>> CLICK HERE
TO TAKE ACTION

Teghut, with its thousands of acres of virgin forest and rich ecosystem in
Northern Armenia, is home to hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles,
fish and plants, including many that are registered in the International Red
Book of Endangered Species.

Armenian Copper Program (ACP), with approval from Armenia’s Ministry of Nature
Protection, plans to clear-cut over 1,500 acres of Teghut's forest in order to
establish an open pit strip mining operation for copper and molybdenum ore. In
addition, ACP plans to create a “tailing dump” in a nearby pristine gorge, where
heavy metals and other toxins from mining waste will leach into the ground and
into the river flowing through the gorge, ultimately contaminating the local
water supply.

What do we know about Armenian Copper Program’s track record? ACP owns the
infamous Alaverdi Smelter, which processes copper ore for a consortium of mining
companies in the region. The Alaverdi smelter, notorious for belching tens of
thousands of tons of sulfur oxides annually into the atmosphere, is having
disastrous effects on the health and well-being of the local population, and on
the ecosystem from acid rain. Since the smelter’s re-opening in the late 1990's,
the town of Alaverdi has seen a dramatic increase in the number of reported
cases of respiratory disease, sterility, and severe birth defects. The smelter
has no emission controls, and the company claims to be unable to afford the cost
of installing them.

ACP's initial plans for developing and exploiting the Teghut mine have received
enthusiastic approval by the Ministry of Nature Protection, despite the fact
that they will destroy one of Armenia's most treasured landscapes and clear cut
a forest in a nation with less than 8% forest cover. According to Armenian law,
mining in Teghut cannot begin until a detailed environmental impact assessment
is completed and approved by government bodies. We have great concern that this
assessment -- regardless of its results -- will be used to expedite the mining
plans, due to the huge sums of money involved.

Armenia Tree Project is a member of "SOS Teghut," a consortium of 26
organizations in Armenia (see complete list below), that supports the need for
sustainable economic development in the country, but opposes development that
will leave the land permanently degraded and poisoned. ACP claims that the
Armenian government will receive $8 million per year in taxes and payments in
return for the right to exploit this mine. But are we to allow Armenia’s
precious forest to be destroyed, the surrounding rivers and springs to be
contaminated, and the agricultural lands adjacent to the mine to be poisoned for
short-term economic gains for so few?

Rather than destroy the Teghut Forest, we propose that it be made into a nature
reserve as part of a concerted effort to develop sustainable tourism in the
valley. Tourism is a sustainable form of economic development that benefits the
local population without causing permanent damage to the environment. Teghut
could attract people from around the world who want to see the rich landscape,
biodiversity, and cultural heritage that is unique to this area.

You can help make this happen right now in less than a minute of your time! Two
years ago, by working together we saved the Shikahogh Nature Reserve in southern
Armenia from destruction. Join us now as we raise our voices to save Teghut.

Please fill out the form below to send a letter asking Armenian government
officials to preserve the forest of Teghut from destruction.

If you are outside the United States you may still sign the letter to President
Kocharian. You should also copy and send the letter to the Armenian Ambassador
in your country of residence. For a list of embassies,

click here.

Click here to read more articles and documents about the issue, and

click here to see photos of the Teghut Forest, the proposed tailing dump
site in the Kharatadzor gorge, the ACP copper smelter in Alaverdi, and the
copper tailing dump in the village of Akhtala sitting just below an ancient
church.

>> CLICK HERE
TO TAKE ACTION

SOS Teghut Consortium Members:

American University of Armenia—Environmental Conservation and Research Center

Armenia Tree Project

Armenian Botanical Society

Armenian Ecological Charitable Foundation

Armenia Ecotourism Association

Armenian Forests NGO

Armenian Society for Protection of Birds

Armenian Women for Health and a Healthy Environment

Avetiq Charitable Foundation

Center for Bird Lovers

Ecological Academy

Ecolur Informational

Foundation for Protection of Wildlife and Cultural Assets in the Nature Reserves
of Armenia

Greens Union of Armenia

Goy Environmental-legal Foundation

Kanach Foundation

Khazer Ecological and Cultural Foundation

Republic of Armenia Nature Rights Protection

Professional and Entrepreneurial Orientation Union

Shogher Union

Social-Ecological Association

Social-Ecological Party of Armenia

Tapan Ecoclub

Yanus Legal

Women for Green Way for Generations

World Wildlife Fund-Armenia