ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
June 29, 2009
ATP Celebrating Fifteen Years of Greening Armenia
WATERTOWN, MA–In celebration of the 15th anniversary of its founding,
Armenia Tree Project (ATP) has released a new documentary film about its
cutting-edge tree planting and environmental education programs. The
15-minute film, "Every Tree.," was directed by Kennedy Wheatley and
photographed and edited by Amaya Cervino.
"ATP began in 1994 with the modest goal of re-greening the public spaces in
Yerevan where trees had been sacrificed during the ‘dark years’ after
Armenia’s independence, when people were forced to burn whatever they could
find to stay warm," recounted ATP founder Carolyn Mugar. "By 2004, we had
planted 500,000 trees in Yerevan and neighboring communities, and it became
clear that rejuvenating public areas alone was not going to significantly
impact the larger issue of deforestation."
"It was then, only five years ago, that I issued a challenge to our staff to
undertake a program to plant 15 million trees by 2015–ten trees planted for
each victim of the Armenian Genocide by its 100th anniversary. By the end of
2009, we expect that ATP will have planted over 3.5 million trees in
Armenia. Thank you for your firm belief in our mission," Ms. Mugar stated in
a special message to ATP supporters.
"I personally accompanied the filmmakers on a tour of ATP’s three nurseries,
two education centers, and dozens of planting sites, and I think this new
ATP documentary film captures the emotion and impact of our tree planting,
poverty reduction, and educational programs," noted ATP Executive Director
Jeff Masarjian.
"Although it is our 15th anniversary, this has been a difficult year because
of the global economic recession," added Mr. Masarjian. "Nevertheless, we
are making every effort to follow through on our commitment to purchase and
plant the tree seedlings grown by partner families in Armenia who are
working with ATP."
The new ATP documentary, "Every Tree.," is being sent to thousands of
Armenian households in the United States this month. "We are hoping our
supporters will help us fulfill our pledge to these communities in Armenia,
most of whom are feeling the effects of the recession even harder than those
of us in the diaspora," emphasized Mr. Masarjian.
"Our donors have shown tremendous loyalty over the past 15 years, and we
hope everyone will remain committed to supporting our work since we now have
the experience and capacity to plant over one million trees each year, which
will have an enormous impact on the land and well-being of Armenia’s
people," he concluded.
Since 1994, Armenia Tree Project has planted and restored more than
3,000,000 trees at over 800 sites around the country and created hundreds of
jobs for impoverished Armenians in tree-regeneration programs. The
organization’s three tiered initiatives are tree planting, community
development to reduce poverty and promote self-sufficiency, and
environmental education to protect Armenia’s precious natural resources. For
additional information and to support ATP’s mission, visit the web site
PHOTO CAPTION
Armenia Tree Project has planted trees at more than 800 public sites around
the country; these before and after photos show the results of its work at
St. Anna Church in Yeghegnadzor, which started in 2000 with the planting of
hundreds of fruit and decorative trees