Armenia's Dying Forests

As Armenia struggles with independence and capitalism, its forests are beginning to pay a serious price.

Precious plants are nearing extinction in the forest area surrounding Vanadzor. “Since logging began, the temperature has risen. The precious plants began withering in the sunlight..."

“The fact is the forest is slowly receding,” Karen Afrikyan said. This means that a tree seed that falls on the soil will encounter the so-called dead layer composed of weeds and forest remains. This layer, as the phytosociologist explains, prevents the plant from reaching the main organic layer and, therefore, from finding nourishment.

“There will be desert vegetation; absinthium, camel's-thorn and other arid plants will grow and it will become impossible to restore the forest and the area will turn into a bald, dead zone. Not only the flora but the fauna will change.”

I can't do the article justice by posting a few quotes here and there, so read it all yourself: it is linked below. Armenia must pay attention to its prized resources, because one day it will wake up to find them gone.

Source: Hetq