8000 Pine Trees Have Completely Dried Up in Sevan National Park, 10,000 at Risk: Ministry of Environment

Under the leadership of Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan, a discussion was held regarding the issue of drying pine trees in the Sevan National Park. Participants included representatives from the Sevan National Park, Hayantar State Non-Commercial Organization, Hydro-Meteorology and Monitoring Center, Inspection Body for Nature Protection and Subsoil, and the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, as well as professionals from the Ministry and NGOs.

Representatives from the Sevan National Park and the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology presented reports on the situation. This issue has been observed since 2017. Infected trees are drying up without any signs of weakening, leading to tree falls and a disruption in the canopy connectivity, resulting in a sparse forest. Alongside this process, the natural regeneration of pines in these areas has also been disturbed.

As a result of inventory and assessment, it has been found that there is a significant number of trees at risk of drying, approximately 10,000. Samples taken from the infected areas' tree timber and soil were studied in laboratories in Germany and Russia. Preliminary studies confirmed the presence of nematode disease in the area, identified as the most dangerous disease, with nematodes being the primary pest that spreads through beetles.

During the meeting, possible solutions were discussed, and international experiences in similar situations were presented. The minister emphasized the urgency of addressing the problem, and a decision was made to continue the studies, summarize the agreements reached during the meeting in a short time, and act on an urgent timeline.