The Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF) and the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Armenia office announced suspension of their cooperation with the Khosrov forest reserve.The reason is the recent cases of poaching and the competition to fill the vacant post of director.Karen Manvelyan, WWF Armenia office Director, says the office addressed a letter to Armenia's Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan for the competition results to be invalidated."The Fund has invested U.S. $0.5m in the Khosrov forest reserve. The money has been used for different things. After such funds have been invested both by the government and by the private sector, some people think it is time for them to make use of all this. We do not think that the person laying claims to the post of director meets the necessary requirements," Mr Manvelyan says.Arman Vermishyan, CNF Coordinator in Armenia, says that the competition to fill the vacancy was accompanied by violations, and the jury must be held re sponsible. "We strongly object to a person without special higher education. We are also suspending our financing assistance to the Khosrov forest reserve until a new competition has been announced. We want to see real progress against our investments. This country should gradually impose responsibility," Mr Vermishyan said.The CNF had a €250,000 worth 3-month program in the Khosrov forest reserve, which was to be completed this year. "We planned to allocate €40,000 more to the Khosrov forest reserve, but we are not going to give a penny. The CNF-allocated funds are used on current expenses and bonuses," Mr Vermishyan says."Such an attitude to the Khosrov forest reserve is unacceptable. We could not any more turn a blind eye to the situation," Mr Manvelyan said.
Armenian News
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