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As an economy blossoms an ancient capital suffocates




by Mariam HarutunianThu Mar 1, 11:10 AM ET

Waking one cold winter morning, Yerevan resident Susanna Pogosian drew back the curtains and got a shock: workmen had razed the trees opposite her home, literally overnight.

"Trees that had stood there for decades were lying on the ground. We were all in shock. It happened right in front of the eyes of the police, who didn't lift a finger," said Pogosian, recalling the day last month when the trees in the nearby playground were cut down.

Residents of this ex-Soviet republic are finding that after the dire economic straits they experienced in the 1990s, the runaway growth they now enjoy also has a downside: destruction of greenery and creeping desertification.

The Soviet Union's 1991 collapse brought this country a war with neighbouring Azerbaijan and the shut-down of factories, but also the destruction of thousands of trees as energy supplies failed and people scoured the hills for fuel.

The war has since been replaced by an uneasy ceasefire and despite closed borders with both Azerbaijan and Turkey, the economy is on the rise, thanks partly to investment by emigres from Russia and the United States.

Economic growth in Armenia has averaged 10 percent annually for the last 10 years, according to the World Bank, and last year's growth rate was 13.4 percent, according to official statistics.

But this upswing has not been matched by improved governance in the Armenian capital, where poor oversight means that the land is drying up in and around this city of some 1.2 million people.

Yerevan, famous for the pink colouring of city centre buildings, dates from before the eighth century BC and, like many Soviet urban centres, has since seen a sprawl of high-rise apartment blocks on the outskirts.

Residents take pride in the lush city centre parks and in Yerevan's unique position, within sight of nearby Mount Ararat, a revered national symbol that actually lies in Turkey.

But now they find desert animals such as snakes and scorpions increasingly turning up in their apartment blocks located in the valley in which Yerevan was built.

Pogosian says she and others fought a legal battle to prevent the development near her house, but to no avail and the foundations are now being dug.

"A well-known businessman caught sight of the land, and wants to build a hotel complex... Eventually, as he had a permit from the ministry for nature protection, they decided to carry out their barbaric plans at night," she said.

Ecologist Karine Danielian, of Yerevan's State University, says the city has lost 12 percent of its green space in recent years.

"Big businesses have built on any large or small space between buildings," said Danielian.

"The capital is reverting to semi-desert with all the climatic characteristics, flora and fauna that implies.... The tall buildings appearing in the centre reduce air circulation. The city is being suffocated," she said.

The head of the city's environmental protection department, Avet Martirosian, says he is concerned by the loss of green space and developers are now required to plant additional trees and grass when they build.

City authorities also plan an ambitious "re-greening" programme.

This will include planting 50,000 trees and 30,000 shrubs, with special attention paid to restoring vines and creepers that once covered many buildings, shielding them from noise, dust and the sun, says Martirosian.

He says 150,000 dollars (114,000 euros) has been allocated to growing saplings at a nearby nursery, including varieties that can cope with pollution.

Under the plans, the amount of green territory in the city will increase by 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) by 2020, he says.

This does not satisfy ecologists or sceptical local residents in a country where corruption and poor governance are serious problems however.

Danielian says that the new saplings will be no replacement for the mature trees that are being lost. "Why should we repeat the mistakes other cities have made?" she queried.

Local resident Aik Bersegian, a 60-year-old mechanic, is also distrustful: "These plans only exist on paper. The authorities adopted a law on protecting the environment but themselves don't respect it. It's happening in front of our eyes."

Indien 2004: Mudumalai-Park near Ooty

The Mudumalai sanctuary lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District, about 80 km north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in South India.

The park was created in 1940 to become the first wildlife sanctuary in southern India. Originally 60 square kilometres, the sanctuary was enlarged to 295 km² in 1956 and subsequently to its present size of 321 km². The sanctuary is contiguous with Bandipur National Park (874 km²), Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km²), Sigur and Singara reserve forests. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000+ km²), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

There are three main types of forest: tropical moist deciduous, tropical dry deciduous and southern tropical thorn. In certain places mixed vegetation types are present. Tropical moist deciduous forest occurs in the western Benne Block, where rainfall is higher than in the other blocks.

Primates found include the Gray langur (Semnopithecus priam) and the Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata). The Tiger (Panthera tigris) (E) is widespread, whereas the Leopard (P. pardus) (T) is most often seen in the Kargudi area. Other carnivores include the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) (V), the Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) and the Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) (I). The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) (E) population totals several hundred animals. Ungulates include the Gaur (Bos gaurus) (V), the Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor), the Chital (Axis axis), Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), the Indian Spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola meminna), and the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). Rodents include the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica maxima) and the Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista).

Bird life is rich. Regional endemics include Malabar trogon Harpactes fasciatus and Malabar grey hornbill Tockus griseus. Predatory birds include crested hawk-eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus and crested serpent eagle Spilornis cheela. It also holds the isolated southern population of the Striped Tit-babbler Macronous gularis.[2] Of the reptiles, monitor lizard Varanus bengalensis is the most regularly observed species.

Accommodation in Mudumalai includes a forest rest house and guest houses at Masinagudi, and guest houses at Kargudi, Abhayaranyam and Theppakkadu. Accommodation in the forest rest house and guest houses may be reserved by writing to the Wildlife Warden, Mudumalai Sanctuary, Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu, India.

The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (84km) and the closest railhead at Udhagamandalam (64km). However, in terms of travel practicality, the closest railhead is Mysore (90km),which sits on a major broad gauge line and is served by trains from across the country. The park is most conveniently accessible by road from Mysore on the Mysore-Ooty highway.

There is a cottage after crossing Kargudi and Mudumalai check posts on Ooty road. Bookings can be made from www.wildlifesanctuaryindia.com .Jungle home offers clean, comfortable accommodation at reasonable rates. It is located at the crucial elephant habitat zone. Elephants can be spotted very easily in this region. Trekking, Birdwatching and Fishing are conducted.

There are also night safaris on open top jeeps arranged by resorts and guides who are freely accessible in Masinagudi.The night safaris are conducted on the peripheral roads running through the forest and not deep into the forest

Other Places to visit in this region Include
1, The Elephant Feeding Camp - A place where you can interact with Elephants and also see how they are fed.
2, Museum - Near the Elephant feeding camp there is a museum where dead animals are preserved. These preserved animals ones lived in the Mudumalai Jungle.
3, Moyar River - See how the Moyar river runs through the dense forest. Spotting animals while they come to drink water in the river is fun.
4, Elephant Safari and Van Safari Conducted by Tamilnadu forest department.
5, Kallatty falls - Located 30Km from Mudumalai forest department . A beautiful falls with breathtaking view.
6, Pykara Lake - Located 40 Km from Mudumalai Safari office . It is a clean and scenic lake in between the hills. It is an isolated lake free from pollution and maddening crowed . Boating is conducted here . It is a place worth visiting when you plan to visit Mudumalai.You will remember this scenic spot throughout your life
7, Don't forget to Visit the lost cute Baby Elephant .

Jungle Home Provides Information on more interesting places to visit around Mudumalai and accommodation at Mudumalai.