The Government of the Republic of Armenia

Chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, the Government discussed the report of the Ministry of Nature Protection of the executed major works, implementation of the program of activities and priority tasks of the Government of the Republic of Armenia in 2015,

Minister of Nature Protection Aramayis Grigoryan noted that during the last two years to work towards the suspension of the operation and preservation of illegally exploited wells, as well as the revision of quotas for water use, with the result that the situation in this area has improved in the country.

The Minister informed that the level of Lake Sevan as of December 31, 2015 totaled 1900.19 meters, which is 6 cm higher than at the same date of the previous year (1900.13 m). According to the Minister, within the framework of the implementation of the priority tasks of the State budget in 2015, Lake Sevan produced 366.7 thousand pieces of fry and restocking trout Foundation and development of fish farming in Sevan -. 238.8 thousand Pieces of fry.. As a result, instead of the planned 400 thousand, in the reporting year, there were grown and produced in Lake Sevan more than 605.5 thousand pieces of fry. As part of the program covered by the water purification of Lake Sevan wooded areas carried out works on cleaning the territory from planting 142.5 ha in 2015 (annual program - 135 hectares).

It was reported that in 2015 in the framework of the USAID-supported Clean Energy and Water program, HayHydroEnergyProject JSC developed water basin management plans of the Ararat valley within the state budget. As part of the international river basin environment program with funding from the European Union there was also developed a river basin management plans Akhuryan and Metsamor management area Akhuryan river basin, which later become the basis for the development of a management plan for the Akhuryan water basin.

In the field of protection of mineral resources and land performed work on the creation of digital maps: maps of the spread of natural types of land in Syunik, Gegharkunik and Ararat marz. In 2015, cooperation continued in the field of nature protection with global and regional international organizations and foreign states, as well as under international conventions and initiatives. During the year, the Ministry implemented 33 international programs (22 national and 11 regional).

Summing up the report and touching upon the Ministry’s tasks for 2016, the Prime Minister noted the importance of continued and effective implementation of environmental programs. Hovik Abrahamyan called the attention of Aramayis Grigoryan to the illegal felling of trees and instructed to exercise greater control in this direction. The Premier noted that the Ministry of Nature Protection had carried out large-scale work in the period under review, adding that serious work awaits them in the future.