BACKYARD NURSERIES
150 families in Armenia have harvested over
300,000 trees, increasing their family income by an
average of 40%.
The Backyard Nurseries Program (BYN) enables village residents to create income from their existing assets, which usually include parcels of productive agricultural land. ATP provides seeds and cuttings to these families who care for and grow them over a two-three year period. ATP staff trains the landowners, supervises the planting, and monitors the site throughout the process. Once trees reach harvesting stage, ATP pays the Backyard Nursery owner for those trees that are ready to be replanted in a forestry or community site. These families then begin the nursery cycle again with a new crop of trees.
How Armenian Villagers Are Using Trees
The approximate average income for a family in these remote villages is less than $200 per month, according to interviews conducted by ATP. Often, families live off the produce of their land, or receive a modest pension or children's allowance from the government.
The BYN program allows them to almost double their income, giving them more financial stability and, in many cases, helping them to avoid leaving the country for work.
ATP created the BYN Program as a way to increase their overall tree yield and offer remote villagers economic opportunity.
Backyard Nursery Sponsors will receive reports from the family throughout the year with updates on the progress and results of their support.
Sponsorship Level
$1,000/yr for two years
Number Of Seedlings Per Nursery
1,200-1,500
Nursery Time Period
2-3 years
Expected Tree Yield
85%
"BYN rewards family farmers for good work, when we pay for trees that have been well cared for. The program received an Energy Globe Award at the European Parliament because of this program's positive impact on the three aspects of sustainability: people, profit & planet.”
Arthur Harutyunyan
ATP Operations Manager