Armenia's illegal logging thrives amid weak enforcement and lack of accountability, lawyer says

Environmental lawyer Nazeli Vardanyan has called for a sweeping overhaul of Armenia’s forest protection system, warning that entrenched illegal logging networks continue to operate with impunity due to weak enforcement and limited institutional capacity.

In an interview to Panorama.am, Vardanyan said the country’s eco-patrol service tasked with safeguarding forests and combating environmental violations remains structurally underpowered, lacking both the authority and resources required for effective oversight.

“The concept itself is sound, but the powers granted are extremely limited,” she said, emphasizing that eco-patrol officers are not authorized to issue fines, confiscate illegally harvested timber, or independently enforce penalties. “As cases move through multiple layers of bureaucracy, the initial work carried out by patrol officers is often rendered ineffective.”

Vardanyan argued that eco-patrol units should be granted broader powers comparable to those of the police, including the authority to document violations and impose sanctions on-site. Without such reforms, she warned, frontline officers risk being unfairly blamed while systemic abuses persist.

She also pointed to chronic operational shortcomings, including understaffing, insufficient equipment, and limited training. “In practice, one or two officers are responsible for monitoring vast forest areas, making comprehensive control unrealistic,” she said. “They frequently lack essential tools—vehicles, communication systems, and technical support—needed to carry out their duties.”

According to Vardanyan, legislative amendments alone will not produce meaningful change without parallel investment in infrastructure and institutional capacity. “Armenia does not lack legislation; it lacks enforcement,” she said. “Laws without implementation mechanisms remain largely declarative.”

Despite tighter regulations in recent years, illegal logging has not subsided, she added, citing persistent socio-economic pressures. In regions such as Syunik, high utility costs continue to drive demand for firewood, sustaining illicit supply chains.

More critically, Vardanyan alleged that the principal beneficiaries of illegal logging—often linked to influential business networks and senior officials—remain beyond the reach of accountability.

“This is a large-scale shadow economy,” she said. “Lower-level actors—forest wardens or eco-patrol officers—are prosecuted, while those orchestrating and profiting from these operations remain untouched. I cannot recall a case in recent years where a high-ranking official was held accountable.”

She warned that this imbalance undermines morale within the eco-patrol service, where officers face significant legal risks, including possible imprisonment, deterring potential recruits.

Vardanyan concluded that addressing illegal logging requires a comprehensive, system-wide approach encompassing stronger enforcement powers, socio-economic reforms, and greater institutional transparency.