FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2008

Environmental Film No. 11
“Specially Protected Natural Areas”

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YEREVAN--Vem Media Arts of Yerevan has completed the eleventh in a series of films about environmental issues in the Republic of Armenia. The new film, “Specially Protected Natural Areas,” is about the current realities facing Reserves and National Parks. The 24-minute documentary was produced by Manuk Hergnyan, written by Inga Zarafyan, and directed by Hayk Kbeyan.

The film includes expert testimony from forester Robert Hakobyan, Yerevan Zoo director Sahak Abovyan, WWF Armenia director Karen Manvelyan, Natural Resources Management head Artashes Ziroyan of the Ministry of Nature Protection, Khosrov Reserve director Varantsov Barseghyan, Shikahogh Reserve director Ruben Mkrtchyan, and Khosrov Reserve director Samvel Shaboyan.

Shikahogh Reserve, Khosrov Forest, Erebuni Reserve, Lake Sevan, Dilijan, and 24 other sites are part of Armenia’s specially protected areas, which cover 10 percent of the area of the country, but only Shikahogh, Khosrov, and Erebuni are protected as reserves.

Armenia’s natural areas provide a habitat for more than 1,000 varieties of plants and hundreds of vertebrate species, including brown bear, bezoar goat, mouflon, wild boar, leopard, and lynx, and many of which are included in the Red Book of Endangered Species. Some of these are endangered by commercial hunting, with companies such as Safari International operating in Armenia.

The 12,000 hectare Shikahogh Reserve, for example, contains 1,100 species of vascular plants and 300 species of vertebrates including the endangered Near Eastern Leopard. The reserve includes part of the Mtnadzor Forest, which has significant stands of ancient oak and hornbeam trees.

“There are species which only exist within the ecosystems of our country due to the diverse landscapes that are rich, ancient, and of serious scientific and global value,” stated Artashes Ziroyan of the Ministry of Nature Protection. “We have a rich biodiversity, therefore we should protect it and definitely aspire for its sustainable use.”

“No botanical or zoological part can ensure the protection of biodiversity. This is mainly done through nature, specially protected areas, and creating networks and corridors between protected areas,” explains WWF head Karen Manvelyan.

The film “Specially Protected Natural Areas” was sponsored by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, World Wildlife Fund Armenia, Armenian Forests NGO, and Armenia Tree Project, and it is available for personal and public viewing in DVD format. To acquire a copy of the film in the diaspora with English subtitles, contact Armenia Tree Project via email at info@armeniatree.org.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FILM

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