High in the Armenian mountains lies Jermuk—a town of mineral springs, mist rising from hot waters, and a quiet atmosphere that for decades has drawn people seeking healing. Today, this fragile balance between nature and human life is under threat. Towering above the town is Mount Amulsar, where gold mining is planned—a project that could irreversibly change not only the landscape, but also the very essence of Jermuk as an environmentally clean spa destination.
Out of the long-term resistance of local residents to the mining project, the Jermuk Alternative Development Group was formed—a community of people who refused to accept the idea that industrial exploitation is the only future for their town. They fear for water resources, public health, and the identity of a place that for generations has relied on the healing power of nature.
In 2024, with the support of the organization CCMS, the Jermuk Alternative Development Forum took place. Residents, experts, and local leaders gathered in one space and jointly formulated fifteen key priorities for the town’s sustainable development. From this meeting emerged a working group that now coordinates the community campaign “Healthy and Developing Jermuk.”
The campaign aims to create and promote a concrete policy of alternative municipal development—one that offers a real and viable counterbalance to plans for opening the gold mine. The initiative connects four key groups: farmers, tourism entrepreneurs, young people, and members of the municipal council. Each brings a different perspective and a different kind of strength—from knowledge of the landscape to work with visitors to political decision-making.
Campaign coordinator Shirak Buniatyan summarizes it this way:
“We have identified many problems, but also many opportunities. Jermuk can develop as a spa town, an environmentally sustainable place, and an inspiration for the whole country.”
Despite pressure, threats, and uncertainty, local activists continue to meet in community centers, cafés, and living rooms—discussing, planning, and building their own vision of the future.
The campaign includes public meetings, focus groups, media outreach, and work on drafting a new development policy to be submitted to the Council of Elders for official approval. It is an effort to carry the voice of residents from the streets and discussions directly into decision-making processes.
The story of Jermuk shows that even a small mountain town can stand on the front line of the struggle for the future—a future where development is not decided behind closed doors, but shaped collectively, with respect for nature, history, and human dignity. Jermuk has chosen a path that is not easy, but it is its own. And that is precisely where its strength lies.