It is proposed by the draft law to enshrine in law the right of the Eco-Patrol officer to participate in the process of implementing permanent monitoring of biodiversity in state forests, forest lands and specially protected areas. In order to effectively implement the service, it is also proposed to establish the right of the Eco-Patrol officer to cooperate with local self-government bodies for the purpose of operative acquisition and exchange of information. Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, said during the RA NA regular sitting on March 3.

The draft law On Making Amendment and Addenda to the Law On Eco-Patrol Service was debated in the first reading.

According to the current law, the main task of the Eco-Patrol Service is to carry out conservation in state forests and specially protected areas of nature. During the service, a huge amount of information about biodiversity becomes available, but, in fact, the law does not stipulate the participation of the Eco-Patrol employee in the biodiversity monitoring process. In order to fill the existing gap, clear regulations are proposed by legislative initiative.

Aram Meymaryan answered the MPs’ questions, presenting clarifications on the specification of the service functions.

Vahe Ghalumyan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment, presenting the endorsement of the Committee, called on his colleagues to vote in favour of the draft.

In his final speech Vahe Ghalumyan underscored that the process of establishing the Eco-Patrol Service was not an end in itself and is a very important reform. He noted that before the establishment of the Eco-Patrol Service, the control of forests and similar areas was carried out for only 8 hours a day. Before the establishment of the Syunik Eco-Patrol Service, the level of detection of forest violations in the region was 9 percent, and after the establishment of the service, this indicator increased, reaching 75 percent.

In his final speech the RA Deputy Minister of Environment Aram Meymaryan touched upon the MPs’ raised issues and observations.