PRESS RELEASE
July 16, 2007

ATP Experts Visit Lebanon to Help Start a New Program in Armenian Village of Aanjar
By Bella Avetisyan and Rebecca Jarvis

ATP staff Anahit Gharibyan (pictured right) and Samvel Ghandilyan were invited to Lebanon to provide training for a new tree planting project founded by the Initiative for Biodiversity Studies in Arid Regions at the American University of Beirut; the program was lunched with a planting by children and other residents in the Armenian village of Aanjar

Two senior Armenia Tree Project (ATP) staff members from Yerevan--Anahit Gharibyan and Samvel Ghandilyan--were invited to Lebanon this Spring to provide training for a new tree planting project founded by the Initiative for Biodiversity Studies in Arid Regions (IBSAR) at the American University of Beirut (AUB). IBSAR was launched in 2002 by AUB faculty who are working to protect semi-arid ecosystems and promote their sustainable use and conservation.

The purpose of the visit was to share ATP’s methodology and practical experience in establishing tree nurseries and community tree planting initiatives. It was the first time ATP specialists had provided international training and consultation based upon the organization’s 13 years of professional experience and knowledge. The ATP specialists helped IBSAR establish a nursery in the village of Aanjar, supervised a local tree planting initiative, and met with university students to discuss protecting the Baabda Forest.

IBSAR’s mission is to launch activities in research, development, training, and information exchange to promote the conservation of biodiversity in arid regions, primarily in the Middle East and North Africa. They have partnered with organizations such as ATP in other regions to have a more global perspective.

ATP specialists were contacted by Arbi Sarkissian, IBSAR Outreach Project Coordinator and Research Assistant, who organized the visit. “The visiting ATP experts pointed out the need for us to reach out to poorer communities in need of activities that have potential economic incentives for the locals,” explained Sarkissian. “Hence, our hopes are to use Aanjar as a research and training center where experienced members can teach others the basics of tree production, nursery managing, tree planting, and monitoring.”

What ATP’s visit demonstrated, he added, is that “the potential for reforestation in Lebanon depends largely on community participation and long-term management and monitoring of trees” and that “site preparation and proper planning are essential for making reforestation and community tree planting successful.”

Based on his experience establishing and managing ATP’s nurseries in Karin and Khachpar, Samvel Ghandilyan presented detailed information about how to set up a nursery. The next step was to travel to Aanjar and help create the nursery. Later there was a presentation at the St. Paul Church to explain ATP’s mission and programs. During the meeting, which was attended by 70 residents, mostly youth, an announcement was made about the community tree planting being organized the following day.

Aanjar is an exclusively Armenian village with population of about 2,000 people. It has a city hall, public center, cafes and restaurants, as well as historical ruins dating back to the Roman Empire. The village was founded in 1939 when the French, who owned the land, gave it to the Turks. The Armenians who had been living there settled in tents on the desert-like land they called Aanjar--which in Arabic means “water holes emerging from rocks.”

Over time, buildings were constructed and the village began to organize its institutions. In 1947 about half of the population of Aanjar moved to Armenia. The remaining residents transformed the village into an area covered with fruit trees and forested zones. During the Lebanese Civil War, Aanjar was a relatively safe place to live, and it became a shelter for thousands of Lebanese Armenians.

Gharibyan and Ghandilyan met with agricultural engineer Yesayi Havatian, who is a member of the Aanjar Development Committee. Havatian organized a tour of the village and introduced the ATP representatives to the architect of the village, Karo Antonian, who was given responsibility for establishing the tree nursery in Aanjar.

The following morning 30 Judas trees (Cercis siliquastrum) and 10 Syrian maples (Acer syriacum) were brought from AUB’s Agricultural Research Environmental Center (AREC) and planted on a specially prepared plot. The villagers--including many children who wanted to become stewards of the environment--helped to dig holes and followed instructions from ATP and local specialists. The adults showed the children how to properly plant and care for the seedlings in order to grow healthy and strong trees.

Shortly thereafter, Gharibyan and Ghandilyan traveled to Beirut where they were invited to the Agricultural Landscaping Department for a presentation on projects aimed at preserving the Baabda Forest. The Baabda Forest issue is very similar to that of the Shikahogh Reserve, which Armenian citizens with the help of the Diaspora, successfully saved from destruction by a planned highway in 2005. The forest of Baabda is situated east of Beirut, and it is the closest woodland to the capital with open land spaces, shaded areas, rich biodiversity, and unique wildlife.

When the government announced plans to build a highway through the densely grown forest, students were given the task of presenting alternatives for the preservation the magnificent forest. The best plans for protecting Baabda Forest will be presented to the Lebanese government.

“It was an honor to be the first ambassadors of ATP in a foreign country,” stated Gharibyan. “We had a wonderful time in an atmosphere of friendship and amazing hospitality. We met with Lebanese families with beautiful traditions and enjoyed the company of highly educated people.”

Ghandilyan said, “I am happy that we could share with IBSAR our knowledge and experience, which came as a result of many years work in establishing nurseries and implementing tree-planting projects. And I am very grateful to all those who helped make our visit to Lebanon so interesting and productive. It was really an unforgettable adventure.”

About Armenia Tree Project (ATP)

Based in Watertown and Yerevan, ATP has made enormous strides in combating desertification in the biologically diverse but threatened Caucasus region. Over 1.5 million trees have been planted and restored, and hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal tree-regeneration programs.

ATP works to further Armenia’s economic and social development by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation as these vital new trees provide food, wood, environmental benefits, and opportunities for economic growth.

To enhance public awareness of Armenia’s critical environmental challenges, ATP co-produced, with several partner organizations, a series of documentary films aired on Armenian TV and viewable online at ATP’s Web site: www.armeniatree.org.

Bella Avetisyan is ATP’s Outreach Coordinator and Rebecca Jarvis is a summer volunteer for ATP in Armenia.

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