently, 605,5 thousand instead of planned 400,000 thousand juvenile fishes were released into the lake. Clean –up on the territory of 142,5 ha was carried out in 2015 in the framework of the project on cleaning the forest vegetation submerged in Lake Sevan.
Apart from this, it was reported that in the framework of the USAID “Clean Water and Energy” project and by means provided by state budget, draft plans on management of water basins in Ararat plain were developed in 2015.
In the sphere of mineral resources and land protection, work was carried out to create digital cards. In 2015, cooperation with regional and international organizations, foreign states, as well as in the framework of international conventions and initiatives continued. 33 international programs were implemented in 2015.
Summing up the results of the last year and touching on plans for 2016, PM Abrahamyan noted the importance of continuous and productive implementation of nature protection programs. He especially drew Minister Grigoryan’s attention to the problem of illegal felling and instructed him to establish strict control over that issue.
