ATP 'Enters the Forest' With Large-Scale Reforestation Program
22 Nov 2005
Groong
ATP Press Release
YEREVAN--Nearly 120,000 tree seedlings for reforestation were purchasedthis Fall by Armenia Tree Project (ATP) from backyard nurseries owned by residents of the rural villages of Aghavnavank, Dzoravank, and Aygut. These rural communities are inhabited by Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan and are located in the Getik River Valley near Lake Sevan.
[...]
In 2004, as part of its 10th anniversary, ATP announced the beginningof its first large scale reforestation initiative, which was strongly encouraged by its many generous donors. This phase of the project was made possible through a leadership gift of $100,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Barber of Maine, who have been enthusiastic supporters since 1995.
In the early 1990s, Gus Barber visited Armenia and witnessed people with no work, food, or prospects for improvement. "Trees were being cut down everywhere, and people cannot live without trees," he told ATP. Gus was so struck by the unfortunate plight of Armenia that he made a commitment to improving the situation.
Gus' personal experiences as the son of Armenian immigrants gave him a particular appreciation for the hardships of others. In 1955, he started a small business with just three employees. Today, as President of Barber Foods, he employs over 850 workers. Over 40 percent of his staff are immigrants, and each year he pays college tuition for 25 employees. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in September.
Gus takes great pride in his own flourishing orchard of walnut, apple, and other fruit trees, plus a large stand of wild Maine blueberries. In recent years, the Barber Family supported the planting of over 5,000 walnut and almond trees at pilgrimage sites and in rural villages throughout Armenia. Gus was instrumental in assisting ATP with thebackyard fruit tree renewal project in Aygut, which was completed inFall 2004.
ATP established a unique backyard nursery pilot project in 2003 in Aygut. Working closely with communities and local officials, ATP entered into agreements with families interested in growing tree seedlings to be sold to ATP for reforestation of the mountainssurrounding their village.
[...]
In early 2005, ATP was planning to plant 90,000 trees in observance ofthe 90th anniversary of the Genocide. However, due to the expansionand success of this rural economic development program, the backyardnurseries produced 120,000 seedlings ready for planting. This, incombination with ATP's Community Tree Planting program, will resultin the planting of over 170,000 trees, far exceeding the number oftrees ever planted by ATP in a single year.
After signing contracts with ATP, each backyard nursery owner was provided with a variety of seeds from nearby forests as well as the necessary tools and equipment. In addition, ATP agro-specialists regularly visited the nurseries to provide technical assistance andtraining to the farmers. Participants were taught how to maintainsoil and properly nurture their seedlings, which needed to achieve a threshold height of 30 cm before being eligible for purchase by ATP.
According to a household survey conducted by ATP in 2003, theaverage annual income of rural villagers in Aygut was only $280,so the money earned by the families and workers involved in thisproject has provided a desperately needed source of income.
[...]
ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia's futureby protecting its environment and advancing Armenia's socio-economicdevelopment by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation and communitytree planting. ATP uses trees to improve the standard of living ofArmenians, promoting self-sufficiency and aiding those with fewestresources first.
In just over 10 years, ATP has planted and rejuvenated nearly 750,000trees at more than 500 sites in 11 regions of Armenia and Artsakh. Withthe establishment of the new Mirak Family Reforestation nursery inMargahovit and expansion of the Backyard Nursery program, ATP hopesto soon be planting over one million trees per year in Armenia. Foradditional information, visit www.armeniatree.org or call toll-free(866) 965-TREE.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Groong
ATP Press Release
YEREVAN--Nearly 120,000 tree seedlings for reforestation were purchasedthis Fall by Armenia Tree Project (ATP) from backyard nurseries owned by residents of the rural villages of Aghavnavank, Dzoravank, and Aygut. These rural communities are inhabited by Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan and are located in the Getik River Valley near Lake Sevan.
[...]
In 2004, as part of its 10th anniversary, ATP announced the beginningof its first large scale reforestation initiative, which was strongly encouraged by its many generous donors. This phase of the project was made possible through a leadership gift of $100,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Barber of Maine, who have been enthusiastic supporters since 1995.
In the early 1990s, Gus Barber visited Armenia and witnessed people with no work, food, or prospects for improvement. "Trees were being cut down everywhere, and people cannot live without trees," he told ATP. Gus was so struck by the unfortunate plight of Armenia that he made a commitment to improving the situation.
Gus' personal experiences as the son of Armenian immigrants gave him a particular appreciation for the hardships of others. In 1955, he started a small business with just three employees. Today, as President of Barber Foods, he employs over 850 workers. Over 40 percent of his staff are immigrants, and each year he pays college tuition for 25 employees. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in September.
Gus takes great pride in his own flourishing orchard of walnut, apple, and other fruit trees, plus a large stand of wild Maine blueberries. In recent years, the Barber Family supported the planting of over 5,000 walnut and almond trees at pilgrimage sites and in rural villages throughout Armenia. Gus was instrumental in assisting ATP with thebackyard fruit tree renewal project in Aygut, which was completed inFall 2004.
ATP established a unique backyard nursery pilot project in 2003 in Aygut. Working closely with communities and local officials, ATP entered into agreements with families interested in growing tree seedlings to be sold to ATP for reforestation of the mountainssurrounding their village.
[...]
In early 2005, ATP was planning to plant 90,000 trees in observance ofthe 90th anniversary of the Genocide. However, due to the expansionand success of this rural economic development program, the backyardnurseries produced 120,000 seedlings ready for planting. This, incombination with ATP's Community Tree Planting program, will resultin the planting of over 170,000 trees, far exceeding the number oftrees ever planted by ATP in a single year.
After signing contracts with ATP, each backyard nursery owner was provided with a variety of seeds from nearby forests as well as the necessary tools and equipment. In addition, ATP agro-specialists regularly visited the nurseries to provide technical assistance andtraining to the farmers. Participants were taught how to maintainsoil and properly nurture their seedlings, which needed to achieve a threshold height of 30 cm before being eligible for purchase by ATP.
According to a household survey conducted by ATP in 2003, theaverage annual income of rural villagers in Aygut was only $280,so the money earned by the families and workers involved in thisproject has provided a desperately needed source of income.
[...]
ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia's futureby protecting its environment and advancing Armenia's socio-economicdevelopment by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation and communitytree planting. ATP uses trees to improve the standard of living ofArmenians, promoting self-sufficiency and aiding those with fewestresources first.
In just over 10 years, ATP has planted and rejuvenated nearly 750,000trees at more than 500 sites in 11 regions of Armenia and Artsakh. Withthe establishment of the new Mirak Family Reforestation nursery inMargahovit and expansion of the Backyard Nursery program, ATP hopesto soon be planting over one million trees per year in Armenia. Foradditional information, visit www.armeniatree.org or call toll-free(866) 965-TREE.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 4:31 AM
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