The final planting day on May 17 in Lernanist started with everyone watching the sky and checking the weather one last time. Even so, both the Synopsys Armenia team and ATP were already on the way up — there wasn’t really any waiting anymore.

From the village, the road begins to climb almost immediately. Lernanist sits below, and the planting site is another 5–7 km higher in the hills where we have been working together with Synopsys Armenia for four consecutive years now.

As we leave the village, things change quickly. The road turns rough, then off-road, often muddy, and the drive slows down. Villagers notice the movement — sometimes standing still as the pickup trucks pass through. The higher we go, the colder and sharper the air becomes. It’s the kind of cold that makes you adjust your jacket without thinking, and hope you didn’t forget a warm hat.

Even in early spring, the mountain doesn’t feel fully awake yet. Snow still holds on in shaded places, while nearby slopes are already turning green. Between them, there are cultivated plots and early wildflowers scattered across a landscape that feels caught between seasons.

When we reach the site, people spread out quickly. ATP forester Kahchik gives a short demonstration on how to plant the trees, and soon after that, everything shifts into action. Once people see it, hesitation disappears, and everyone naturally moves forward, picking up tools and stepping into the rows.

The seedlings are small pine trees, but they are part of something much larger already taking shape here. Across this 58-hectare site, birch, ash, maple, oak, and other species are gradually forming a mixed forest. ATP has been developing this area since 2023, and each season adds another layer to it.

The wind moves through the site all day, sometimes sharp enough to make people pause for a second before continuing. Still, the work doesn’t slow down. People keep planting, moving row by row, trying to make the most of the day.

At one point, Gayane Markosyan, PR & CSR Lead at Synopsys Armenia, said:

“We began greening this hill with ATP in 2023, and since then, we have planted 13,000 trees here. What makes this effort especially meaningful is seeing not only employees, but also their children, parents, and friends actively participating in the planting. Beyond creating a forest, we are cultivating a culture of volunteering, where children start to understand the value of contributing and experience the joy of doing something truly impactful.”

She looked up at the hill where the first outlines of trees planted in 2024, forming the letters SYNOPSYS, were beginning to appear and added: “We are proud to be planting this forest with ATP because they not only help plant the trees, but they also continue to care for the ones we plant, which is even more important.”



We also met the parents of Synopsys Armenia Senior Engineer Manushak Khalulyan, who were volunteering that day. While planting, they mentioned how quickly physical discomfort fades once you get into the rhythm of the work — after a while, you just keep going.

From ATP’s side, Aram Movsisyan spoke briefly about what comes next. Around 20,000 more trees are planned for Lernanist, and the idea is that the site gradually becomes a forest over time. Replanting and gap-filling are part of that process, returning each season depending on what the land needs.

We return to Lernanist each planting season. With every visit, the site shows another step forward — a landscape slowly changing across open mountain slopes where forest cover has been limited, and where restoration work has been ongoing since 2023.

With every visit, we see the small changes — young oaks and pines taking hold and growing a little stronger each season. And somehow, seeing them alive, rooted and continuing to grow, never feels ordinary.