Due to its geographical location, geological complicated construction and high mountainous climate zones Armenia has rich biodiversity, which contributed to the formation of various ecosystems. Special preservations of natural areas (SPNA) were created to preserve them. Nowadays SPNA include 3 state reserves: “Khosrov’s Forest”, “Shikahogh“, “Erebuni”, 2 national parks: “Sevan”, “Dilijan” and 25 preserves. The 60-70% of the country’s flora and fauna, which includes the majority of the rare, disappearing and endemic species, is preserved in these areas.
Special preservations of natural areas include the arboretum of state preserve of Gyulagarak, which presents a beautiful pine garden. The arboretum of Gyulagarak is situated in Lori region, at 12.5km from Stepanavan in the valley of the river Karhanq-jur, at the height of 1300-1850 meters and occupies an area of 35 hectare. The botanical garden was founded in 1933 by engineer Edmond Levonovich and only in 1958 it became state reserve. As all the reserves, it also has scientific, educational, economic, historical and cultural value as it provides the natural reproduction of various ecosystems, the preservation of the rare, disappearing and scientific-cognitive breeds of high value.
The races of the pine forests are preserved in the reserve of Gyulagarak. In the arboretum you can see 130-150 year-old pine trees, Eastern oaks, maples and some beech trees. Still working in the forest-committee Edmond Levonovich began planting decorative trees keeping down the main trees of the wood and Siberian pines. The garden has unique grassland where you can find such rare species as different races of orchid, etc. The majority of plants was brought from different countries. Now the 17.5 hectare of the area of the arboretum is the natural forest, 15 hectare is occupied by decorative trees, and the number of the plant species is more than 500.
This pine garden is the first in the Transcaucasia to have been transformed from natural forest into forest-garden. Here you can realize excursions to study the peculiarities of the adoptability of plants; to explore the variety of flora at the same time enjoying the view of marvelous nature.