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ATP CELEBRATES EARTH DAY IN KOTAYK WITH US EMBASSY AND UN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/society25896.html
Published: 15:20:59 - 20/04/2012
The celebration of Earth Day is gaining in popularity at a rapid pace
in Armenia. This year, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) celebrates the day
by planting trees in the community of Teghenik in the Kotayk region.
On Friday, April 20, the US Embassy in Armenia and the United
Nations joined ATP to plant a cluster of decorative and fruit trees
in Teghenik.
"Our goal in planting is to restore green spaces throughout Armenia
to provide valuable environmental services including clean air,
soil retention, and shade during hot summers," notes ATP Managing
Director Tom Garabedian. "The Kotayk region had significant greenery
some 150-200 years ago. We hope to use these planting activities to
offset the impacts of deforestation, and the creation of green spaces
represents an important step in the improvement of the environment
and quality of life in the region."
US Ambassador to Armenia John Hefern joined his colleagues at the
Embassy and took part in the ATP's tree planting dedicated to the
Earth Day celebration. "This year I'm honored to join the Armenia
Tree Project in Teghenik to mark Earth Day. The trees we plant here
will improve the environment and help highlight the necessity of
maintaining our natural surroundings." states Ambassador Hefern.
The trees are being planted as part of ATP's innovative "community
forests" program, which was initiated in 2011. "The aim of this
new program is to create small community forests in areas that are
deprived of any green zones and nearby forests," explains Garabedian.
ATP identifies affected areas and partners with the local authorities
to establish these community forests. The program was designed with
sustainability in mind. While the trees are provided by ATP, the local
community invests resources in planting and long-term maintenance of
the trees on their land.
This program started with planting at community sites in Karenis and
Teghenik in the Kotayk region, where nearly 6,000 trees were planted
in 2011. "The program has been successful so far, and we have received
requests from other community leaders who want to establish small
forests in their villages," adds Garabedian. "This Earth Day tree
planting event will contribute to ATP's mission to green Armenia,
and we look forward to expanding these partnerships."
Schoolchildren and other members of the local community also
participated in the tree planting along with the special guests from
various organizations and international institutions. A total of 2000
trees that include decorative and fruit seedlings were planted for
Earth Day. The new forest will be composed of oak, pine, ash, pear,
and apple seedlings.
Dafina Gercheva, UN Resident Coordinator states: 'The proclamation
of 22 April as International Mother Earth Day by the United Nations,
is an acknowledgement that the Earth and its ecosystems provide its
inhabitants with life and sustenance. It also recognizes a collective
responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote
harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among
the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future
generations of humanity. '
Earth Day events are held worldwide to increase awareness and
appreciation of the natural environment. Gaylord Nelson, a United
States Senator from Wisconsin, first called for an environmental
teach in, or Earth Day, to be held on April 22, 1970. Over 20 million
people participated that year, and Earth Day is now observed each
year by more than 500 million people in 175 countries. Earth Day is
coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and April 22 has been
designated by the United Nations as International Mother Earth Day.
ATP's mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees
to improve their standard of living and protect the environment,
guided by the need to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the
fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem. ATP's
three major programs are tree planting, environmental education, and
sustainable development initiatives. For more information about ATP,
please visit the web site www.armeniatree.org.
From: Baghdasarian
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/society25896.html
Published: 15:20:59 - 20/04/2012
The celebration of Earth Day is gaining in popularity at a rapid pace
in Armenia. This year, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) celebrates the day
by planting trees in the community of Teghenik in the Kotayk region.
On Friday, April 20, the US Embassy in Armenia and the United
Nations joined ATP to plant a cluster of decorative and fruit trees
in Teghenik.
"Our goal in planting is to restore green spaces throughout Armenia
to provide valuable environmental services including clean air,
soil retention, and shade during hot summers," notes ATP Managing
Director Tom Garabedian. "The Kotayk region had significant greenery
some 150-200 years ago. We hope to use these planting activities to
offset the impacts of deforestation, and the creation of green spaces
represents an important step in the improvement of the environment
and quality of life in the region."
US Ambassador to Armenia John Hefern joined his colleagues at the
Embassy and took part in the ATP's tree planting dedicated to the
Earth Day celebration. "This year I'm honored to join the Armenia
Tree Project in Teghenik to mark Earth Day. The trees we plant here
will improve the environment and help highlight the necessity of
maintaining our natural surroundings." states Ambassador Hefern.
The trees are being planted as part of ATP's innovative "community
forests" program, which was initiated in 2011. "The aim of this
new program is to create small community forests in areas that are
deprived of any green zones and nearby forests," explains Garabedian.
ATP identifies affected areas and partners with the local authorities
to establish these community forests. The program was designed with
sustainability in mind. While the trees are provided by ATP, the local
community invests resources in planting and long-term maintenance of
the trees on their land.
This program started with planting at community sites in Karenis and
Teghenik in the Kotayk region, where nearly 6,000 trees were planted
in 2011. "The program has been successful so far, and we have received
requests from other community leaders who want to establish small
forests in their villages," adds Garabedian. "This Earth Day tree
planting event will contribute to ATP's mission to green Armenia,
and we look forward to expanding these partnerships."
Schoolchildren and other members of the local community also
participated in the tree planting along with the special guests from
various organizations and international institutions. A total of 2000
trees that include decorative and fruit seedlings were planted for
Earth Day. The new forest will be composed of oak, pine, ash, pear,
and apple seedlings.
Dafina Gercheva, UN Resident Coordinator states: 'The proclamation
of 22 April as International Mother Earth Day by the United Nations,
is an acknowledgement that the Earth and its ecosystems provide its
inhabitants with life and sustenance. It also recognizes a collective
responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote
harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among
the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future
generations of humanity. '
Earth Day events are held worldwide to increase awareness and
appreciation of the natural environment. Gaylord Nelson, a United
States Senator from Wisconsin, first called for an environmental
teach in, or Earth Day, to be held on April 22, 1970. Over 20 million
people participated that year, and Earth Day is now observed each
year by more than 500 million people in 175 countries. Earth Day is
coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and April 22 has been
designated by the United Nations as International Mother Earth Day.
ATP's mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees
to improve their standard of living and protect the environment,
guided by the need to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the
fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem. ATP's
three major programs are tree planting, environmental education, and
sustainable development initiatives. For more information about ATP,
please visit the web site www.armeniatree.org.
From: Baghdasarian