COST Action E 52 - vTI - Bund.de

26
curreNT sTaTe oF orIeNTaL beech
(FAgUS oRIeNTALIS Lipsky) IN armeNIa
HASMIK GHALACHYAN 1 – ANDRANIK GHULIJANYAN 2,3
1 Plant Resources Management Division, Bioresources Management Agency, Ministry
of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, Government Building 3, Republic
Square, 3 5010 Yerevan, Armenia
2 “Forest Research and Experimental Centre’’ State Non-Commercial organization
3 Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, Government Building 3,
Republic Square, 3 5010 Yerevan, Armenia
absTracT
This paper presents the current state of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in Armenia. It is
the dominant tree species in 82.2% of the national forest area. Research shows that in Armenia
oriental beech prefers to grow in the northern part of the country. From an economic viewpoint, the
species provides a valuable wood resource which is widely used for the manufacture of furniture, as
well as for carpentry and in the construction of buildings. Oriental beech is also an excellent park
tree, with several ornamental garden forms. Furthermore, the paper describes the current state of
the oriental beech gene pool and its preservation in the framework of the Armenian conservation
programme. It includes information on the current state of forestry research on oriental beech and
related activities.
Key words: oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky), Բոխի արևելյան, ղաժի (in Armenian),
oriental beach distribution, oriental beech ecology, preservation and conservation of
oriental beech gene pool, genetically conditioned variability, research experiments
INTroducTIoN
The Republic of Armenia is located on the verge of Southern Caucasus and Asia Minor, occupying
about 10% of the north-eastern part of the Armenian plateau and is situated between 35° 50‘ – 40°
15‘ of the northern latitude and 43° 2 ‘ – 46° 3 ‘ of the eastern longitude. Armenia borders Georgia
in the north, Azerbaijan in the east, Iran in the south and Turkey in the west.
Armenia is a typical mountainous country with a complex geographical structure. The total area
of the country is 29, 40 km2 . The highest peak is Mount Aragatz (4,090 m above sea level) and the
lowest is along the banks of Debed River (3 5 m). Relative altitude fluctuates from 1,500 to 3, 00 m.
The average altitude of the territory is 1,850 m. Such broad altitudinal variation results in a great
diversity of climate and landscape.
Water resources in the country are quite limited. The largest lake is Lake Sevan which is a natural
source of drinking water for the region. Rivers are small and shallow.