Damage of 4.6 million AMD to the Environment Calculated

The State Inspectorate for Environmental Protection and Mining has released a report on activities performed between January 8 and 10, 2020. The inspections, site visits, and reviews of administrative procedures conducted by the Inspectorate resulted in the identification of 13 violations, out of which 9 cases accounted for environmental damage amounting to 4,608,300 AMD, while 4 cases resulted in a total administrative fine of 400,000 AMD.

Specifically, in the area of plant life protection, there were 13 recordable cases; 9 were linked to the calculated environmental damage of 4,608,300 AMD, and 4 led to administrative fines of 400,000 AMD. In Lori, there were 2 cases of illegal logging involving 2 willow trees, 49 beech trees, 3 wildnuts, 4 oaks, and 1 poplar, leading to a calculated environmental damage of 1,036,500 AMD. For three cases of illegal transportation of timber, the damage amounted to 306,600 AMD, involving 8.7 cubic meters of firewood and 0.5 cubic meters of raw firewood.

In one previously recorded case of illegal logging, there was a fine of 100,000 AMD, and for two cases of illegal timber transportation, a total of 200,000 AMD was imposed as an administrative fine. In Tavush, three cases of illegal timber transportation (7.4 cubic meters of firewood) resulted in environmental damage calculated at 253,200 AMD.

In one case involving illegal logging (23 willows, 18 beeches, 2 sycamores, 2 alders, and 1 lime) as well as illegal transportation of timber (1 cubic meter of raw firewood and 3 cubic meters of firewood), the calculated environmental damage reached 3,012,000 AMD. In Gegharkunik, there was an administrative fine of 100,000 AMD for one previously recorded case of illegal logging. Two cases (with a total fine of 160,000 AMD) have been sent to the Ministry of Justice.

During the specified period, a total of 310,000 AMD was deposited into the state budget of Armenia.