Armenia Tree Project
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan Armenia 375025
Tel. (37410) 44 74 01
Email: bella@armeniatree.org

PRESS RELEASE
MAY 9, 2005

US Ambassador and ATP Celebrate 'Earth Day' in Refugee Village of Karin

(L to R) ATP Foundation President Susan Yacubian Klein, ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian, US Ambassador John Evans and his wife Donna, and USAID representative Katie McDonald at the Earth Day tree planting

KARIN, Armenia--The US Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, and his wife, Donna, marked Earth Day in a ceremonial tree planting and reception hosted by Armenia Tree Project (ATP). Ambassador Evans and honored guests at the April 27 event planted five evergreens on a specially prepared plot at ATP's nursery in Karin village.

In cooperation with the US Embassy and a number of international and local organizations, this event was intended to mark not only the worldwide environmental celebration, but also to raise broader public awareness of ecological and socio-economic issues in Armenia.

The celebration was opened with remarks by Ambassador Evans, Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan, Deputy Minister of Education Norair Ghoukasian, ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian, and ATP Foundation President Susan Yacubian Klein.

Among those in attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Nature Protection, HayAntar, the UN World Food Program, and the US Embassy, including Anthony Godfrey, Deputy Chief of Mission, Katie McDonald representing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Jeffrey Engels, Director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Representatives from Eurasia Foundation, Heifer International, UN Development Program, World Vision, Birds of Armenia, World Wildlife Fund, Urban Institute, and American University of Armenia were also present.

In his welcoming speech, Ambassador Evans stated that this is the first tree he has planted on Armenian soil. He briefly told the story of Martin, the Armenian who arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1619 with mulberry trees for cultivation. "Those trees are still growing in Williamsburg," emphasized Ambassador Evans. The US diplomat also praised the successful results achieved by ATP in having planted and rejuvenated over 580,000 trees in Armenia since 1994.

In his remarks, Mr. Lokyan, the Minister of Agriculture, stressed the importance of ecological resource management in Armenia. "This celebration of Earth Day has a symbolic meaning and it stresses the importance of environmental issues, by bringing public attention to present-day ecological problems," stated Mr. Lokyan. "The environment is what we leave to future generations," he declared.

This was the fourth year that the US Embassy celebrated Earth Day with ATP at one of the refugee sites where ATP has been developing its programs over the last 11 years. This year the event took place at ATP's first established nursery in the village of Karin. ATP started the nursery project in 1996 with the vision of producing trees for re-greening Armenia, while also providing badly needed employment for refugees.

Seedlings from the Karin nursery are taken to various community sites where ATP carries out its seasonal urban and regional tree-plantings. Last year the nursery provided 50,000 trees for ATP's community tree planting programs.

A reception following the Earth Day celebration was held in the Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Education Center. The Ohanian Center, located at the Karin nursery and opened in 2004, provides practical training to students. On a weekly basis the ATP staff hosts students from the Agricultural Academy, Yerevan State University, and local schoolchildren, teaching them about environmental issues. The nursery plots serve as a field laboratory where students learn techniques of tree care and grafting taught by invited experts and ATP specialists.

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