The Case of The Southern Caucasus

Environment and Security / 23

Armenia / Azerbaijan / Georgia

National environment and security issues in Armenia

K

u

r

a

Georgia

Alaverdi

LORI

Debed River

TAVUSH

Gumri

Vanadzor

Dilijan

Artik

Azerbaijan

Hrazdan

Sevan Lake

MEDZAMOR

Yerevan

A

r

a

k

s

/

A

z

r

a

Ararat

lroads

Turkey

Nakhichevan Azerbaijan

A r

a

Iran

k

s /

A

r

a

z

Kapan

Kajaran

0

50

100

150

200 km

Megri

Agarak

THE MAP DOES NOT IMPLY THE EXPRESSION OF ANY OPINION ON THE PART OF THE THREE AGENCIES CONCERNING THE LEGAL STATUS OF ANY COUNTRY, TERRITORY, CITY OR AREA OF ITS AUTHORITY, OR DELINEATION OF ITS FRONTIERS AND BOUNDARIES.

A

r a

k s /

A r

z

a

Grey dashed lines represent Former Soviet Union administrative boundaries of autonomous regions. Nagorno-Karabakh has been officialy disbanded.

MAP BY PHILIPPE REKACEWICZ - UNEP/GRID-ARENDAL - JULY 2004

Mines and Industrial activities

Land degradation

Soil degradation and erosion: Pollution due to pesticides and/or heavy metals (mainly inherited from the Soviet period). Salinization due to poorly maintained irrigation systems Area affected by deforestation

Large ageing Soviet industrial complex still generating pollution (mines, chemical and cement factories, thermal and metallurgical plants). Significant heavy metal contamination (soil and water).

Smaller ageing soviet industrial complex representing a significant source of pollution.

Area at risk of landslides

Security issues

Border closed

Water issues

Border tensions, and landmines in some places

Polluted waters and ecosystem due to industrial and agricultural effluents, and untreated waste water.

Line of contact

Jet fuel toxic waste

Significant wetland under threat

Nuclear power plant

Domestic pollution sources that affect neighbouring countries

Major transportation links crossing borders between Armenia and other countries

Polluted groundwater