496 Trees Illegally Cut Down; Environmental Inspectorate Reports to Investigation Committee

The Environmental and Mining Inspection Body has conducted inspections at the Tumanyan Forestry branch of the Hayantar SNCO and uncovered numerous violations. According to the Environmental Inspectorate, the inspections covered the period from November 2022 to June 2026.

Based on the findings, a total of 496 trees of various types and diameters were illegally felled. The damage to the vegetation has been assessed at 114 million 686 thousand 928 dram.

It has also been recorded that the logging activities were carried out without the consent of the authorized body and without a positive conclusion from the environmental expertise.

Additionally, a total of 8,320 square meters of roads were constructed without the necessary approvals and permits. The inspection body discovered violations in the logging tickets and other documents as well. In some areas, forest restoration work was not carried out, and remnants of logged materials were not removed from the cutting sites.

As a result of the inspections, the Environmental Inspectorate has reported cases containing signs of apparent criminal offenses to the Investigative Committee of Armenia. Administrative liability measures prescribed by law will be applied for the other identified violations.