MAIN PROBLEMS OF CHEIROPTERA PRETECTION TO BE DISCUSSED AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

The conference was organized with joint efforts of Yerevan State University, “Armenian Association of Mammalogists” NGO, the Armenian branch of German Nature Protection Union” (NABU-Armenia) and EUROBATS organization.

The head of the Chair of Genetics and Cytology of the Faculty of Biology of YSU Ruben Harutyunyan, the head of the Chair of Zoology Marine Arakelyan, the researchers of the same chair Astghik Ghazaryan, Tigran Hayrapetyan, Georgy Papov, the head of the department of zoological resources management of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection Bioresources Management Agency Sevak Baloyan.

Eminent scientists engaged in Cheiroptera studies from Armenia, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belarus, Russia, the Ukraine, Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Iran, Bulgaria, Georgia are taking part in the conference.

The head of the Chair of Genetics and Cytology of YSU Faculty of Biology, Professor Ruben Hovhannisyan, greeting the guests mentioned that such an international conference in which distinguished scientists from different countries take part was held in Armenia for the first time. “This conference will promote experience exchange, cooperation expansion between Armenian and invited scholars and development of Cheiroptera studies”.

The head of the Chair of Zoology of YSU Faculty of Biology Marine Arakelyan in her speech stressed that the chair had been studying Cheiroptera for about 50 years and they wanted to present their research to the scientists from other countries as well as to familiarize themselves with their research. The chair has conducted numerous studies in this field as Armenia is rich with bats. “We have always participated in the Cheiroptera dedicated conferences organized in European countries but the conference related to Eastern Europe bats is unprecedented in Armenia”, stressed M. Arakelyan.

Other researchers also made their reports on conducted studies.

The guests were shown a short video about the studies of Cheiroptera populations in Armenia.

During the conference the scientists from different countries will present their scientific research about the features of Cheiroptera, the problems of their protection will be discussed.

During the conference the guests will also be shown the picturesque sights of Armenia.