In the mountain village of Mets Sariar in Armenia's Shirak Province, decades of overgrazing and poor land management had left local pastures degraded and unproductive. Farmers were forced to move their livestock long distances in search of grazing land, increasing both the time and cost of raising animals.

To address these challenges, the Armenia Tree Project—through the Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia (FORACCA) project—launched a community-centered initiative to restore 200 hectares of degraded pastureland while planting 100 hectares of new forest. The project is funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) as part of a 4-year partnership with Armenia Tree Project.

Community-Driven Restoration

"Farmers told us their livestock had to travel long distances to find productive pasture," says Vahe Matsakyan, ATP's Forest Programs Manager. "That was our signal to act. Alongside establishing a new forest, we needed to restore the grazing land that local families depend on."

The restoration effort combines practical land management with local knowledge. Residents are clearing stones and invasive thorny weeds, sowing native grasses, and installing electric fencing to protect newly restored areas while the vegetation becomes established.

Hovhannes, a resident of Mets Sariar and an employee of the local municipality, is helping lead the pasture restoration work.

"Our pastures had become unusable," he says. "This project has given our village a new beginning."

Creating Local Opportunities

The project is also creating employment close to home. Around 40 local residents participated in tree planting this spring, while dozens more are working on pasture restoration. The initiative benefits not only Mets Sariar but also the neighboring communities of Krashen and Jajur.

For Zori, a resident of Jajur, the project has made a meaningful difference.

"For the past three years, I haven't had to leave my family for seasonal work abroad," he says. "The income supports my family, and the restored pastures will make livestock farming easier for everyone."



Looking Ahead

As the new forest grows and the restored pastures recover, the benefits will continue long after the planting season ends. Healthier grazing land will support local livestock, while the expanding forest will help restore biodiversity and strengthen the landscape's resilience to climate change.

In Mets Sariar, restoring nature is also helping strengthen the community—demonstrating how investing in healthy ecosystems can create lasting environmental and economic benefits for rural Armenia.