Amidst protests from environmental groups, the Armenian government has given the go-ahead to an open-pit copper mine in the Teghut forest.

The project is considered the largest mine in the country. On January 28, the government cleared 1,570 hectares of Teghut forest for the project. The forest supports a large number of native species, including the Syrian brown bear and the short-toed eagle. Green groups say the open-pit mine will have a large and lasting damage on the wilderness. The government and industry say the environmental impact will be small compared to the economic boost.