Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, presented the draft law “On Making Amendment and Addenda” to the law “On Ecopatrol Service” at the sitting of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment Protection.
The Law “On Ecopatrol Service” was adopted on 22 November 2023 and entered into force on 1 January 2024.
The Deputy Minister noted that, in the course of performing their functions, eco-patrol officers acquire biodiversity-related data on state forests, forest lands, and specially protected natural areas, which may be used in biodiversity monitoring processes.
The proposed legislative amendments seek to enshrine in law:

• the participation of Ecopatrol officers in biodiversity monitoring processes;
• cooperation with local self-government bodies, including granting Ecopatrol eco-patrol officers the right to promptly obtain and exchange information.

The Deputy Minister also responded to questions raised by the Members of Parliament.