Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the opening ceremony of the Tavush Regional Department of the Eco-Patrol Service.

Welcoming those present, Nikol Pashinyan reminded that Tavush is the second region where the eco-patrol service is being launched; the first took place in Syunik region. The Prime Minister emphasized that this process will be continuous and this is a new stage in Armenia from the point of view of the eco-environment and environmental perception. According to Nikol Pashinyan, our forest helped us survive in difficult times, now the time has come for us to protect our forest, but this time in a different sense and logic.

According to the Prime Minister, today it is necessary to change consciousness and perceive that the forest and nature are invaluable wealth. “It is another matter how we use that wealth. Today we must understand that the protection of the forest, its condition will bring millions and billions of drams of income to the Republic of Armenia and the people, because nature, first of all, brings very large tourist flows to the Republic of Armenia and the Tavush region.”

In that context, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the need to develop infrastructure and ensure investments: “We are building roads, creating infrastructure, but it is also important that we truly return our debt to the forest, so that it returns more to us.”

Referring to the cases of illegal logging, the Prime Minister emphasized that we must realize that the forest is our great wealth, which belongs to the citizens of the Republic of Armenia and which must be treated with care and concern. Nikol Pashinyan added that we must preserve, develop and pass this capital on to the generations. And in that context, he emphasized the importance of the activities of the Eco-patrol Service: “I am very happy that this logic and content are also changing, starting from the appearance, technical equipment. And of course, all this will be in vain and meaningless if there is no content behind the appearance, no dedication, no real service and no deep awareness of what important work is being done. And yes, we must achieve our goal to the end and illegal logging must be put to an end. The creation of the Eco-patrol Service will not make sense at all if we do not clearly formulate this problem and, moreover, do not clearly implement this task. I want us to agree very clearly and unequivocally that there can be no compromise, illegal logging and poaching must be put to an end, and for that, there must be a very adequate and tough response to the recorded cases."

Summing up his speech, Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the Eco-Patrol Service on the launch of its work in Tavush region and expressed hope that today's impact and results will be visible in the near future.

Next, the Prime Minister was presented with the process of replenishing the technical and human resources of the service. It was noted that the service has been replenished with 33 new service vehicles (pickups), which are fully equipped with modern mobile systems. 20 of the mentioned vehicles are additionally equipped with fire-fighting equipment. The service includes 128 eco-patrols, who are provided with new uniforms and necessary technical means. Video cameras are attached to the uniforms. The eco-patrols are also provided with tablets, which are equipped with programs for automatically compiling protocols on violations, as well as other necessary service means: handcuffs and batons.