ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
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PRESS RELEASE
May 1, 2007
ATP Initiates Celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day in Armenia
KARIN, Armenia–On April 25, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) jointly with the US
Embassy initiated a ceremonial event to mark Earth Day and Arbor Day.
US Embassy Public Affairs Head Thomas Mittnacht and a large number of guests
joined in this celebration with ATP. Among the attendees were the head of
the Hayantar department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Martun Matevosyan,
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Alexander Avanesov, Center for
Agricultural and Rural Development Country Director Gagik Sardaryan, as well
as representatives from a number of other international and local
organizations.
This is the sixth year that ATP has celebrated Earth Day and Arbor Day with
the US Embassy and its partners at one of the rural refugee villages where
ATP has been developing programs. The celebration at ATP’s nursery in the
village of Karin unites Armenian officials, ambassadors, and NGO
representatives for a tree-planting ceremony to raise awareness of
ecological issues and emphasize the need to solve them together. This year
because of extremely unpleasant weather conditions–snowfall on April 24 was
a surprise to everyone–only one tree symbolizing Earth Day was planted by
ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian.
In his opening speech, Mr. Masarjian referred to the 37th anniversary of
Earth Day and stated that in the US, environmental awareness was raised
through public education. The environmental movement became a global
phenomenon by the early 1990s, he stated, when 200 million people around the
world started celebrating Earth Day.
`Armenia is truly a treasure, which our ancestors sustained for thousands of
years. Today this great treasure is at a greater risk of being lost forever
than at any other time in history. Over the past few years people in Armenia
have become increasingly concerned about hotter and drier summers, longer
and colder winters, choking air pollution, and storms which bring flooding,
erosion, and landslides,’ stated Mr. Masarjian. `Our ancestors survived
enormous challenges so that we could be here in Armenia today, and we have a
responsibility to the generations that will follow to be good stewards of
the environment.’
After welcoming the guests, Masarjian passed the floor to US Embassy Public
Affairs Head Thomas Mittnacht, who emphasized the importance of
environmental protection. `President Bush in his Earth Day message said that
it is our responsibility to be stewards of the land. We need to protect our
environment, and as you all know, trees are a very important part of it. In
fact, in the United States we have not only Earth Day now, but also Arbor
Day. It is widely celebrated and on this day we honor trees and we plant
seedlings all across the country. These two celebrations go together very
well, because trees play such an important part for the environment by
bringing a range of benefits to it and to people.’
`Armenia, like many other places in the world, has suffered from
deforestation,’ continued Mr. Mittnacht. `But fortunately you have the
Armenia Tree Project, which is doing something about that. I would hope that
everywhere in the world we could say that our generation will leave a better
environment for future generations. I am not sure whether it is true
everywhere, but I hope that it is going to be here in Armenia.’
Martun Matevosyan, the head of the Hayantar department of the Ministry of
Agriculture, mentioned the important role of Armenia’s non-governmental
organizations, and particularly ATP, in reforesting Armenia. Mr. Matevosyan
stressed the seriousness of the situation of the forests of Armenia, and he
thanked the NGOs for helping to overcome the problem. Mr. Matevosyan
expressed his deep gratitude to the supporters from the Diaspora and greeted
all participants of the event on behalf of Minister of Agriculture David
Lokyan.
Sabina Safaryan, a biology teacher from School No. 43, and her seventh grade
student Knarik Sargsyan presented speeches dedicated to nature protection
and environmental education. Both cited the need to raise public awareness
and stressed the role of ATP in expanding knowledge among students all over
Armenia through its environmental education program.
`Only due to our collaborative efforts, enthusiasm, and love toward nature
can we reap positive results,’ said Ms. Safaryan. `Human beings are
dependent on nature, but at the same time nature is very fragile and can be
easily infringed if mistreated.’
Little Knarik stated, `If people call the planet home, then how dare they
pollute it. Because the environment is a house we all live in, it should
stay clean and healthy, as we do not have anywhere else to move to. Our duty
is to protect and take care of our home.’
ATP has built a partnership with the Sun Child Regional Environmental
Festival. A member of the Sun Child team, Mariam Manukyan from the Manana
Youth Cultural Center was one of the most active participants in the
environmental trainings organized by Sun Child this spring.
Mariam arrived to participate in the Earth Day celebrations together with
other Sun Child representatives. `Young people gain a lot by getting
involved in ecological trainings. We start paying more attention to the
surrounding environment and our contribution becomes more visible and
effective,’ stated Mariam. `I was very excited to be a part of the
environmental education process. Certainly, I could not protect nature on my
own–I need help. We all know that one of Armenia’s most important and
immediate problems is the loss of green spaces. Trees are essential to all
of us and we cannot live without trees.’
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
(Earth Day students.jpg) Biology teacher Sabina Safaryan (center) with
seventh grade student Knarik Sargsyan (left) and Mariam Manukyan (right)
from the Manana Youth Cultural Center with ATP staff at the Earth Day event
at Karin Nursery
(Earth Day Jeff Masarjian.jpg) ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian planted
a tree to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day, during an April 25 program
organized jointly by Armenia Tree Project and the US Embassy in Armenia