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340,000 planted in Getik River Valley
By From Armenia Tree Project
Friday, July 14, 2006
Watertown TAB & Press, MA
July 14 2006
Armenia Tree Project (ATP) expanded its reforestation program by
planting 343,750 trees in the Getik River Valley of the Gegharkounik
region north of Lake Sevan in April-May 2006. Plantings on two massive
forest plots covered a total of 400 acres with indigenous species
of trees, including chestnut, maple, ash, oak, walnut, wild apple,
and wild pear.
Eighty workers - all residents of the villages of Aghavnavank,
Dzoravank, Dprabak, and Aygut - were employed by ATP to implement
the tree-planting activity on the neighboring hillsides. Seedlings
were purchased from backyard nurseries owned by 118 families in these
rural communities, which are mainly inhabited by Armenian refugees
from Azerbaijan.
The very first step in this initiative was taken during the year of
ATP's 10th anniversary, when the organization announced the beginning
of the first extensive reforestation initiative. ATP's Rural and
Mountainous Development (RMD) Program was strengthened this season
with the generous support of the Bilezikian Family Foundation and
United Armenian Charities, which assisted the expansion of the
backyard nursery program, and the Mirak Family Foundation, which
provided funding to establish a reforestation nursery in the village
of Margahovit in the Lori region.
The backyard nursery program began as a pilot project in 2004 in
the village of Aygut. Working with communities and local officials,
ATP entered into agreements with 17 families who were interested in
growing tree seedlings that would be used in the reforestation of
once densely wooded mountains that were enormously degraded over the
last decade. The initiative was designed to reverse the effects of
this deforestation, which led to severe flooding and erosion in the
villages along the Getik River.
In 2004-2006, the program was expanded to include four neighboring
villages. The owners of the backyard nurseries were supplied with
seeds, tools, and equipment, and ATP agro-specialists visited nurseries
to provide technical assistance, training, and consultation to the
farmers.
"When we began our backyard nursery program we looked for an area
that would benefit most from our reforestation efforts," stated ATP
Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. "We started with the knowledge
that deforestation was linked to poverty. We knew that in addition
to planting trees, we had to provide people with a steady income so
they could meet their basic needs."
According to a household survey conducted by ATP in 2003, the average
annual income of rural villagers in Aygut was $280 US, so the money
earned by the families and workers involved in this project has
provided a desperately needed source of income.
"In two years we have grown from helping 17 families learn how to
start their own tree nurseries to now providing a stable income for
330 families who are creating a successful and renewable source of
tree seedlings for the degraded hillsides around their villages,"
noted ATP founder Carolyn Mugar. "ATP has found a way to create
reliable 'micro-enterprise' partnerships with these families, and
we are grateful to our supporters for helping us bring their work
to fruition."
Armen Gharayan, a 38-year-old refugee who worked at the reforestation
site this spring, commented: "I was preparing to leave my village
for good. Lack of job and vital livelihood forced my family to plan
for moving to Russia. Because of ATP and its benevolent mission
carried out on the territory adjacent to Dzoravank village, I was
able to participate in this project and earn a living. On behalf
of my whole family, I want to pass our heartfelt thanks to ATP for
this opportunity to remain in my homeland and restore the mistreated
environment of the Getik Valley."
This spring, ATP purchased 95,000 healthy and strong seedlings from
118 families as part of its rural economic development program.
These families earned 9.5 million drams, which is equal to $21,000
US. The remaining seedlings were propagated by ATP at a large
reforestation nursery in Lori region. ATP distributed another $39,000
in the region to hire 80 workers and to transplant the seedlings from
the nurseries to the reforestation plots.
Zoya Manucharyan, the owner of one of the most productive backyard
nurseries, has been collaborating with ATP for more than three years:
"Thanks to Armenia Tree Project I could buy a house, which was
unaffordable before. Being a part of the reforestation program during
the past three years helped us improve our living accommodations and
inspired us to continue preserving Armenia's gorgeous nature. I would
be happy to collaborate with ATP again."
Plans are being made now to expand the RMD Program for the upcoming
fall planting season. In addition, ATP's Community Tree Planting
(CTP) division accomplished the planting of 143,450 trees and shrubs
in every region of Armenia, including Artsakh, nearly tripling their
previous planting record.
ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia's future by
protecting its environment and advancing its socio-economic development
by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation, community tree planting,
environmental education and advocacy, as well as rural development
through job creation. ATP uses trees to improve the standard of living
of Armenians, promoting self-sufficiency and aiding those with fewest
resources first.
In just over 12 years ATP has planted and rejuvenated almost 1,250,000
trees at over 600 sites in Armenia and Artsakh. With the establishment
of the new Mirak Family Reforestation nursery in Lori and expansion
of the backyard nursery program, ATP hopes to begin planting over
one million trees each year to help secure the future of Armenia.
By From Armenia Tree Project
Friday, July 14, 2006
Watertown TAB & Press, MA
July 14 2006
Armenia Tree Project (ATP) expanded its reforestation program by
planting 343,750 trees in the Getik River Valley of the Gegharkounik
region north of Lake Sevan in April-May 2006. Plantings on two massive
forest plots covered a total of 400 acres with indigenous species
of trees, including chestnut, maple, ash, oak, walnut, wild apple,
and wild pear.
Eighty workers - all residents of the villages of Aghavnavank,
Dzoravank, Dprabak, and Aygut - were employed by ATP to implement
the tree-planting activity on the neighboring hillsides. Seedlings
were purchased from backyard nurseries owned by 118 families in these
rural communities, which are mainly inhabited by Armenian refugees
from Azerbaijan.
The very first step in this initiative was taken during the year of
ATP's 10th anniversary, when the organization announced the beginning
of the first extensive reforestation initiative. ATP's Rural and
Mountainous Development (RMD) Program was strengthened this season
with the generous support of the Bilezikian Family Foundation and
United Armenian Charities, which assisted the expansion of the
backyard nursery program, and the Mirak Family Foundation, which
provided funding to establish a reforestation nursery in the village
of Margahovit in the Lori region.
The backyard nursery program began as a pilot project in 2004 in
the village of Aygut. Working with communities and local officials,
ATP entered into agreements with 17 families who were interested in
growing tree seedlings that would be used in the reforestation of
once densely wooded mountains that were enormously degraded over the
last decade. The initiative was designed to reverse the effects of
this deforestation, which led to severe flooding and erosion in the
villages along the Getik River.
In 2004-2006, the program was expanded to include four neighboring
villages. The owners of the backyard nurseries were supplied with
seeds, tools, and equipment, and ATP agro-specialists visited nurseries
to provide technical assistance, training, and consultation to the
farmers.
"When we began our backyard nursery program we looked for an area
that would benefit most from our reforestation efforts," stated ATP
Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. "We started with the knowledge
that deforestation was linked to poverty. We knew that in addition
to planting trees, we had to provide people with a steady income so
they could meet their basic needs."
According to a household survey conducted by ATP in 2003, the average
annual income of rural villagers in Aygut was $280 US, so the money
earned by the families and workers involved in this project has
provided a desperately needed source of income.
"In two years we have grown from helping 17 families learn how to
start their own tree nurseries to now providing a stable income for
330 families who are creating a successful and renewable source of
tree seedlings for the degraded hillsides around their villages,"
noted ATP founder Carolyn Mugar. "ATP has found a way to create
reliable 'micro-enterprise' partnerships with these families, and
we are grateful to our supporters for helping us bring their work
to fruition."
Armen Gharayan, a 38-year-old refugee who worked at the reforestation
site this spring, commented: "I was preparing to leave my village
for good. Lack of job and vital livelihood forced my family to plan
for moving to Russia. Because of ATP and its benevolent mission
carried out on the territory adjacent to Dzoravank village, I was
able to participate in this project and earn a living. On behalf
of my whole family, I want to pass our heartfelt thanks to ATP for
this opportunity to remain in my homeland and restore the mistreated
environment of the Getik Valley."
This spring, ATP purchased 95,000 healthy and strong seedlings from
118 families as part of its rural economic development program.
These families earned 9.5 million drams, which is equal to $21,000
US. The remaining seedlings were propagated by ATP at a large
reforestation nursery in Lori region. ATP distributed another $39,000
in the region to hire 80 workers and to transplant the seedlings from
the nurseries to the reforestation plots.
Zoya Manucharyan, the owner of one of the most productive backyard
nurseries, has been collaborating with ATP for more than three years:
"Thanks to Armenia Tree Project I could buy a house, which was
unaffordable before. Being a part of the reforestation program during
the past three years helped us improve our living accommodations and
inspired us to continue preserving Armenia's gorgeous nature. I would
be happy to collaborate with ATP again."
Plans are being made now to expand the RMD Program for the upcoming
fall planting season. In addition, ATP's Community Tree Planting
(CTP) division accomplished the planting of 143,450 trees and shrubs
in every region of Armenia, including Artsakh, nearly tripling their
previous planting record.
ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia's future by
protecting its environment and advancing its socio-economic development
by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation, community tree planting,
environmental education and advocacy, as well as rural development
through job creation. ATP uses trees to improve the standard of living
of Armenians, promoting self-sufficiency and aiding those with fewest
resources first.
In just over 12 years ATP has planted and rejuvenated almost 1,250,000
trees at over 600 sites in Armenia and Artsakh. With the establishment
of the new Mirak Family Reforestation nursery in Lori and expansion
of the backyard nursery program, ATP hopes to begin planting over
one million trees each year to help secure the future of Armenia.