Hey everyone,

We’re a group of volunteers from Kanach Yerevan. We spend our weekends inspecting trees, documenting their health, and trying to get the municipality to use modern science instead of chainsaws.

Right now, we’re looking at a potential disaster on Komitas Avenue. The city plans to "reconstruct" the sidewalks, and if it goes like the recent project on Tumanyan Street, we’re about to lose:

• 90% of the elms (which are the backbone of the street's shade).
• Roughly 56% of all greenery on the avenue.
• The entire first row of trees. Basically, it’s a recipe for a heat island.

We’ve put together a professional, science-backed proposal that allows for new sidewalks without the mass clearing of mature trees. You can see the details here (https://kanachyerevan.am/status/alerts/komitas/), but honestly, we’re hitting a wall with the authorities.

We wanted to ask the community:

1) How do we reach the residents who aren't on Reddit/Facebook? We want to bridge the gap between the city and the people living there, but getting local residents to care before the chainsaws show up is incredibly hard.

2) For the Diaspora/International folks: Have you seen successful community-led movements save urban greenery in other cities? What worked?

3) How do we make the Municipality listen? We have the data and the alternative plans, but we need ideas on how to create enough public pressure so they can't just ignore the "green" recommendations.

4) How many people really wish to make Yerevan green? What do you hear among your acquaintances?

Is this a lost cause, or is there a way to actually move the needle on urban planning in Yerevan? We’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, coments and ideas.

Hi, because of the huge dept that we owe the landlord and we got evicted we have less than a week to move out but we simply have no place for our 11 cats among almost 190 dogs. We are looking for people who can adopt them. Please dont let our cats be homeless. We are also looking for owners for our two dogs wolfic and Sharzhoom. They cant go back to other dogs because they will attack them. We are in Yerevan. Dm me if you are interested or know someone that might adopt🙏

I’ve been to Armenia 4 times (this being my 4th time), and this is by far the worse air quality i’ve experienced here (Yerevan). My god it’s bad. What the fuck happened?! Last time I was here was in 2024- and it wasn’t even close to 1/10 bad like those.

Plus, now i’m told that the water isn’t even safe or as good to drink (fountain and tap water) … what?!

And let’s not get started on Veolia Djur … randomly shutting off water for over 6 hours without any warming, doing as they please, shitty customer service, so I’ve read.

Seriously, does anyone have any rational and logical explanation?

Some pictures from my last hike to Mount Astghonk (3470m). Might just be one of my favorite places in Armenia.

For the proper organization of the Pan-Armenian Games, a territory has been allocated by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia for the construction of a public-cultural and sports village.

The World Committee of the Pan-Armenian Games will be provided with a 23.3 ha plot of land in the “Jrvezh” forest park for the implementation of an investment program worth 20 billion 900 million AMD. The program will be implemented within 13 years after the entry into force of the agreement.

During the Pan-Armenian Games (Winter and Summer Games), the sports village will serve as a place of residence for athletes. The World Committee of the Pan-Armenian Games will ensure the financing of the costs of maintaining the sports village. The complex will be used as a place for holding the Pan-Armenian Games, and outside the games, for various youth gatherings, Armenia-Diaspora multi-faceted events, organization of recreation and entertainment, and holding various programs.

In the first stage, the World Committee of the Pan-Armenian Games will install eco-cottages, a cafeteria, and a medical service center. The above-mentioned structures do not imply major constructions. In the next stages, the construction of various sports platforms and gyms is planned. For each cottage, it will be necessary to level 110-120 square meters of land. The assembly of cottages is planned in non-forested areas.

The territory was allocated without a tender, with the right to build, for a period of 50 years. The investment program plans to create about 1,240 new jobs, as well as plant about 20 thousand trees in the area.

The decision is based on the fulfillment of the requirements of the RA Laws "On Physical Culture and Sports" and "On Children's and Youth Sports".

https://escs.am/am/news/30815

Article by HETQ here

https://hetq.am/hy/article/178221

They're claiming the assembly of cottages is planned in none forested areas, but if anyone's been there, the entire place is forested, the areas with less trees are like that because of not taking care of them and erosion. That doesn't mean those are none forested areas, it means they're eroded and need reforestation works...

Even though it sounds like a great project and sports center, it is also going to serve residential purposes for athletes and cottages, there was a video on social media for the project and it seemed like 23HA of cement. Sure they're going to reforest the rest of the area, but come on, it's 23HA of commercial projects.

We have thousands of hectares of free and truly deserted lands, I don't understand why it had to be in the forest park in itself when we have empty, treeless fields next to it.

https://www.iqair.com/armenia/yerevan/yerevan/smart-city-2

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Still not that user friendly tho, like why do you need my phone and passport number! Also, I’m unable to receive the confirmation code per E-Mail.

Ofc you can’t buy a ticket as a guest with just your E-Mail.. same user unfriendly style like FlyOne.

Born and raised in Yerevan, I've been living in Japan for nearly 10 years now. I go back every couple of years and stay for a month.

Last time when I was in Yerevan in 2023, a few things stood out to me and made me angry: -people trashing next to trash cans -people still spitting on the ground -terrible traffic and too many accidents on the daily -people staring (the usual) -at times the city felt like it was in a fever dream

During my recent trip in aug-sept of this year, I noticed that a lot of this has changed, and for the better: -less trash on the streets, trash cans actually full, and now they even have trash bags! -I don't think I saw a single instance of someone spitting??!?! -traffic is still terrible, but I saw less accidents, and I could feel that people are driving a little less recklessly, at least in the city -people still stare, but again, not as much as before, many smile back if you smile at them first -everyone was very stylish, less young men with protruding bellies, but more muscular and fit guys and gals who clearly prioritise their physique and health -life seemed very slow compared to the never-ending hustle and bustle of Tokyo, but it also looked like people were living in the moment and had woken from the fever dream

What most concerns me is the dust, construction waste, and exhaust gases during rush hour. I actually almost fainted a couple of times in a car with open windows while stuck in traffic. But the rise of electric cars and people's awareness of these issues gives me hope that we can make some tangible changes in the upcoming few years.

The situation seemed a little different in the outskirts and suburban areas, as well as away from Yerevan. Highways had areas where people clearly stop to trash, many reckless drivers, but overall very welcoming attitude from people everywhere, and fresh air to die for.

Beggars are unfortunately still around. I tried to give a few coins to those I met, and while most blessed me in the familiar fashion, the grandma on the steps to Sevanavank cursed me because I didn't give her enough apparently.

Overall, I loved being home this time around. Some of you might remember that I made a post in the beginning of the year talking about how lonely life in Japan has been, etc., and this trip solidified my desire to repatriate.

I unfortunately realise that there are still a lot of things that need improvement, the imminent danger of war constantly looming over us, and so on and on. Many relatives and friends even said leaving a first world country to come back to Armenia is a mistake, but I had not felt as alive and happy as I did during those days I spent in Yerevan in a very long time. Being surrounded by people who look like me, sound like me, think like me, and speak my language was almost ecstatic.

Երևանը մենք ենք, as they say, and I can't wait to be back and contribute to our society in a positive way.

Hey everyone! I’m from Germany and with the amazing weather coming up this Wednesday, I’m really craving a proper 'nature escape.'

I’m looking for a spot—maybe on the edge of Yerevan—where it’s actually quiet. I’m talking no cars, no crowds, and ideally a lot of greenery. Does a place like that even exist this time of year? So far, I’ve only managed to find some green patches down by the river, but I'd love to find somewhere a bit more 'wild' and peaceful. Any secret tips for a homesick nature lover?

Thanks in advance to everyone who replies!

Does anyone know what this light is? Took the photo around 1:00 AM today—pretty bright. Hope they are not burning trash again.