FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2007

ATP Receives $100,000 Grant from Conservation International to Partner with Yale University’s Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry
(Click here to read this story in Armenian)

A partnership with Yale University and Conservation International will help ATP conduct an analysis of the forests in the Lori region and produce a sustainable forestry manual for Armenia

A new partnership between Armenia Tree Project (ATP), Yale University’s Global Institute for Sustainable Forestry (www.environment.yale.edu), and Conservation International (www.conservation.org) will bring international “best practices” of sustainable forestry to Armenia. The joint venture, “Evaluation and Implementation of Sustainable Forestry Models in Northern Armenia,” involves conducting a state of the art analysis of the forest ecosystems in the Lori region with the aim of producing the first sustainable forestry training manual tailored to the specific needs of Armenia.

The severe degradation of forested areas in Armenia necessitates a new and bold approach to forestry practices. With Yale’s expertise in sustainable forestry, ATP along with Armenia’s leading academic and government forestry officials will collaborate in a partnership to bring cutting edge forestry training to Armenia. It is our hope that the project will literally reshape the nation’s landscape and ensure a sustainable future for its population.

The goals of the project are to evaluate the condition of the forests in northern Armenia, paying particular attention to the factors that are limiting the ability for regeneration. An assessment will be made of plants, herbs, and other non-timber products that may be sustainably harvested for generating alternative income for residents living in close proximity to the forests. Trainings on rotational grazing will be held with livestock owners to prevent soil erosion and further degradation of forests.

A model forest will be planted to serve as a training site, and paired with a sustainable forestry training manual specific to the unique environment of Armenia. This manual and demonstration plot will serve as the focal point for future trainings with foresters and residents from around the country.

This project is being funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a joint initiative of Conservation International, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Global Environment Facility, the Ministry of Finance of Japan, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. A fundamental goal of CEPF (www.cepf.net) is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.

Armenia Tree Project (ATP), a grassroots-supported non-profit organization based in Watertown and Yerevan, conducts vitally important environmental projects in Armenia’s impoverished and deforested zones and seeks support in advancing its reforestation mission.

Since 1994, ATP has made enormous strides in combating desertification in the biologically diverse but threatened Caucasus region. Nearly 1.5 million trees have been planted and restored, and hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal tree-regeneration programs. For more information or to support ATP, visit www.ArmeniaTree.org.

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