Why is Yerevan Municipality Cutting Down Trees? 160 Trees to be Cut on Tumanyan Street This Spring

The newspaper "Fact" reports: "Citizens are complaining about the cutting down of trees in the capital. There are varying opinions on this issue; some say that tree felling is unacceptable, while others believe that the replacements are not suitable. The official stance is that many trees in Yerevan are no longer viable or close to the end of their viability.

"Fact" reached out to Arthur Khalatyan, Deputy Director for Development of the "Greenery and Environmental Protection" Foundation, to clarify the situation: "We are dealing with a tree replacement program that was approved and initiated in 2023. The first replaced street was part of Moscowyan Street. This spring, we will start work from the Shengavit administrative district. The sections on Bagratuniats Street, from Garegin Nzhdeh Square to the Artashisyan intersection, are being replaced, where the minor-leaf linden trees that are nearing the end of their viability will be replaced with Saphon-Japanese tree species. As of March 23, the replacement of trees on Tumanyan Street has begun, starting from the Saryan-Tumanyan intersection to Mesrop Mashtots Avenue. Currently, work is proceeding from Mesrop Mashtots Avenue to the Teryan intersection," Khalatyan stated in an interview with Fact.

He noted that a total of around 160 trees are to be cut down primarily for replacement on Tumanyan Street this spring, of which some have already been cut. They will be replaced with 200 trees. "This is due to two factors: firstly, there are areas where additional planting is necessary, and secondly, where old stumps were left, they are being removed, and new trees are being planted. Therefore, the ratio of the trees being cut to those being planted has a positive final outcome," our interlocutor added.

Khalatyan emphasized that on February 23, 2023, a unique scientific conference took place at the Yerevan Municipality, attended by about thirty leading scientists in the field, as well as representatives from the public sector and ministries. "During the conference, it was unanimously accepted that tree replacement is a necessity. The program has been approved, and work has begun. A scientific-technical council has been established alongside the director, which includes both scientists from the organization and specialized field scientists—professors and associate professors with PhDs. Each street was discussed in detail, and the concerns raised by representatives of the municipal council were recorded, either acknowledged or adequately responded to. The program has been ongoing for a year now. This program includes not only tree replacements but also includes those streets and avenues where the homogeneity of tree species is maintained, such as Arshakuniats, Gayi, Freedom, and Mesrop Mashtots avenues, and only replenishments are carried out there. These are streets and avenues where valuable tree species are present, such as eastern white pine and summer oak," Arthur Khalatyan concluded.