Granting of sanctuary status to part of Khosrov reserve is first step for its elimination

PanARMENIAN.Net - President of the Armenian Ecotourism Association Zhanna Galyan said that everyone is well aware of the occupation policy pursued in Armenia towards territories. “We observe it by the examples of Dilijan and Lake Sevan, but I could not even assume that someone would infringe on Khosrov land. Granting of a sanctuary status to Gilan (а 116 ha territory in Khosrov reserve) is the first step for elimination of Khosrov reserve. After it, other interested persons will also start tearing away parts of it,” Galyan told a press conference on August 6.

She is a member of SOS Khosrov ecological public union. Members of the organization noted that initially they did not attach importance to the fact that Gilan was turned into a sanctuary. “But now we see that a restaurant is constructed there, which will hamper animal reproduction and violate the natural ecosystem,” said ecologist Marina Oganezova.

Ecologists also noted that they are outraged by the attitude of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection, which stated that there are not animals in Gilan, which are on the Red List. “The restaurant’s construction has been frozen from the moment when we raised clamor in media. However, we are not happy with this decision, as the construction works will be resumed, as soon as we lessen our pressure,” said Chairperson of Ecolur NGO Inga Zarafyan.

SOS Khosrov ecological public union sent an open letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, urging him to support them in saving Khosrov reserve, as it is required by majority of Armenia’s population.

“At last we should find a solution, which will be advantageous for nature – Khosrov reserve – but not for us,” concluded Inga Zarafyan.