The state ensures the protection and reproduction of the environment and the reasonable utilization of natural resources (Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, Article 10). According to the Article 48.10 of the Constitution of RA , the basic tasks of the state in the economic, social and cultural spheres are: to pursue the environmental security policy for present and future generations.

The system of Environmental legislation of RA is regulated by the Constitution of RA, International Treaties of RA in the sphere of environment protection, laws of RA on nature protection (Laws of RA "On Environmental Impact Expertise", "On specially protected natural areas" etc.) and natural resources (Land Code of RA, Water Code of RA, Entrails Code of RA, Forest Code of RA, Law of RA "On Flora", Law of RA "On Fauna"), by-laws.

One of the common spread issues of this sphere is allocation of resources, forests for example, without proper and clear evaluation of the reserves and calculation of the environmental impact.

Decisions related to the environment are usually made behind closed doors without valid justification, and without due notification and engagement of the public and experts, therefore violating the RA legislative requirements and Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters (Aarhus, Denmark) which Armenia ratified in 2001.

Hence, the public learns about the decisions once the activities, permitted by decisions, start taking place and when the possibilities for access to justice are limited[1].

According to the information circulated by "Hayantar" state none commercial organization, in 2010 2520 illegal logging was recorded in the forestry.  884 were recorded by the forestry, 648 by the Monitoring Center and 988 by the State environmental inspection.

Compared to the previous year, along with the increase of the quantity, significant increase of damage costs is noticed. It means that among illegally cut trees there are valuable species. Tavush and Syuniq regions also turned to target regions along with Lori[2].

According to the RA Government Decree N 673 of May 24, 2007 on creation of "Gilan" national park on the territory of Khosrov Forest national park, within the structure of "Khosrov Forest national park" non-commercial forest organization, "Gilan" national park was created and it will include 118 hectares of the Khosrov Forest.

According to the Decree 1203-N of October 18, 2007, it is allowed to allocate plots of Gilan national park for 60 years with the right to construction.  As a result of these decrees, today on the territory of "Gilan national park" construction of economically important building - café is being implemented.

Environmental NGOs issued a statement where they stressed out that the concept of the demotion of the  status of 118 hectares within the heart of Khosrov Forest and easing the regime of protection as well as decisions regarding the constructions on the territory of the forest were not justified properly and the expertise of the environmental impact was not conducted as it is stipulated by the RA legislation.

In January-September of 2010 around 256 hectares of forests and agricultural lands were allocated for mining purposes. Uranium exploration project continues to be endorsed by the government in spite of the strong opposition of civil society and local communities in the Syunik region.

In November 2007 RA Government approved the project of exploitation of the Teghut Copper-Molybdenum Mining. For that purposes 1, 491 hectares of territory was allocated, 82% of which is covered with the mountainous forests. Exploitation of the mine will produce about 500 million tones of tailings of hazardous substances and 600 million tones of various other wastes. Dumping tails will be disposed in the gorge of Duqanadzor River, flowing to Shnogh - tributary of transboundary Debed[3].

Another hot environmental issue is remaining to be Sevan Lake. According to the President of the Union for Sustainable Human Development and National Commission of the UN Environmental Project Karine Danielyan, "We are very glad that the level of the lake increases. However, unfortunately preparation of the shores was not conducted properly and wastes remained under the water, especially green massifs.

Now we see the swamping of the shores. I see a danger there. Employees of the Academy of the Ministry of Environment think it is not a great danger and the Lake can overcome this problem easily but in any case it is necessary to clean the shores. It is necessary to pull out the trees which appeared under the water which is not easy because these trees are the source of euthrofication. It is the most important issue for now".

A small hydro-power station was illegally constructed on the tributary of River Argichi, which flows to Lake Sevan, endangering the ecosystem of the river as well as the water supply of 5 village communities with population of more than 20,000. There were no steps taken to demolish the construction backed by unknown persons, instead there were efforts to punish rural citizens who dared to organize civic campaigns for protection of their right to water[4].

[1] « European Neighborhood Policy Implementation in Armenia, 2010:  Partnership for Open Society Initiative's Perspective» 2010, p.70

[2] "State forest monitoring center" state non commercial organization, Annual Report, 2010, p.3

[3] http://ecolur.org/hy/news/teghout/teghut-disaster/1990/

[4] « European Neighborhood Policy Implementation in Armenia, 2010:  Partnership for Open Society Initiative's Perspective» 2010, p.72