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ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 375026
Contact: Bella Avetisyan
Tel: (3741) 44 74 01
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
March 4, 2005
Armenia Tree Project and Peace Corps Armenia Co-Host Environmental Education
Workshop
YEREVAN--The first Environmental Education Conference/Workshop, initiated
and implemented by Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and US Peace Corps Armenia,
was held on February 25-26 at the offices of ATP in Yerevan.
The objectives of the conference were to share information about
environmental education, build solid working relationships between Armenian
NGOs and Peace Corps volunteers working in environmental education, and
present a comprehensive agenda for sharing and implementing environmental
education projects among current NGO programs.
The conference coordinators were Armen Tiraturyan, US Peace Corps Armenia
Environmental Education Program Manager, Anahit Gharibyan, ATP Community
Tree Planting Manager, and Karla M. Wesley, Environmental Education
consultant.
Conference attendees heard outstanding presentations by environmentalists
and environmental education trainers from local and international
organizations. Among the speakers were Peace Corps volunteers, ATP
agriculture specialists, forestry experts from the Armenian Agricultural
Academy, and educators from Birds of Armenia Project, Environmental Public
Advocacy Center, World Wildlife Fund in Armenia, and Women for Green Way for
Generations NGO.
Participants witnessed a sample lesson on tree grafting prepared by ATP,
took an active part in a roundtable discussion on overcoming the social and
economic barriers to environmental education in Armenia, and were involved
in a brainstorming session to identify common environmental education goals
for NGOs and Peace Corps volunteers.
In her welcoming speech, ATP Foundation President Susan Yacubian Klein
touched on the importance of environmental education programs. "Ecology in
Armenia is on a path of devastation," noted Ms. Klein. "While at the turn of
the 20th century forest cover in Armenia was estimated at 25 percent, in
1990 it decreased to 12 percent, and now, due to large-scale cutting, it is
estimated that Armenia has only eight percent of forest cover left. Within
as few as 20 years, the forests may be completely gone. We are facing a wide
range of dangers related to this, which people need to become aware of."
"The environmental education workshop organized by Armenia Tree Project and
the US Peace Corps is the best way to keep people informed. There is great
hope being generated at the conference to continue working together to
neutralize barriers and to combat current environmental problems more
effectively," stated Ms. Klein.
"It was remarkable that participating organizations and independent
environmentalists came together for two days of impassioned discussions and
brainstorming--not to conflict or compete with each other--but to share
concerns and opinions, learn and be inspired by each other, and seek
positive solutions for the future of the environment," added Ms. Klein.
A detailed presentation on forests and forestry management prepared by Hovik
Sayadyan, head of the International Office of the Agricultural Academy and a
lecturer in forestry and agro-ecology, covered deforestation in Armenia's
regions and addressed present day forestry issues. During his presentation,
Dr. Sayadyan described forestry education curricula in other countries, and
citing a Kashmir proverb, Dr. Sayadyan concluded: "humankind will live as
long as forests live."
Karen Manvelyan of World Wildlife Fund offered an interesting and
informative report on local biodiversity, from an overview of flora and
fauna to a detailed study of rare plants and animals inhabiting Armenia.
"Many of these species are on the verge of disappearing, and this is a real
danger we have to prevent," he cautioned. Mr. Manvelyan discussed the loss
of habitat and biodiversity, the pollution of rivers and the atmosphere, and
overgrazing as just a few examples of negative effects on the environment.
"Illegal tree-cutting in small villages with a small population does not
affect forests as much as businesses based on paper and furniture
production, export, and construction. These factors damage green zones the
most," noted the World Wildlife Fund representative while answering
questions. Stressing the importance of environmental education, Mr.
Manvelyan added that to reduce the harm caused to biodiversity, to save and
preserve remaining species, we need more experts and professionals. As a
result, the World Wildlife Fund mission includes environmental education
programs for schoolchildren, and many of them have been successfully
realized in a number of rural schools throughout Armenia, he stated.
Karine Manoukian of the Women for Green Way for Generations NGO brought
attention to the problem of local and global pollution. She stated that
ultraviolet rays, heavy metals, gas and petrol vapors, and many other
pollutants have a strong impact on the human body. These and other
factors--such as genetically modified products and food--stand in the way of
healthy future generations, she concluded.
Aida Iskoyan of Environmental Public Advocacy Center provided an overview of
environmental legislation in Armenia, paying particular attention to
environmental laws and enforcement. Dr. Iskoyan also discussed the
international treaties and agreements signed by Armenia, and the
environmental education components of those agreements. At the end of her
presentation, Dr. Iskoyan answered questions from participants.
During the second day of environmental trainings, educators presented three
model environmental education lessons, conducted by Peace Corps volunteers,
agriculture specialist Genik Movsisyan of ATP, and conference facilitator
Dr. Karla Wesley. Jeffrey E. Engels, USDA Armenia Director, was present
among over 100 participants and guests at the two-day workshop.
A press conference was held on the second day of the workshop and was
attended by reporters from 11 television channels in Armenia, as well as
from several news agencies. "The Peace Corps in Armenia is very happy to
have cooperated with Armenia Tree Project on this Environmental Education
Workshop. The workshop was very informative and productive, and we look
forward to working together to advance environmental education in Armenia,"
Peace Corps director Patrick Hart told reporters.
Outlining the main aspects of the conference, Deborah Wild, the Training
Officer and Program Manager of Peace Corps Armenia, said, "I'm very honored
to cooperate with Armenia Tree Project. We share the same values and our
common mission is to support Armenia's long-term sustainable development and
the future of Armenia's youth."
Peace Corps Armenia was established in 1992 at the invitation of the
government of Armenia. Currently, 85 volunteers are working in schools,
universities, NGOs, and health facilities throughout Armenia. During the
last 12 years, 383 Peace Corps volunteers have successfully completed their
two-year service in Armenia. The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by
President John F. Kennedy to provide trained assistance to people of other
countries as requested, to promote a better understanding of Americans by
the people of the countries in which they serve, and to promote a better
understanding of other cultures by Americans.
Armenia Tree Project was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing the
country's future by protecting its environment. Funded by contributions from
diasporan Armenians, ATP has planted and rejuvenated 580,000 trees at
approximately 500 sites ranging from Gyumri to Goris. State-of-the-art
nurseries in the refugee villages of Karin and Khachpar provide
40,000-50,000 trees annually for community tree planting all over Armenia,
and are a major source of employment for the villages.
For more information about ATP, visit the Web site www.armeniatree.org.
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 375026
Contact: Bella Avetisyan
Tel: (3741) 44 74 01
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
March 4, 2005
Armenia Tree Project and Peace Corps Armenia Co-Host Environmental Education
Workshop
YEREVAN--The first Environmental Education Conference/Workshop, initiated
and implemented by Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and US Peace Corps Armenia,
was held on February 25-26 at the offices of ATP in Yerevan.
The objectives of the conference were to share information about
environmental education, build solid working relationships between Armenian
NGOs and Peace Corps volunteers working in environmental education, and
present a comprehensive agenda for sharing and implementing environmental
education projects among current NGO programs.
The conference coordinators were Armen Tiraturyan, US Peace Corps Armenia
Environmental Education Program Manager, Anahit Gharibyan, ATP Community
Tree Planting Manager, and Karla M. Wesley, Environmental Education
consultant.
Conference attendees heard outstanding presentations by environmentalists
and environmental education trainers from local and international
organizations. Among the speakers were Peace Corps volunteers, ATP
agriculture specialists, forestry experts from the Armenian Agricultural
Academy, and educators from Birds of Armenia Project, Environmental Public
Advocacy Center, World Wildlife Fund in Armenia, and Women for Green Way for
Generations NGO.
Participants witnessed a sample lesson on tree grafting prepared by ATP,
took an active part in a roundtable discussion on overcoming the social and
economic barriers to environmental education in Armenia, and were involved
in a brainstorming session to identify common environmental education goals
for NGOs and Peace Corps volunteers.
In her welcoming speech, ATP Foundation President Susan Yacubian Klein
touched on the importance of environmental education programs. "Ecology in
Armenia is on a path of devastation," noted Ms. Klein. "While at the turn of
the 20th century forest cover in Armenia was estimated at 25 percent, in
1990 it decreased to 12 percent, and now, due to large-scale cutting, it is
estimated that Armenia has only eight percent of forest cover left. Within
as few as 20 years, the forests may be completely gone. We are facing a wide
range of dangers related to this, which people need to become aware of."
"The environmental education workshop organized by Armenia Tree Project and
the US Peace Corps is the best way to keep people informed. There is great
hope being generated at the conference to continue working together to
neutralize barriers and to combat current environmental problems more
effectively," stated Ms. Klein.
"It was remarkable that participating organizations and independent
environmentalists came together for two days of impassioned discussions and
brainstorming--not to conflict or compete with each other--but to share
concerns and opinions, learn and be inspired by each other, and seek
positive solutions for the future of the environment," added Ms. Klein.
A detailed presentation on forests and forestry management prepared by Hovik
Sayadyan, head of the International Office of the Agricultural Academy and a
lecturer in forestry and agro-ecology, covered deforestation in Armenia's
regions and addressed present day forestry issues. During his presentation,
Dr. Sayadyan described forestry education curricula in other countries, and
citing a Kashmir proverb, Dr. Sayadyan concluded: "humankind will live as
long as forests live."
Karen Manvelyan of World Wildlife Fund offered an interesting and
informative report on local biodiversity, from an overview of flora and
fauna to a detailed study of rare plants and animals inhabiting Armenia.
"Many of these species are on the verge of disappearing, and this is a real
danger we have to prevent," he cautioned. Mr. Manvelyan discussed the loss
of habitat and biodiversity, the pollution of rivers and the atmosphere, and
overgrazing as just a few examples of negative effects on the environment.
"Illegal tree-cutting in small villages with a small population does not
affect forests as much as businesses based on paper and furniture
production, export, and construction. These factors damage green zones the
most," noted the World Wildlife Fund representative while answering
questions. Stressing the importance of environmental education, Mr.
Manvelyan added that to reduce the harm caused to biodiversity, to save and
preserve remaining species, we need more experts and professionals. As a
result, the World Wildlife Fund mission includes environmental education
programs for schoolchildren, and many of them have been successfully
realized in a number of rural schools throughout Armenia, he stated.
Karine Manoukian of the Women for Green Way for Generations NGO brought
attention to the problem of local and global pollution. She stated that
ultraviolet rays, heavy metals, gas and petrol vapors, and many other
pollutants have a strong impact on the human body. These and other
factors--such as genetically modified products and food--stand in the way of
healthy future generations, she concluded.
Aida Iskoyan of Environmental Public Advocacy Center provided an overview of
environmental legislation in Armenia, paying particular attention to
environmental laws and enforcement. Dr. Iskoyan also discussed the
international treaties and agreements signed by Armenia, and the
environmental education components of those agreements. At the end of her
presentation, Dr. Iskoyan answered questions from participants.
During the second day of environmental trainings, educators presented three
model environmental education lessons, conducted by Peace Corps volunteers,
agriculture specialist Genik Movsisyan of ATP, and conference facilitator
Dr. Karla Wesley. Jeffrey E. Engels, USDA Armenia Director, was present
among over 100 participants and guests at the two-day workshop.
A press conference was held on the second day of the workshop and was
attended by reporters from 11 television channels in Armenia, as well as
from several news agencies. "The Peace Corps in Armenia is very happy to
have cooperated with Armenia Tree Project on this Environmental Education
Workshop. The workshop was very informative and productive, and we look
forward to working together to advance environmental education in Armenia,"
Peace Corps director Patrick Hart told reporters.
Outlining the main aspects of the conference, Deborah Wild, the Training
Officer and Program Manager of Peace Corps Armenia, said, "I'm very honored
to cooperate with Armenia Tree Project. We share the same values and our
common mission is to support Armenia's long-term sustainable development and
the future of Armenia's youth."
Peace Corps Armenia was established in 1992 at the invitation of the
government of Armenia. Currently, 85 volunteers are working in schools,
universities, NGOs, and health facilities throughout Armenia. During the
last 12 years, 383 Peace Corps volunteers have successfully completed their
two-year service in Armenia. The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by
President John F. Kennedy to provide trained assistance to people of other
countries as requested, to promote a better understanding of Americans by
the people of the countries in which they serve, and to promote a better
understanding of other cultures by Americans.
Armenia Tree Project was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing the
country's future by protecting its environment. Funded by contributions from
diasporan Armenians, ATP has planted and rejuvenated 580,000 trees at
approximately 500 sites ranging from Gyumri to Goris. State-of-the-art
nurseries in the refugee villages of Karin and Khachpar provide
40,000-50,000 trees annually for community tree planting all over Armenia,
and are a major source of employment for the villages.
For more information about ATP, visit the Web site www.armeniatree.org.