About 2/3 of Armenia’s territory threatened by desertification, deputy minister says
27.05.2015,
19:26
About 2/3 of Armenia’s territory is threatened by desertification, deputy nature protection minister Simon Papyan said today.
YEREVAN, May 27. / ARKA /. About 2/3 of Armenia’s territory is threatened by desertification, deputy nature protection minister Simon Papyan said today.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet session he said the government has approved today a national program of action and a strategy to combat desertification, which include 15 measures, including also legislative changes.
"Given the fact that about 2/3 of the territory of Armenia is threatened by desertification, we need to implement measures to mitigate the negative impact, including from climate change,» he said.
He said the measures include modernization, expansion and re-equipment of the irrigation system, rational use of water resources to combat land degradation and drought. He said the plan of action is designed for the next five years.
According to estimates, about 81.9% of the territory of Armenia (without the waters of Lake Sevan and reservoirs) is subjected to varying degrees of desertification. The factors contributing to desertification processes are climate change, deforestation, overgrazing, misuse of agricultural land and inefficient irrigation systems. -0-
