16:00, 25 December 2009

Armenian Nature Ministry returns 118.4 million drams to the budget

As reported by Minister Aram Arutyunyan, the checks conducted by his Ministry of Nature Protection this year have revealed over 700 violations in the spheres of fauna and flora protection, protection and use of water bodies and illegal felling. As a result of the checks, the Ministry has returned 118.4 million drams back to the state budget.

According to the Minister, administrative offences were fixed on the damage caused to the environment.

Mr Arutyunyan has reported that the Ministry's Inspectorates paid great attention to protection of fauna and flora. In particular, cases of poaching were revealed in the Tavush and Syunik Regions, including hunting the "Red Book" species. 336 protocols were drawn up on inflicting damage to the sum of 125 million drams (1 US dollar = 372 Armenian drams); and tools for illegal hunting and fishing were confiscated.

The Inspectorates gave special attention to illegal tree felling. 968 cases of such illegal activity were revealed to the sum of 52 million drams.

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan

Source: CK correspondent