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NORWAY GIVES $1.2 MILLION TO ARMENIA REFORESTATION PROJECT
epress.am
03.16.2012
The Armenia Tree Project's 18-year effort in tree planting,
environmental education, and sustainable development was rewarded
this week with a $1.2 million grant from the Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. The funding will help to underwrite a portion of
ATP's core programs through 2014, reads a press release issued by
the non-governmental organization based in both Boston and Yerevan.
"One of the primary objectives of our partnership with the Norwegian
government is to mitigate the impacts of climate change," explains
SEEDS Program Manager Vardan Melikyan, "and we plan to do this through
raising awareness about conservation issues, planting trees to promote
sustainable development in Armenia, and fostering a sense of personal
commitment about the importance of environmental stewardship."
ATP launched a new program in 2011 known as SEEDS, or "Social,
Economic, and Environmental Development for Sustainability." It has
allowed ATP to build capacity in its reforestation programs while
improving results through new methods of program delivery. These
include a greater emphasis on community development and investing in
social capital in the areas where ATP is planting trees.
"Over the past 17 years, ATP has been quite successful at getting
things done on the ground in Armenia, and this was made possible
through the support of the Diaspora," adds Melikyan. "We believe this
grant from Norway demonstrates an investment in our track record and
commitment to excellence, and we hope it will inspire others to join
in support of our mission."
The Norway funding will provide partial support for some of ATP's core
programs including tree planting initiatives in towns and villages
throughout Armenia, an expansion of reforestation programs in northern
Armenia, maintenance of recently planted forests, environmental
education programs that train teachers and inspire youth, and community
trainings for sustainable forest management.
In 2011, ATP's SEEDS Program planted 186,785 tree seedlings on
community lands in Fioletovo, Jrashen, Katnajur, Spitak, and Tsakhkaber
in the Lori region. The SEEDS team also maintained previously planted
sites to improve survival rates by clearing grass around thousands
of seedlings that survived their first growing season.
"We have ambitious plans for 2012," notes Forestry Manager Ani
Haykuni. "ATP plans to establish new forests in partnership with the
communities of Saratovka and Sverdlov, which have already provided
nearly 80 hectares of land for tree planting. ATP has been working with
local partners to create small community forests. Towns and villages
that are located far from forested areas are given special attention
in this program, since they are desperately in need of green spaces."
The seedlings for ATP's reforestation programs are grown in the Mirak
Family Nursery in Margahovit Village and in backyard nurseries in
the Getik River Valley. These newly planted forests are established
with oak, pine, ash, apple, and pear seedlings which are native to
the region.
"In addition to planting trees, ATP's SEEDS Program also addresses
community development and socio-economic issues in order to mitigate
some of the root causes of deforestation and unsustainable land use.
This includes providing jobs for hundreds of workers in the Lori region
for seasonal tree planting, and partnering with other organizations
who can bring their development expertise to communities where we are
working," concludes Melikyan. "These jobs mean people can work in their
communities and don't have to emigrate to Russia to earn a living."
Photo: ATP workers digging holes for new tree seedlings at an
afforestation site in Spitak (courtesy of ATP)
Photo (insert): Armenia Tree Project managers, from left: Community
Tree Planting Program Manager Arthur Harutyunyan, Forestry Manager Ani
Haykuni, Nursery Manager Samvel Ghandilyan, Environmental Education
Program Manager Manya Gevorgyan, and SEEDS Program Manager Vardan
Melikyan (courtesy of ATP)
epress.am
03.16.2012
The Armenia Tree Project's 18-year effort in tree planting,
environmental education, and sustainable development was rewarded
this week with a $1.2 million grant from the Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. The funding will help to underwrite a portion of
ATP's core programs through 2014, reads a press release issued by
the non-governmental organization based in both Boston and Yerevan.
"One of the primary objectives of our partnership with the Norwegian
government is to mitigate the impacts of climate change," explains
SEEDS Program Manager Vardan Melikyan, "and we plan to do this through
raising awareness about conservation issues, planting trees to promote
sustainable development in Armenia, and fostering a sense of personal
commitment about the importance of environmental stewardship."
ATP launched a new program in 2011 known as SEEDS, or "Social,
Economic, and Environmental Development for Sustainability." It has
allowed ATP to build capacity in its reforestation programs while
improving results through new methods of program delivery. These
include a greater emphasis on community development and investing in
social capital in the areas where ATP is planting trees.
"Over the past 17 years, ATP has been quite successful at getting
things done on the ground in Armenia, and this was made possible
through the support of the Diaspora," adds Melikyan. "We believe this
grant from Norway demonstrates an investment in our track record and
commitment to excellence, and we hope it will inspire others to join
in support of our mission."
The Norway funding will provide partial support for some of ATP's core
programs including tree planting initiatives in towns and villages
throughout Armenia, an expansion of reforestation programs in northern
Armenia, maintenance of recently planted forests, environmental
education programs that train teachers and inspire youth, and community
trainings for sustainable forest management.
In 2011, ATP's SEEDS Program planted 186,785 tree seedlings on
community lands in Fioletovo, Jrashen, Katnajur, Spitak, and Tsakhkaber
in the Lori region. The SEEDS team also maintained previously planted
sites to improve survival rates by clearing grass around thousands
of seedlings that survived their first growing season.
"We have ambitious plans for 2012," notes Forestry Manager Ani
Haykuni. "ATP plans to establish new forests in partnership with the
communities of Saratovka and Sverdlov, which have already provided
nearly 80 hectares of land for tree planting. ATP has been working with
local partners to create small community forests. Towns and villages
that are located far from forested areas are given special attention
in this program, since they are desperately in need of green spaces."
The seedlings for ATP's reforestation programs are grown in the Mirak
Family Nursery in Margahovit Village and in backyard nurseries in
the Getik River Valley. These newly planted forests are established
with oak, pine, ash, apple, and pear seedlings which are native to
the region.
"In addition to planting trees, ATP's SEEDS Program also addresses
community development and socio-economic issues in order to mitigate
some of the root causes of deforestation and unsustainable land use.
This includes providing jobs for hundreds of workers in the Lori region
for seasonal tree planting, and partnering with other organizations
who can bring their development expertise to communities where we are
working," concludes Melikyan. "These jobs mean people can work in their
communities and don't have to emigrate to Russia to earn a living."
Photo: ATP workers digging holes for new tree seedlings at an
afforestation site in Spitak (courtesy of ATP)
Photo (insert): Armenia Tree Project managers, from left: Community
Tree Planting Program Manager Arthur Harutyunyan, Forestry Manager Ani
Haykuni, Nursery Manager Samvel Ghandilyan, Environmental Education
Program Manager Manya Gevorgyan, and SEEDS Program Manager Vardan
Melikyan (courtesy of ATP)