January 24, 2006: Public Forum Highlights Work of ATP and AFNGO

Public Forum on the Environment Highlights Work of Armenia Tree Project and Armenian Forests NGO

WATERTOWN, MA—On January 24, the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Eastern Massachusetts in collaboration with the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) hosted a public forum on Armenia’s environmental challenges, featuring ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian and Armenian Forests NGO President Jeffrey Tufenkian.

The evening began with the viewing of a remarkable documentary produced by Vem Media for Armenia Tree Project, Armenia Forests NGO, and World Wildlife Fund describing the building of a coalition of NGOs in Armenia to successfully address the threatening of the Shikahogh Nature Reserve last year.

The event was moderated by ATP Deputy Director Jason Sohigian, who said he and other environmental activists have been heartened by the increasing support of environmental issues in Armenia, both by the Armenian government and by the Diaspora. Sohigian introduced the two panelists, who described the efforts of their organizations in protecting Armenia’s environment and natural resources.

Masarjian explained that during the Soviet era, Armenia did not have sustainable environmental policies, and there was a severe lack of public awareness about the problems that Armenia was facing, such as deforestation, pollution, and desertification. Although, he admitted, deforestation became a severe crisis in the early to mid 1990s when heating fuel was sparse and trees were cut down for fuel.

Masarjian explained that in Armenia, there are 8,800 species of plants, 2,000 of which are used for healing and industrial purposes; 13 species of wheat; 260 species of trees; 7,500 species of invertebrate animals; and 500 species of vertebrate animals. He said that Armenia owed this unique, enormous biodiversity to the fact that it encompasses seven of the nine types of climate zones, and 40 percent of the types of landscape. But, due to deforestation, many of these animals are facing a loss of habitat, he said.

ATP has been working to rebuild the forests in Armenia by planting vast areas of oak, maple, hornbeam, wild apple, and wild pear trees—all of which are indigenous to Armenia. Masarjian explained that it’s not safe to plant “monocultures,” using one type of tree to repopulate the forests, because disease could destroy the entire population.

He also said that it is not enough just to plant the trees. The government needs to address poverty and community development issues so that people are not forced to cut down large amounts of trees in order to generate heat, create room for crops, or to build housing.

ATP focuses heavily on education, in explaining the impact that losing forests could have on Armenia, as well as on the benefits of reforestation, and houses an educational center in its Karin nursery in Armenia.

Tufenkian detailed the consequences that deforestation has had on Armenia, including a change in the microclimate, floods caused by erosion of the land, as well as an increase in pollution throughout the country. He said that people don’t want to destroy the forests but, in many instances, have been left without alternatives for reliable heating.

The people of Armenia need to learn sustainable forestry practices, Tufenkian said. The AFNGO focuses on media advocacy. The NGO has worked in communities to develop Armenian environment action groups, to train citizens on trash disposal, tree planting, stream cleaning, and energy efficiency.

ATP and the AFNGO recently scored a tremendous victory, when they utilized the media to create worldwide awareness about the Armenian government’s proposed plan to build a highway that would destroy the Shikahogh Reserve during construction. It was the first time people spoke up, and took steps to making Armenia an environmental democracy, said Masarjian.

Together with an international coalition of environmental groups and other agencies, ATP and the AFNGO were able to persuade the government to use another route that would avoid going through a substantial part of the reserve. “It set a precedent for mobilizing people,” said Tufenkian.

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