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ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armeniatree.org
PRESS RELEASE
April 23, 2013
ATP Celebrates Earth Day with Partners Including United Nations, US Embassy
and Armenian Volunteer Corps
YEREVAN--What started in 1970 as a teach-in about the environment has
expanded year by year until Earth Day actions this year include more than
one billion people in some 192 countries, according to the Earth Day
Network.
Celebrating Earth Day has been an annual tradition for Armenia Tree Project
(ATP), with tree plantings in public spaces across the country. Two
community events were organized this year where more than 800 new trees were
planted by volunteers and ATP partners.
The first tree planting day was organized on April 16 in the Avan community
of Yerevan. More than 420 trees were planted by representatives of the
United Nations Office in Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local
government, and other international embassies.
The planting was initiated by the UN and ATP to celebrate Earth Day within
the framework of the International Year of Water Cooperation. The trees and
planting equipment were donated by ATP.
Among the distinguished guests, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward
Nalbandian participated in the planting. He highlighted that Armenia's
government pays special attention to the protection of forests, the greening
of cities and villages, and the preservation of natural resources through
the broader involvement of local communities. Together we work to strengthen
the management, conservation, and sustainable development of forests for the
benefit of current and future generations, he said. He called on each
citizen to plant at least one tree every year, thus personally contributing
to restoration of parks and forests.
After planting his first tree in Armenia, UN Resident Coordinator Bradley
Busetto said, "Every citizen has a right to live in a safe and healthy
environment, and it is our obligation to protect it. That is why protection
and sustainable use of natural resources is absolutely vital, and a focus of
the UN here in Armenia. I am happy to join this tradition, introduced by our
Armenian partners, and plant trees, thus contributing personally to the
restoration of the green areas in this beautiful country."
"There is no more important work than cooperating with the Armenian
government, its agencies, and the UN on projects dedicated to improving
Armenia's environment," commented ATP Managing Director Tom Garabedian. "The
planting of these trees reinforces ATP's commitment to the well-being of
Armenia's citizens and to the protection of the environment."
Another Earth Day planting was organized on April 22 in Jrahovit, a town in
the Ararat region. The US Embassy in Yerevan joined ATP in planting more
than 400 trees at the backyard of the Jrahovit secondary school. "This year
the Embassy plants 400 trees -- one for each member of the US Embassy
staff," said John Heffern, the Ambassador to Armenia.
Volunteers from the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) and schoolchildren from
Jrahovit were also actively engaged in the planting. Principal Artak Babayan
expressed his appreciation for the initiative and was grateful that the area
around the school will soon be in bloom and totally greened.
After the planting, Ambassador Heffern talked with the schoolchildren about
the importance of nature protection and a clean environment. ATP is planning
to provide environmental education training for teachers at the school and
will host the students at one of its nurseries and education centers in the
coming months.
"We are thankful to the US Embassy in Armenia and the Armenian Volunteer
Corps for their active participation in this Earth Day event," stated
Community Tree Planting program manager Arthur Harutyunyan. "These tree
planting events contribute to our greening mission and help us raise
awareness of the urgent issue of desertification."
"ATP has been planting trees throughout Armenia and Artsakh for nearly 20
years now. Each planting for us is a celebration of the earth and nature,"
continued Harutyunyan. "And April is a special month for ATP since we begin
spring planting and collaborate with partners to plant trees of hope to
celebrate Earth Day with hundreds of thousands of people around the world."
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 desire
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, please visit the website www.armeniatree.org.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armeniatree.org
PRESS RELEASE
April 23, 2013
ATP Celebrates Earth Day with Partners Including United Nations, US Embassy
and Armenian Volunteer Corps
YEREVAN--What started in 1970 as a teach-in about the environment has
expanded year by year until Earth Day actions this year include more than
one billion people in some 192 countries, according to the Earth Day
Network.
Celebrating Earth Day has been an annual tradition for Armenia Tree Project
(ATP), with tree plantings in public spaces across the country. Two
community events were organized this year where more than 800 new trees were
planted by volunteers and ATP partners.
The first tree planting day was organized on April 16 in the Avan community
of Yerevan. More than 420 trees were planted by representatives of the
United Nations Office in Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local
government, and other international embassies.
The planting was initiated by the UN and ATP to celebrate Earth Day within
the framework of the International Year of Water Cooperation. The trees and
planting equipment were donated by ATP.
Among the distinguished guests, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward
Nalbandian participated in the planting. He highlighted that Armenia's
government pays special attention to the protection of forests, the greening
of cities and villages, and the preservation of natural resources through
the broader involvement of local communities. Together we work to strengthen
the management, conservation, and sustainable development of forests for the
benefit of current and future generations, he said. He called on each
citizen to plant at least one tree every year, thus personally contributing
to restoration of parks and forests.
After planting his first tree in Armenia, UN Resident Coordinator Bradley
Busetto said, "Every citizen has a right to live in a safe and healthy
environment, and it is our obligation to protect it. That is why protection
and sustainable use of natural resources is absolutely vital, and a focus of
the UN here in Armenia. I am happy to join this tradition, introduced by our
Armenian partners, and plant trees, thus contributing personally to the
restoration of the green areas in this beautiful country."
"There is no more important work than cooperating with the Armenian
government, its agencies, and the UN on projects dedicated to improving
Armenia's environment," commented ATP Managing Director Tom Garabedian. "The
planting of these trees reinforces ATP's commitment to the well-being of
Armenia's citizens and to the protection of the environment."
Another Earth Day planting was organized on April 22 in Jrahovit, a town in
the Ararat region. The US Embassy in Yerevan joined ATP in planting more
than 400 trees at the backyard of the Jrahovit secondary school. "This year
the Embassy plants 400 trees -- one for each member of the US Embassy
staff," said John Heffern, the Ambassador to Armenia.
Volunteers from the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) and schoolchildren from
Jrahovit were also actively engaged in the planting. Principal Artak Babayan
expressed his appreciation for the initiative and was grateful that the area
around the school will soon be in bloom and totally greened.
After the planting, Ambassador Heffern talked with the schoolchildren about
the importance of nature protection and a clean environment. ATP is planning
to provide environmental education training for teachers at the school and
will host the students at one of its nurseries and education centers in the
coming months.
"We are thankful to the US Embassy in Armenia and the Armenian Volunteer
Corps for their active participation in this Earth Day event," stated
Community Tree Planting program manager Arthur Harutyunyan. "These tree
planting events contribute to our greening mission and help us raise
awareness of the urgent issue of desertification."
"ATP has been planting trees throughout Armenia and Artsakh for nearly 20
years now. Each planting for us is a celebration of the earth and nature,"
continued Harutyunyan. "And April is a special month for ATP since we begin
spring planting and collaborate with partners to plant trees of hope to
celebrate Earth Day with hundreds of thousands of people around the world."
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 desire
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, please visit the website www.armeniatree.org.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress