A New Chapter for Forest Governance in Armenia

The Hrant Dink Memorial Forest was planted in 2007 by Armenia Tree Project (ATP), to honor the legacy of Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian journalist known for his advocacy of justice, truth-telling, and reconciliation.

ATP, one of the earliest environmental NGOs founded in post-Soviet Armenia, has long worked at the intersection of environmental restoration and social healing. Its mission goes beyond tree planting; it supports environmental justice and stewardship while engaging communities in reforestation and afforestation efforts that reflect local needs and conditions.

Over the past two decades, the forest, composed of native species like Pinus sylvestris, has grown into a healthy ecosystem, delivering essential services such as erosion control, climate regulation, and biodiversity conservation. It stands as proof of what long-term environmental planning and community engagement can achieve.

Located near the village of Fioletovo, the forest’s evolution highlights the power of aligning ecological goals with sustained community involvement. In 2027, nearly 20 years after planting, ATP will transfer the management of the 11-hectare forest to the municipality, marking the first case in Armenia where a community assumes long-term stewardship of a reforested area. This transition, from centralized oversight to local ownership, positions the village residents as the forest’s future caretakers.

A Forest of Memory and Reconciliation

Hrant Dink (1954–2007) was a Turkish-Armenian journalist and human rights advocate known for his efforts to promote dialogue, reconciliation, and mutual understanding between Armenians and Turks. His lifelong commitment to justice and human rights resonates deeply with the belief that access to a healthy environment, like forests, is a fundamental right essential to dignity, peace, and a shared future.

The Hrant Dink Memorial Forest is not only an ecological achievement; it is a living symbol of that vision. Just as he envisioned healing historical wounds and building bridges between peoples, the forest embodies a commitment to remembrance, regeneration, and reconciliation.

Why Fioletovo?

Fioletovo is a unique village in Lori Province, home to a community of Malakans, a Russian community that fled persecution in the 19th century. Known for their pacifism, simplicity, and deep respect for nature, the Malakans bring a distinctive ethic of stewardship that aligns closely with the principles of sustainable forest management.

Their values, self-reliance, communal decision-making, and harmony with the environment, make them natural stewards of the land. Fioletovo’s role in this initiative also highlights the cultural diversity and capacity of Armenia’s rural communities.

The mayor of the village expressed during recent consultations: “This forest is not just trees. It’s a part of our village.” He also expressed the municipality’s hope to expand the forested area in the future, signaling a deeper, long-term commitment to environmental stewardship.

Community Ownership and Stewardship: A first in Armenia

Community-led forest management is nonexistent in Armenia. Most forests are administered by national entities. This handover represents a structural shift: recognizing that those who live closest to the land are often best equipped to manage it. Moreover, because the land is already owned by the municipality, the transition is not only symbolic but also legally and administratively sound.

Between the years of 2025 and 2026, ATP will prepare the community of Fioletovo through capacity building and the development of a 10-year forest management plan. This collaborative approach will ensure that the village is equipped to care for the forest independently and sustainably.

Planning for Sustainable Management

To ensure a smooth transition, ATP in collaboration with the local community, will be developing a ten-year forest management plan tailored to the needs of Fioletovo. The plan will aim to keep the forest ecologically healthy, socially beneficial, and economically viable. It will include practical strategies for forest maintenance such as selective thinning, pruning, erosion control, and protection from pests and diseases. It will also address fire prevention, climate resilience, and soil conservation. Early detection of stressors and prompt response measures will be built into the management structure.

Education, Training, and Local Capacity Building

A key component of the transition will be building of the capacity of Fioletovo residents to manage the forest. ATP will implement a series of training and education activities to ensure local knowledge and skills are strengthened.

ATP Ohanian Training Center in the nearby village of Margahovit will serve as a hub for education. Training modules will cover sustainable forest management, fire prevention, forest governance principles and use of non-wood forest products. Other sessions will address topics such as alternative sources of energy and heating, forest-based entrepreneurship, rural tourism, and climate adaptation.

To promote inclusive participation, women, youth, and marginalized groups will be engaged in the training process. Forest management strategies will incorporate diverse perspectives to support equitable and practical outcomes. In addition, workers from the village involved in forest activities within Dilijan National Park will also be encouraged to attend the training, ensuring their experience and insights contribute to the process.

Looking Ahead

For ATP, tree planting has always represented more than land restoration, it is an act of healing. Just as Hrant Dink envisioned mending fractured relationships between peoples, ATP sees reforestation as a path to regenerate ecosystems and rebuild trust between communities and across borders. Since 2007, ATP has planted more than 35 new forests across Armenia, all of which are established on land owned by local communities. This approach ensures long-term protection and community engagement. In the coming years, the model adopted in Fioletovo will be applied in other villages as well, laying the groundwork for a national shift toward decentralized forest stewardship.

The memory of Hrant Dink lives on not only in the trees that bear his name but, in the people who tend them. As Fioletovo takes on this responsibility, it offers a hopeful model of participatory, local-led forest governance, and serves as a model that can be replicated. In the face of growing environmental challenges, decentralized and inclusive governance may prove increasingly essential. This transition marks a meaningful step forward in sustainable land management in Armenia and potentially beyond.

The handover of the Hrant Dink Memorial Forest represents more than a shift in responsibility. It is a new paradigm for conservation, rooted in justice, local agency, and community identity. It is a testament to the idea that forests, like peace, can be cultivated when people come together around a shared vision.