ATP News

PRESS RELEASE
March 24, 2010

ATP Nurseries Are Backbone of Community Tree Planting and Environmental Education Programs

An Interview with Samvel Ghandilyan

Samvel Ghandilyan manages the nurseries in Karin and Khachpar villages where Armenia Tree Project employs workers to grow 69 species of indigenous trees including apple, pear, apricot, peach, and cherry

Samvel Ghandilyan has been managing Armenia Tree Project’s nurseries in Karin and Khachpar villages since their establishment in the mid-1990’s. He has a doctorate in Agricultural Mechanization Technologies and has worked as an associate professor at the Armenian Agricultural Academy. Dr. Ghandilyan has written scientific articles about agricultural production and educational processes. He is married and has a son and a daughter. This is the second in a series of interviews with ATP program managers.

What is the background of the ATP Nursery Program? Can you tell us about the early days when ATP was founded and the nursery program was initiated?

The early 1990’s are marked in the history of Armenia as those of hardship and poverty. Everywhere, trees were being cut and Armenia faced deforestation. Day by day the areas covered with trees was decreasing. ATP was founded in 1994 by philanthropist Carolyn Mugar who, together with the organization’s Executive Committee, has been involved in preventing total deforestation in the country.

The idea of establishing our own nursery originated in 1995 and the first nursery was established in Karin in 1996. The main purpose of having a nursery was to work freely without depending on other nurseries, which would give us the opportunity to produce high quality trees and shrubs in the most cost efficient manner.

How did ATP choose the villages of Karin and Khachpar to establish nurseries? What was unique about these areas and how does the program impact these villages?

The selection of these villages was influenced by several factors. Most importantly, the sites were in areas inhabited by Armenian refugees which meant the project would create jobs to help them support their families. The sites also had nutrient-rich soil that allowed us to grow different kinds of trees, including fruit and nut trees as well as decorative evergreens and shrubs. Finally, many significant symbols of Armenia like Mount Ararat, Aragats, and Ara can be seen from our nurseries.

The nurseries have created jobs and have changed people’s attitude towards nature and trees. Previously, only vegetables were grown in Karin and Khachpar and the areas were very dry, but now residents ask for trees for their neighborhoods and roads leading to their villages which are making the whole territory green.

What types of trees are grown in the ATP nurseries and how many trees have been distributed to plantings sites in Armenia to date?

We propagate 69 species of indigenous trees including deciduous trees and conifers, 12 species of fruit trees including apple, pear, apricot, peach, and cherry, nut trees including almond, walnut, and pistachio, and various shrubs.

I’d like to mention that 12 sweet cherry trees produced in the very first year of the establishment of Karin Nursery were planted in Lachin. To date 512,930 trees and shrubs have been produced in both nurseries and provided to over 800 different planting sites throughout Armenia and Karabagh. Currently, 50,000-60,000 high quality trees and shrubs are being produced each year.

Nursery Manager Samvel Ghandilyan leads a group of students through the greenhouse at Karin Nursery during an outdoor lesson organized last spring by ATP’s Environmental Education Program

How does the Nursery Program collaborate with other ATP programs?

The trees from the Karin and Khachpar nurseries are provided to ATP’s Community Tree Planting program for planting at urban and rural sites, while ATP’s other reforestation nursery in Margahovit supports the Rural and Mountainous Development program.

In addition to growing trees, we work closely with ATP’s Environmental Education program to conduct classes and other events at the nurseries. We organize Earth Day celebrations at Karin Nursery and host hundreds of visitors from all over the world each year.

The Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Educational Center at Karin provides a venue for classes and trainings for schoolchildren and university students. Practical trainings are being carried out for university students and professionals on irrigation techniques, propagation methods, and nursery management.

The nursery program collaborates with other organizations as well. We have carried out research with specialists from Yerevan State University, Armenian State Agrarian University, and Armenian Institute of Biotechnology Research. We have also trained farmers from different regions on crop irrigation methods.

What is your vision for the Nursery Program over the next few years?

One of our goals is to increase the production of decorative trees due to the great demand from residents who hope to reverse the effects of deforestation in Yerevan and other regions. Given the huge demand for fruit trees, the establishment of a new ATP fruit tree nursery in a different climate zone is of utmost importance. If we established a new nursery this year, we would have our first fruit tree seedlings in 2012 since the propagation of these trees takes so much time and care. In general, the nursery program continues to do everything possible to re-green Armenia and to provide trees for families in villages with the fewest resources.

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