The mining companies have been obliged to continuously monitor the mines and their adjacent areas

The environmental monitoring system has been entirely amended. The integrated “Environmental Monitoring and Information Centre” SNCO was set up within the Ministry of Nature Protection of RA.

  It has been ultimately addressed the issue over ensuring the necessary water amount in the rivers 

The issue of discharging necessary amount of water into rivers after water abstraction envisaged for the exploitation of SHPPs was addressed. The specialists voiced about insufficient water flow in rivers over the years.

Extensive legislative and institutional changes were supervised

During the last one-and-a-half-year period large-scale legislative and institutional changes were executed in environment protection sphere.

Water savings in Ararat Valley amounted to 156 million cubic meters per annum only 

The RA Ministry of Nature Protection accomplished large-scale legislative, institutional changes and measures in nature protection sphere in the last one and a half year.

The natural condition of  Shaki waterfall was restored in 2017

During the previous years the RA Ministry of Nature Protection regularly received requests, thus the media circulated publications, where citizens urged that while visiting Shaki waterfall, they witnessed its malfunction state.

The pinpoint conservation-related activities are conducted in specially protected areas of nature under the Ministry of Nature Protection of RA

 The regular spring activates, inspections, cleanup and rehabilitation works have been initiated in specially protected areas of nature under the subordination of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection.

RA Acting Minister of Nature Protection Erik Grigoryan conducted a working visit to Germany

On April 30 RA Acting Minister of Nature Protection Erik Grigoryan paid a working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, where he had a meeting with the delegation led by Regional Director of the German Development Bank (KfW) Olaf Zymelka.

The activities undertaken to save the underground water in Ararat Valley are in progress

 The RA Ministry of Nature Protection continues the practical steps directed to saving the underground water resources in Ararat Valley. The setting up works of water flow meters and data loggers are conducted in 4 preselected large fisheries, 20 groundwater intakes within the framework of ongoing works. The works are implemented within the USAID-funded “Advanced Science and Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development” (ASPIRED) project scopes.

Distinguished workers of the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, members of councils attached to the minister, representatives of international organizations, mass media and non-governmental organizations, dear citizens concerned about environmental problems,

 I express gratitude for more than one-and-a-half year productive work and cooperation in nature protection sphere. During my term in office, we have accomplished considerable work with the joint efforts focused on conducting large-scale, systematic reforms addressed to environmental protection, targeted at addressing raised challenges over the decades in environmental protection sphere. Thankful for our multifaceted ideas and attitudes, often as a result of keen conflicts, we have succeeded in shaping our common vision, providing best collective solutions to socioeconomic and environmental components of the problems. I extend a vote of thanks to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the leadership of the Republic of Armenia for entrusting me with assuming this sphere, as well as all partners of the government and public administration system for the joint work.
During my ministerial term I have always been guided by the three important principles: professionalism, responsibility and patriotism. I am sure that the application of these principles is also significant for you, thus everyone’s efforts (regardless of which field of activity we will be working) will also be meant for Armenian unique, remarkable nature, which is the guarantee of prosperity for our country and welfare and natural life for our nation. 
My previous spheres of activity have not allowed me to survey environmental protection sector profoundly. Coming to this sphere, I familiarized with the issues and reinforced my conviction that environmental protection lies at the core of all sectors, being the most important. This realization will already guide me throughout my further activity.
I wish all of us success and new achievements in the conservation of the enviornment.

Yours sincerely, Artsvik Minasyan 

Artsvik Minasyan had a farewell meeting with the RA Ministry of Nature Protection Staff

Today, Artsvik Minasyan had a farewell meeting with the heads of subdivisions and workers of the Ministry of Nature Protection of RA. Extending a vote of thanks for the joint work, the former Minister of Nature Protection expressed confidence that the successful conclusion of the process of establishing an integrated environmental management system will be achieved due to collective work.
"I thank you for the 

The mission arrived in Armenia will evaluate OSCE’s activities for 2004-2017 in the direction of supporting Aarhus Centres

On May 6-12 Senior Evaluator of the Office of Internal Oversight of OSCE Secretariat Birger Heldt will arrive in Armenia. The objective of the visit is to evaluate the activities of OSCE programme directed to bolstering  the network of 15 Public Environmental Information Aarhus Centres operating in Armenia.

The issues concerning the theory and priorities of chemicals legislation were considered

On April 27 at the initiative of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection, a workshop  dedicated to defining the theory and priorities of chemicals legislation was held within Armenia / UNEP ''Partnership on Development of Chemicals Legislation and Industry Involvement in Armenia" project scopes.

The tree planting works were conducted in Yerablur and specially protected areas of nature of the RA MNP

The RA Ministry of Nature Protection announced a month of Pan-Armenian tree planting within the framework of which reforestation and afforestation activities will be conducted within the 80 hectare area in forestries of all RA regions, specially protected areas of nature and Yerablur, planting 165 thousand saplings.

On April 21 the tree planting and cleanup day will be effected in specially protected areas of nature of the Ministry of Nature Protection of RA

The RA Ministry of Nature Protection announced a month of Pan-Armenian tree planting within the framework of which reforestation and afforestation activities will be conducted within the 80 hectare area of  forestries of all RA regions and specially protected areas of nature, planting 165 thousand saplings.

The universal trade-industrial expo-forum launched

On April 20 the 5th three-day International Tourism Exhibition: “In Tour Expo 2018” started in Yerevan Expo Center, thereby symbolizing the opening of 2018 touristic season in Armenia.

The environmental component of " Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development" was submitted

A two-day national workshop on "Promoting Sustainable Development in Armenia through Preliminary and Middle Level Vocational Education" launched in Yerevan. The event is held in the context of the implementation of UNECE Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development.

Illegally-held bear cub in Gyumri was transfered to the Zoological Garden of Yerevan

Due to the consistent works of Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body of the Ministry of Nature Protection of RA, on April 16 a bear cub illegally seized in one of the houses of Gyumri was handed to the Regional Division of Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body; afterwards the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) transferred the bear cub to the Zoological Garden of Yerevan.

The tree planting works in specially protected areas of nature and subdivisions under the subordination of State Committee of Forest

"Reserve Park Complex" SNCO effected the tree-planting and cleaning activities within the 1.55 hectare area, planting 850 saplings (300 saplings were planted within the 0.5 hectare area of “Soranner” arboretum of Berd,  50 saplings were planted within the 0.5 hectare area of Ijevan arboretum, 500 saplings were planted within the 0.05 hectare area of “Jrvezh” forest park). 

Annual conference on “Ecotourism in Armenia”

On April 14 the third annual conference on “Ecotourism in Armenia” took place in the American University of Armenia (AUA). The conference focused on enhancing ecotourism development in Armenia, suggesting  a platform for exchange of ideas and experience, as well as creating a network of stakeholders.

A tree planting dedicated to the April Four-Day Warfare

On April 11 Head of Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body Eghish Terteryan and Vayoc Dzor Region Governor Harutyun Sargsyan participated in the event dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the April Four-Day Warfare organized by Vayoc Dzor Regional Division of the Inspection Body.