Today, Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan was on a working visit to Vayots Dzor region to get acquainted with the presentation of mitigation and reparation measures for human-bear conflict in Shatin and Hermon settlements of Yeghegis community of Marz.
Let's remind that the minister visited the above-mentioned settlements in July, got acquainted with the damages suffered by the residents as a result of bear attacks and promised to provide a medium-term solution to the problem in a short time along with sound solutions.
Today, the "Environmental Program Implementation Office" of the Ministry of Environment has already provided electric shepherds to households most frequently attacked by bears, which help prevent wild animals from entering gardens and residential areas.
During the meeting held at the Vayots Dzor Governorate, the Minister presented to his colleagues the vision of the Ministry of Environment for solving the problem, the steps taken during this period and expressed hope that the problem will be finally resolved with the active support of the Governorate and international partners.
Ararat Grigoryan, governor of Vayots Dzor, Werner Tut, deputy regional director of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Office (SDC) in the South Caucasus, Karen Manvelyan, director of the Armenian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), made speeches chief Voskehat Grigoryan. In their speech, the latter emphasized the close connection between the government and international organizations and the proposal of solutions that combine environmental and social interests.
During the meeting, a tripartite memorandum was signed between Yeghegis community of Vayots Dzor, WWF-Armenia and "Yegheg" community social-environmental non-governmental organization, with which the regional project "Support for the creation of ecological corridors" of the community will be launched in 2 settlements of the community - Shatin and Hermon.
According to another memorandum signed between Yeghegis community of Vayots Dzor, WWF-Armenia and "Arpi Solar" LLC, a 40-kilowatt solar plant was transferred to the community. which will be used as needed in the community and remote pastures, as well as 6 electric herders (3 equipped with solar systems) that will help community residents protect beehives and orchards from bear attacks.
In the second part of the working visit, the minister, along with the governor, the chairman of the Forestry Committee, the deputy regional director of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Office (SDC) in the South Caucasus, the director of the Armenian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the present colleagues visited households that were provided with electric shepherds. The residents of the community expressed their satisfaction and informed that after the installation of protective measures, bears have not come near their farms for a long time.
The minister informed that the solution to the problem is not considered final. works are ongoing.