VIDEO: 50,000 Hectares of Forest Disappearing in Armenia

In Armenia, approximately 50,000 hectares of coniferous forest, specifically pine forests, are being devastated. The large-scale and catastrophic destruction of these forests is due to a disease that the government is effectively neglecting to combat. Urgent measures are needed to cut down infected trees, uproot them, and either burn the infected wood or subject it to thermal treatment (at 56 degrees Celsius or higher).

Journalist Narine Kirakosyan has released a video on the matter. "The Ministry of Environment of Armenia recently organized a discussion regarding this issue, but they only addressed the situation in the territory of the Sevan National Park, initially speaking about 8,000 pine trees and later an additional 10,000 already dead trees. However, the disastrous situation for coniferous forests is not only in the Sevan basin but throughout Armenia. There are no long-term experienced specialists in the field of science at the ministry, and a plan for combating the disease has not been developed," she reported.

Nevertheless, according to Karen Ter-Ghazaryan, a candidate of agricultural sciences living in the USA and a forestry expert, the widespread drying of coniferous trees is due to a disease known as nematode. At his request, botanist Ivan Gabrielian has visited various locations in Armenia, including the pine forests in the Georgian village of Privolnoye, the Ghev River valley in Syunik, and other areas where Soviet-era plantations were established. These planted coniferous forests have also become infected. Notably, from 1960 to 1980, seeds were brought from the Chernihiv region of Ukraine for the establishment of these forests.

According to the expert, nematode infection was first observed in Armenia in 2017. However, the relevant authorities have not taken any competent and realistic actions to halt and later eliminate the infection. As a result of inaction, Armenia could find itself in an international plant safety zone, meaning phytosanitary restrictions. In such a case, a quarantine is declared, and only after all necessary measures are taken can Armenia resume the export of any wood-derived products," is emphasized in the video.

In the video, journalist Narine Kirakosyan asked Gevorg Margaryan, an agricultural consultant and forester in the Meghri region, to explain in detail what dangers nematode infection poses for Armenia.

For more details, watch the video.