Armenia Tree Project
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: info@armeniatree.org
Web:

Armenia Tree Project
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 0026
Tel: (37410) 447-401
Email: bella@armeniatree.org

PRESS RELEASE
July 10, 2006

ATP Plants Over 340,000 Seedlings During Large Scale Reforestation of Getik
River Valley This Spring

— Brings Total Number of Trees Planted by ATP This Spring to 487,200

YEREVAN–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.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

(ATP workers.jpg) Eighty workers from the villages of Aghavnavank,
Dzoravank, Dprabak, and Aygut were employed by ATP to assist in the
reforestation of 400 acres of land in the Getik River Valley this spring
(Photo by Haik Badalyan)

(ATP seedlings.jpg) Over 343,750 seedlings purchased from 118 families or
grown in ATP’s reforestation nursery in Lori were planted in the Getik
Valley of the Gegharkounik region north of Lake Sevan (Photo by Haik
Badalyan)