Will the forest become unaccessible for villagers?
Though concerned over massive tree felling, residents of Kirants village in Tavush Marz stay idle as they think they are unable to settle the issue.
"About 20 lorries loaded with timber pass through the village every day while the authorities say the trees are pruned by locals," said resident Vaghinak Melkonyan.
‘We only cut the upper branches of tick trees to heat our houses as the village is not gasified," he added.
The villagers fear lest the authorities should ban their access to the forest if they dare to protest.
"Besides, we shall deprive many people of their daily bread as they earn money working in the forest," said villager Anahit Grigoryan.
Vaghinak Melkonyan disagreed with her recalling an incident.
"Once people came from the capital to photograph the lorries and cut-down trees. The authorities made a big fuss over the incident and had the issue closed in a short time. Tree felling resumed in a week or two."
"They will not calm down unless they cut all the trees of the forest," he concluded.
