PRESS RELEASE
April 28, 2006

US Ambassador John Evans and ATP Celebrate Earth Day

US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans (center) with ATP Director of Operations Vache Kirakosyan (right) during the ceremonial tree planting in observance of Earth Day and Arbor Day

YEREVAN--On April 21, US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and Mrs. Donna Evans marked Earth Day and Arbor Day in a ceremonial tree planting initiated by Armenia Tree Project (ATP). Ambassador Evans and honored guests planted evergreens on a specially prepared plot at ATP’s nursery in the refugee village of Karin.

In cooperation with the US Embassy, invited high ranking authorities, and a number of international and local organizations, this event coincided with worldwide environmental celebrations and was organized to raise broader public awareness of ecological issues in Armenia. The date of the ceremony was chosen in observance of the traditional Earth Day and Arbor Day festivities, marked globally on April 21 and April 29, respectively.

Special guests in attendance included Minster of Nature Protection Vardan Ayvazyan and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan. The ceremonial tree planting was preceded by welcoming remarks from Ambassador Evans and ATP Director of Operations Vache Kirakosyan. A reception followed in ATP’s Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Education Center.

Ambassador Evans expressed his heartfelt gratitude to ATP for organizing the celebration and added that, “Planting another seedling on Armenian land is a great pleasure.” While touring the nursery, the US Ambassador was impressed by the condition of nursery and the work ATP has been able to do in Armenia.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Samvel Galstyan, also stressed the significant role played by ATP: “Armenia Tree Project is reforesting Armenia, and their mission is extremely important. Such an initiative not only restores Armenia’s greenery, but helps to solve other interrelated ecological problems and diminish pollution, which is necessary for keeping our environment clean.”

In his remarks, the Minster of Nature Protection did not expect the increase in the price of natural gas to result in additional tree cutting, since Armenia is developing alternative sources of renewable energy. “This will not lead us to mass tree cutting as before,” stated Minster Ayvazyan. “There are real possibilities for using renewable energy, and Armenia has several alternative sources which can produce enough energy.”

ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia's future by protecting its environment and restoring its degraded forests. ATP advances Armenia's socio-economic development by mobilizing resources for large-scale reforestation, community-based tree planting, environmental education and advocacy, and rural development through job creation. With the establishment of the Mirak Family reforestation nursery and expansion of the backyard nursery program in the Getik River Valley, ATP is working toward the goal of planting over one million trees in 2006.

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