Proposals for the draft law on the protection of a specially protected area in the Republic of Armenia are currently being presented in order to regulate the activities of the state authority responsible for the protection of these areas. The Minister of Environment, Hakob Simidyan, presented the proposals in a session of the National Assembly, highlighting the priority actions that need to be taken. One of the proposed actions is the transformation of the current 8-hour service into a 24-hour service, as the Minister believes that the current service poses risks. The plan also includes the establishment of the Conservation Service of the Highland Committee under the Ministry of Environment, which will be responsible for managing the conservation of “HayAntar” NPAs and the 6 State Reserves. Furthermore, the plan aims to provide new opportunities for employees, such as the ability to sign an employment contract at the end of their 8-hour service, open a travel agency, make calculations, and carry out criminal investigations.

The Armenian Branch Director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has stated that budget proposals have been made for financing operations and inspections. As part of these proposals, 3500 voice and smoke detectors are expected to be installed, along with other technical means to assess the situation. Minister Simidyan emphasized that the issue of conservation is urgent and needs immediate attention.

In response to a question from MP Arman Ghazaryan, the Minister clarified that the estimated cost of conservation is 5 billion drams, based on the initial data. The final calculation will be possible once the construction is approved by the design act.

Answering a question from MP Artur Minasyan, a representative of the “My Step” faction, it was clarified that there is currently no proper conservation system for highland territories and forests. Supporting the proposal, Minasyan emphasized the importance of giving special attention to the conservation of water sources, ecological monuments, and territories with unique natural heritage. The responsible official highlighted a range of problems faced by conservationists due to the lack of a proper system, such as the violation of the rights of water springs, cultural heritage monuments, and territories with unique natural heritage, among others.

The representative of the “My Step” faction, Hakob Simidyan, concluded his speech by expressing gratitude to the conservationists for their efforts and dedication to protecting the specially protected areas in Armenia.