Clean Air vs. Yerevan's Smog: Goght Urban Valley Investor on Armenia's New Eco-Friendly Standard

YEREVAN, December 10. Novosti-Armenia. Against the backdrop of discussions about the catastrophic air quality in Yerevan, more and more people are pondering how the environmental conditions affect health, habits, and quality of life.

Goght Urban Valley is one of the projects whose creators initially aim to create a new quality of life: more green spaces, less dense development, tranquility, clean air, and the opportunity to live in nature while maintaining the highest level of urban comfort. On this topic, we spoke with one of the investors of Goght Urban Valley, Movses Dzavaryan.

Novosti-Armenia - We'd like to know your opinion on how you assess the situation in Yerevan, where the particulate matter level is four times higher than the norm. Also, what actions are being taken to create a truly healthy environment?

M. Dzavarian - In Yerevan, dust levels exceed the norm not by four times, but by tens, sometimes hundreds of times. There are many reasons for this: 95 per cent of them are man-made, i.e. caused by human activity. People themselves create the causes, but they can also remedy the situation. Since the village of Goght (where the Goght Urban Valley project is being implemented) is located in a more favourable ecological zone, where Yerevan's pollution does not reach, a healthy environment is the natural state of the Kotayk region.

However, here too, the hand of man can be felt, which I will refer to as ‘clean’ and ‘dirty.’ “Clean” refers to planting trees and landscaping (we have already planted more than 60,000 trees here). ‘Dirty’ refers to when people burn whatever they can find. There is already a legislative framework in place that provides for punishment for environmental violations. We will consistently implement it in the region. 

Another disaster for the whole of Armenia is the uncontrolled rubbish dumps. We hope that the regional authorities will take consistent action to eradicate such sites. 

Novosti-Armenia - What were the air quality indicators in Goght on the days when environmentalists called the air in Yerevan ‘extremely hazardous to health’ (491 AQI in some areas and around 320 AQI on average across the city at the end of November)? Are you monitoring the dynamics?

M. Dzavarian - Yes, we monitor it. As a rule, we have no more than 50 units, but as soon as villagers start burning rubbish, the indicators deteriorate. 

Novosti-Armenia - What specific measures are you already implementing to preserve clean air, a balanced environment and the natural landscape in the Goght Urban Valley cottage community?

M. Dzavarian - Control, monitoring, greening, training on how to make compost from biowaste, cooperation with local authorities to eradicate the burning of rubbish and other hazardous waste.

Novosti-Armenia - You recently carried out a large-scale tree planting initiative. To what extent are greening and, more broadly, landscape design part of your long-term strategy? What are your objectives in pursuing these activities?

M. Dzavarian - Greening is an essential attribute of maintaining environmental sustainability, especially in central Armenia. Our goal is clean air, plenty of oxygen and, of course, aesthetics. 

Novosti-Armenia - There is a view that investing in greening saves money on healthcare by reducing the incidence of respiratory diseases and stress among the population. Do you share this view?

M. Dzavarian - If urgent measures are not taken in Yerevan and other settlements, cancer and respiratory diseases will consume the entire budget allocated to healthcare. 

Novosti-Armenia - Are you planning to implement additional environmental initiatives, such as air quality monitoring, creation of green corridors, restoration of natural areas or other nature conservation projects?

M. Dzavarian - All our activities are aimed at creating a favourable ecological environment for living. 

Novosti-Armenia - When was the last time you felt that the air directly affected your physical and emotional state?

M. Dzavarian - For the first time, of course, in Alaverdi. I was born and raised in one of Armenia's industrial capitals. I lived a hundred metres from the factory and later worked there for about ten years, so I know about ecology not just from textbooks. However, I must admit that the air quality in Yerevan is much worse than it used to be in Alaverdi. 

You asked when was the last time I felt the air affecting my health? I would say every day.