VIDEO: Protest Against Tree Cutting – Avinyan Meets with Protesters

The Mayor of Yerevan, Tigran Avinyan, today met with citizens conducting a protest near the city hall, who are dissatisfied with the tree replacement process in the capital.

"The Yerevan municipality has planted 35 hectares of forest in the last two years, approximately 10,000 trees, and this has been done with the implementation of an irrigation system," he said, adding that 95% of those trees have survived and continue to grow. He also mentioned that several parks have been improved by the municipality.

Avinyan informed that a forest has been planted near the sports concert complex, in Saralanj, and in 'Yerablur'. In response to a citizen's question, he stated that healthy trees are not being cut down: "Dear Viktor, your restaurant is in a recreational area, please refrain from speaking," he said, addressing former Central District head Viktor Mnatsakanyan.

Avinyan also noted that the species of trees being replaced is Tilia. "All new parks definitely increase green spaces," he emphasized. According to him, over 20 scientists have expressed their opinion that the Tilia trees need to be cut down and new trees should be planted.