The Armenian plateau, including territory of the Republic
of Armenia has been inhabited for over 600 thousand
years, since man first arrived in the region. Paleolithic
tools dating back more than 100 thousand years have
been found in the country, which has a number of important
stone age sites. During the Paleolithic era, hunting
was widely practised, and the farming first developed.
By the end of the Paleolithic and throughout the Mesolithic
periods farming and animal husbandry continued, and
replaced the previous hunter-gatherer existence. The
Armenian Plateau is therefore regarded by some scientists
as one of the original centres for early farming and
livestock breeding in the world. Domestication of
a range of plants and animals followed, as well as
the development of metal use and early artificial
irrigation.
It is believed that the Indo-European language family
originated from the area around Armenia (the Armenian
plateau, eastern Asia Minor and north-west Iran).
The Armenian language is unique among Indo-European
languages, and consists of two contemporary literary
versions (Eastern and Western) which have developed
from the original old Armenian, as well as over 40
dialects, and their sub-dialects.
In the 5th- 4th millennia BC Indo-European tribes
migrated across the territories of Europe, Middle
Asia and India. The Armenian people appear to have
remained in the vicinity of the Armenian plateau since
that time. During the Bronze age, mining of copper
and tin occurred in the region, and the culture developed
(including names and calendars). During 900-600 BC,
the Armenian tribes unified, followed by rule by a
series of royal dynasties. Armenia adopted Christianity
as a state religion in 301 AD, while the Armenian
alphabet was created in 405 AD.
Over later centuries the Armenian state was weakened,
and the country was torn apart by foreign conquerors.
Since the 11th century the population of the Armenian
Plateau has faced considerable changes. The population
of Armenia has decreased from 7 million in the10th
century, to 3 million at the beginning of the 20th
century. Emigration and loss of lands has also been
accompanied by immigration by other ethnic groups
(particularly in the 12th and 13th centuries, during
the Mongol and Ottoman conquests). The original native
land of Armenians (the Armenian Plateau) became a
multiethnic region, while the Armenian people became
more widely distributed across the world.
However, despite this the Armenians have preserved
their spiritual and cultural independence and remained
faithful to their traditions. Armenian culture has
also affected that of neighbouring countries, and
has influenced cultures elsewhere in the world. Armenian
architecture, urban construction and constructive
art, medieval miniature painting, carpets, poetry,
music, painting, farming and live-stock farming have
an important place in world culture.
Today, over 97% of the population of the Republic
of Armenia consists of native Armenians. Of 8 million
native Armenians around the world, approximately 3.8
million live in Armenia (the rest living in around
60 different countries, notably in the Russian Federation,
the USA, France, Georgia, and Iran).
Until the late 1980s Armenia experienced rapid growth
(for example between 1960 and 1988 GNP increased by
30%, capital investments by 60%, and numbers of civil
servants and workers by 40%). Despite its small size
and population, Armenia had high levels of electricity
per capita (4300 Kwt/hr), high average life expectancy
(74 years), low infant mortality (5.7 per 100 births),
and good levels of education and health care. As part
of the Soviet Union, Armenia was distinguished as
a country having a high level of natural resource
use, with a multi-branched economy, with 170 types
of industrial production, and 30 types of agricultural
production.
However, the current situation is very different,
and over the past decade almost all key indicators
have constantly declined, as the country entered a
deep economic crisis. For example, between 1989 and
1994 GNP fell from 4.5 billion USD to 652 million
USD. This resulted from the effects of the disasterous
Spitak eathquake in 1988, followed by substantial
social and economic changes after the break up of
the Soviet Union.
The Spitak earthquake of 1988 resulted in huge damage
to the infrastructure and potential of the country.
It affected 40% of country's total area and a third
of the country's population. Many cities and villages
were severely damaged, and a number were completely
destroyed (including the city of Spitak and 58 villages).
Industry (including food production) was severely
affected, leading to widescale unemployment. The infrastructure
of the region was severaly affected (including roads
and railways, gas, electricity and water supplies),
and widespread environmental damage was recorded.
Around 25,000 deaths were recorded as a result of
the earthquake, with a further 20,000 peoples were
injured, and at least 500,000 were made homeless.
After the break up of the Soviet Union, all new republics
underwent severe economic crisis. The crisis in Armenia
was further increased as a result of local and regional
disturbances, including blockades by Turkey and Azerbaijan,
and war with Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabagh.
By the 1990s the Armenian economy was on the edge
of collapse, with significant drops in production,
and loss of many industries. Energy supply was restricted
significantly for several years, and centralised supplies
of gas, hot water and heating were cut off. By 1998,
average monthly earnings had dropped to around 8000
drams (eqivalent to 16 USD) and almost 60% of the
population were estimated to live below the poverty
level.
However, the Armenian economy is now in a slow process
of recovery, with increasing investments, capital
construction, production and state support for social
welfare. By the first half of 1998 the GNP had grown
by 6.7% over the previous twelve months. Over the
past years there have been significant socio-economic
reforms in Armenia, including a shift to democracy,
a market-based economy and land privatization. Decentralization
is taking place in industry and agriculture, and the
private sector now accounts for over half of production
in the country. The legal system now encourages business
development and foreign investment.
Compared to neighbouring countries, Armenia has enjoyed
relative political stability since the break up of
the Soviet Union. Foreign observers have remarked
on the measures taken to establish a democratic and
civil society, protect of human rights, and improve
the legal system. Serious attempts have been made
to integrate the country into the global economy,
and to actively participate in international and regional
organizations. Armenia implements a foreign policy
aimed at establishment of friendly relations with
all neighboring countries, trying to resolve all conflicts
by solely political means, and has successfully established
diplomatic and trade links with almost all other countries
in the region (apart from Azerbaijan and Turkey).
The legacy of the Soviet Union and recent economic
problems in Armenia have proved extremely damaging
to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
and landscapes (see Chapter 6). Human impacts have
seriously affected much of the natural landscapes
of the country.
· Forests have been severely damaged, with
approximately 8% of total forest cover being destroyed
between 1992 and 1995. Use of forests for industrial
needs has led to reduction of some forests to a half
or a third of their original area. Deforestation has
resulted in heavy erosion and consequent flooding,
and further loss of forest margins.
· Poor agricultural practices
have resulted in significant soil erosion from cultivated
lands. Soil has been completely lost from a number
of slopes, and every year thousands of hectares of
land become unusable.
· Overgrazing of pasture by livestock,
particularly in sensitive areas, has resulted in significant
changes and losses in vegetation cover (20-40% in
some cases), and reductions in vegetation density.
Although overuse of these pastures has declined over
the last decade, there are still significant legacies
from overgrazing.
· Pesticide residue is an important
issue. Fertilizers and pesticides were extensively
applied, with average pesticide imports equivalent
to 9 kg/ha. This led to river pollution, reductions
in soil quality, and changes in vegetation cover.
· Mining and chemical industries caused significant
pollution of natural landscapes. Overall, 8,000 ha
were directly affected by industrial operations, across
almost all lowland landscapes, and greater areas have
been indirectly affected by pollution. Furthermore,
significant areas are still used for storage of industrial
waste. In the vicinity of Alaverdi Mining Plant industrial
waste had significant impacts on the ecosystems, with
the loss of local species of fauna and flora. Lands
in the vicinity of this plant show contamination with
heavy metals up to 35km away (a total of 1100 km2).
Furthermore, the releases of large volumes of industrial
waste release led to heavy flooding downstream. However,
closure of the plant has led to reduced levels of
pollution in the area.
· River pollution has increased as a result
of increasing human pressure. Annually around 200-250
million m3 of polluted water reaches ground water
reserves, of which 56% comes from the industry and
energy sector, 26% from domestic use, and 18% from
agriculture. A number of major rivers are now heavily
polluted, and cannot be used for agriculture or irrigation,
and may pose a threat to the conservation of biodiversity.
However, the current social-economic crisis has resulted
in issues such as soil and water pollution being overlooked.
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