Government ignores concerns about Teghut mine…

Armenia Copper Programme, a division of the Vallex Group registered offshore in Liechtenstein, has begun operating a controversial mining project in the village of Teghut. Preliminary work began with the clearing of a portion of the pristine Teghut Forest to create a massive tailing dump for toxic waste left after mineral processing. The company is aggressively removing a mountain in order to reach underground deposits of copper and molybdenum.

Teghut photo by Sara Anjargolian, 2012

Armenia has made mining a key part of its economic development strategy [see page 34] despite environmental, economic, and social concerns. There are more than 400 active mines and 19 tailing dumps in Armenia, a small country the size of Maryland. Scientists have reported health risks in communities around mines scattered throughout Armenia. Human rights and environmental activists have also protested violations of property rights and the loss of rare and endangered ecosystems and biodiversity.

A coalition of 14 organizations including Armenia Tree Project and Armenian Environmental Network sent a letter to the President and Prime Minister, requesting an independent Environmental Impact Assessment for the mine.

“Cases brought in opposition to the operations in Armenian courts have been cursorily and improperly dismissed on strictly procedural bases without proper examination as to the substance of the claims. The Environmental Impact Assessment and public notice requirements are fatally flawed. The irreparable damage already done to Teghut, and the yet greater damage that will be done to the region if mining continues, demand immediate attention,” reads the letter.

The letter requests the EIA in order to comply with domestic and international laws, present an accurate analysis of the environmental impact, address the public health impacts of the Teghut mining operations, take alternative development options into consideration, and restore public faith and trust in government.

The coalition received a response from Edgar Pirumyan, Ministry of Nature Protection Chief of Staff, who said an EIA was completed within the scope of the law.

“We are disappointed with the perfunctory response through the Ministry of Nature Protection whose primary mission is the protection of Armenia’s environment,” notes ATP’s managing director Tom Garabedian. “In a recent visit to California, the Prime Minister expressed his commitment to Armenia’s environment. We hope that there is a willingness of the government to reexamine Teghut and mining in Armenia as a whole.”

The letter was co-signed by Acopian Center for the Environment, Armenian American Health Professionals Organization, Armenian American Medical Association, Armenian American Nurses Association, Armenian American Pharmacists Association, Armenian Bar Association, Armenian International Dental Association, Armenian Medical International Committee, Axis of Justice (Serj Tankian), Civic Forum, haikProject, and World Wide Fund for Nature.

New conservation trust fund creates sustainable source of financing for protected areas in biodiversity hotspot…

Peter Musurlian co-wrote, narrated, and edited this 11-minute film about the work of the Caucasus Nature Fund in Georgia and Armenia. CNF is a conservation trust fund that is building capacity to support the ongoing maintenance and operation of nature reserves in the South Caucasus.



This work is particularly important since the region is one of the planet’s 34 most endangered hotspots for biodiversity. The organization has already invested in the Khosrov Reserve and four other national parks in Armenia and Georgia. According to the director, David Morrison, the goal is to support the operation of 15 parks by 2015.

“Saving the Wild” includes rare film footage of several of the endangered species under protection in these areas including bezoar goat, mouflon, and Caucasian leopard. The program has received major support from the German Development Bank (KfW) and other international organizations to create a sustainable source of financing.

ATP begins propagation of rare & endangered plants & fruit trees…

By Armine Tokhmakhyan & Jason Sohigian

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has been publishing its Red List of Threatened Species since 1963. The IUCN is the world’s main authority on the conservation status of plant and animal species, and the Red List is published periodically as the most comprehensive inventory available.

The Ministry of Nature Protection released its own two-volume “Red Book of Plants and Animals of the Republic of Armenia” in 2010. “The country’s attractiveness and public welfare are directly linked with the splendor and richness of its natural heritage,” writes Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan in the preface. “The production of the Red Book is another step forward in the preservation and recovery of the region’s biodiversity.”

There are approximately 3,600 plant species in Armenia, and 123 are endemic or found nowhere else on the planet. According to the authors, these plants become endangered because of deforestation, the overuse of resources like water, and development of land which provides habitats for plants and animals. The new Red Book includes information about 452 plant and 40 fungus species that are rare along with 223 plant species that are in danger of extinction.



“In response to the concern over the loss of native plants, Armenia Tree Project has a policy of growing only indigenous trees in its three nurseries,” explains Nursery Program Manager Samvel Ghandilyan. “In recent years many native species have either vanished or drastically reduced in numbers. Native and naturalized species possess traits that make them more likely to thrive under local conditions, which is why ATP has made this a priority in our nursery and tree planting programs.”

“ATP started to pay special attention to the propagation of endangered plants at our nursery in Karin. These include nine trees and shrubs that are registered as rare in the Red Book and two that are in danger of extinction,” Ghandilyan says. “These are Alpine Maple (Acer thrautvetteri) and Halfsphere Rose (Rosa gaenuspherica).”

Twenty speakers selected for second TEDx Yerevan event…

Encouraged by the success of the inaugural gathering, “Beyond Borders,” TED has licensed the second TEDx Yerevan for 2011. The event will take place on Sept. 24 at the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies. This year’s conference will focus on understanding youth, maturity, and transitions at the individual, institutional, and national level.

Created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading,” the TEDx program is designed to give communities, organizations, and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. TEDx events are planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis.

The organizers released this trailer video today.



The twenty speakers selected for this year’s “Becoming Young” event are Sara Anjargolian, Nazik Armenakyan, Levon Aronian, Karen Balayan, Vahé Berberian, Eames Demetrios, Al Eisaian, John Marshall Evans, Arpine Grigoryan, Shushan Harutyunyan, Vrej Kassouny, Stepan Khzrtian, Narineh Mirzaeian, Aram Pakhchanian, Onic Palandjian, Artur Papyan, Sergey Sargsyan, Lara Setrakian, Artyom Shamtsyan, and yours truly, Jason Sohigian.

The hosts of the inaugural TEDx Yerevan event were Alexis Ohanian and Kristine Sargsyan, who is back to organize this year's gathering. Presenters included Armen Devejian, Hagop Emrazian, Rich Goldman, Hawk Khatcherian, Alexis Ohanian, Timothy Straight, and Serj Tankian. Videos of the presentations are available here.

An update from Serj Tankian's latest visit to Armenia...

Text & Photograph by Serj Tankian (reposted with permission)

Here's some quick updates from my travels in Armenia. I recently visited the Tumo Center-- it's an incredible non-profit high-tech venture that brings technical training on animation, web design, film making, etc. to the youth in Armenia. The founder, Dallas native Sam Simonian, took me on a tour of the building. Google would be jealous of the design and setup, I was extremely impressed. The show I am playing tomorrow will be in front of the center to celebrate its opening in Yerevan, Armenia. Very exciting stuff!

I also visited the Lori region early this week and was taken aback by the beauty of the lush forests, rivers and countryside. The Teghut Forest is in that region and will be completely devastated by mining if it's not stopped. You can learn more about the Teghut Forest and how to help prevent the mining disaster from ruining the natural beauty, resources, and homes to many endangered species by clicking here. I strongly encourage you all to take a look.

Peace,
Serj

August 15 Update: Serj participated in this public forum for NGO's hosted by Civilitas Foundation. Topics of discussion included deforestation and mining, genetically modified food, governance and activism. The entire session is available on video here:

A field visit to tree planting sites in the Republic of Armenia...

As many readers of this blog know, Armenia Tree Project has been greening Armenia's future since 1994. The organization's sustainable development programs include tree planting and environmental education. I compiled a short series of my favorite photographs in this slideshow during a working visit to ATP sites in June and July. Click here to view:

Site locations include ATP’s nurseries in Karin and Khachpar villages, the Mirak Family Reforestation Nursery in Margahovit Village, and ATP's environmental education centers in Karin and Margahovit, both of which have been sponsored by the Ohanian Family. I also visited urban and rural green spaces created by ATP’s Community Tree Planting Program and several new forests established by ATP in partnership with local communities.



Of particular interest was a visit to the forests surrounding ATP's nursery in the northern Lori region, where we encountered several owl, flowers listed in the Red Book of Endangered Species, and breathtaking landscapes above the tree line. The trip concluded with a barbeque for our staff and their families hosted by ATP board member Anthony Barsamian and founder Carolyn Mugar.

PFA issues new report on state of Armenia’s environment…

Policy Forum Armenia has issued its first annual report on The State of Armenia’s Environment. According to its website, PFA has a “hybrid mission,” operating as a think tank and an advocacy group. With an international network of members, PFA’s stated objective is to offer professional analysis with innovative and practical recommendations for public policy design.

The 32-page study provides an overview of environmental challenges facing Armenia in areas including water resources, air pollution, the adequacy of nature reserves, deforestation, and energy. The report argues that improving environmental governance requires increased transparency and public participation in policy decisions as well as the enforcement of existing environmental laws.

A major section of the report is a case study of the open pit copper mine in northern Armenia, where the Teghut Forest has been cleared to create a tailing dump. “[Teghut] is an example of one facility where both urgent policy changes and adequate enforcement of existing policies are needed,” notes PFA.

The authors state that Armenia is a country of rich biodiversity with more than 3,500 plant species and 17,500 invertebrate and vertebrate species including the endangered Caucasian Leopard. However, mismanagement and the rapid growth of some sectors of the economy during the last decade created serious environmental challenges. The report concludes that “environmental protection should constitute a key element of Armenia’s developmental strategy.”

“Despite the fact that the prevailing developmental policy thinking is heavily skewed toward extractive industries, decisions about whether or not to undertake new large-scale projects with potentially sizable environmental impact in Armenia must be considered with the country’s long-term benefits and objectives in mind,” notes the PFA study.

It is especially interesting that PFA’s second “state of the nation” report has addressed environmental issues, particularly since this integral aspect of sustainable development has not been widely considered in Armenia. For example, a 2006 conference hosted by the Armenian International Policy Research Group titled, Armenia: Challenges of Sustainable Development, did not give environmental issues any consideration on the agenda.

The focus of sustainable development in Armenia has been on economic and social issues, while attention to environmental conservation has not been widely understood as a current strategic priority. Hopefully this annual report will contribute to a broader understanding of sustainable development and raise the level of dialogue to a new level.

TEDx Yerevan announces speakers for ‘beyond borders’ event...

TEDx Yerevan has announced the speakers selected for its first by-invitation-only event being held on Sept. 25. The theme of the widely anticipated event is “Beyond Borders” and topics of the 6-12 minute TED Talks will include innovation, technology, education, diaspora, and the arts.

The speakers selected after topics were proposed by the public and auditions held over the summer are Michael Aram, Rev. Ktrij (Armen) Devejian, Paula Devejian, Hagop Emrazian, Rich Goldman, Hans Gutbrod, Vardan Hovhannisyan, Hrair Hawk Khatcherian, Meroujan Minassian, Alexis Ohanian, Siemon Scamell-Katz, Timothy Straight, and Anna Yeghoyan (bios available here).

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission to promote “ideas worth spreading.” The program is designed to give communities, organizations, and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue. At TEDx events, talks given by thought leaders are intended to spark deep conversation and connections.

TED started in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from the fields of technology, entertainment, and design. The independent TEDx Yerevan event is operated under license from TED and it will be held at the Ani Plaza Hotel in Yerevan. The TEDx Yerevan organizing committee is headed by Alexis Ohanian and Kristine Sargsyan, along with representatives of the Civilitas Foundation and other organizations.

Alexis co-founded reddit.com, a popular social media site that was sold to Condé Nast in 2006. He recently completed a Kiva Fellowship in Armenia and founded Breadpig, Inc., an “uncorporation that’s responsible for bringing geeky things into the world” like xkcd: volume 0 and donating all the profits to charitable causes. In 2009, Alexis delivered a TED Talk on How to make a splash in social media.

Kristine has 13 years of experience in the non-profit and business sector as an organizational development consultant. She has worked with organizations including World Learning, USDA, PA Consulting Group, Eurasia Foundation, and Caritas Armenia. Kristine is on the board of the Professionals for Civil Society NGO and is the initiator of TEDx Yerevan and the TED Open Translation Project in Armenia.

En route to a presentation at a Startup Bootcamp at MIT, Alexis reflected on the reason behind initiating the TEDx Yerevan event: “I was so impressed by so many energetic, inspiring people who I met during my time in Armenia, that it seemed like such a waste to not have a conference to get them all sharing.”

Update: Videos of the talks presented at TEDx Yerevan are now available here.

Russian news agency reports on environmental crisis in Armenia…

During a two-day visit to Armenia by President Dmitry Medvedev, RIA Novosti published an article by journalist Diana Markosian about the country’s forest and water resources, and how these may be impacted by climate change. She points out that logging is leading to desertification, which will be exacerbated by increasing temperatures.

(Photo in Lori region by Jason Sohigian)

The first national report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change warned, for example, that a two-degree Celsius increase over the 21st century will decrease the total annual flow of water in Armenia by 15 to 20 percent.

In a study by the Stockholm Environment Institute, The Socio-Economic Impact of Climate Change in Armenia, the United Nations Development Program warns that “Armenia’s future economic development will depend on the decisions that the current generation makes about investments in adaptation [to climate change].”

Armenia Tree Project has been planting trees to mitigate the impacts of climate change, but the effort may not be enough to solve the problem. With only eight percent forest cover, Armenia is still exporting wood according to the National Statistical Service. In the last 16 years, ATP has planted 3,500,000 trees around the country.

Associate Director Areg Maghakian tells RIA Novosti that reforestation is “an issue of national security” and that the government must take the initiative in order to address it adequately.

I was also interviewed for the story: “Armenia is focused on economic and social development, but the third aspect of sustainable development is environmental impacts. Business and economic development have been identified as a priority. That’s obviously very important, but business and life itself are supported by natural ecosystem services like forests, water, soil, and clean air, which can’t be easily replaced when they are degraded or depleted.”

New education manual outlines environmental issues & steps to identify practical solutions…

Armenia Tree Project has released a new edition of its innovative “Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree” environmental education manual. “Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree” was introduced in 2005 when ATP published Armenia’s first teacher’s manual for environmental education, compiled and written by Karla Wesley. It received approval from Armenia’s Ministry of Education and Science for integration into the secondary school system.

“Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree” quickly gained in popularity among teachers and schoolchildren. Since 2006, ATP’s environmental education staff has trained hundreds of teachers in different regions of Armenia and the manual became an indispensable part of their classes.

Last year, ATP worked with teachers and experts from the National Institute of Education to make the manual fully compatible with official curriculum standards. The manual was enriched with lessons on climate change, starting a youth eco-club, and civic engagement. New lessons were drafted by Armenian educators and scientists, and the manual has a particular focus on forests and sustainable development. Of particular interest, the English edition includes an exclusive translation of Hovhannes Toumanian’s poem, “The Beetle School,” and a lesson on a unique breed of shepherd dog that is endemic to Armenia.

The OSCE Yerevan Office partnered with ATP to support the publication of the Armenian edition. Deputy Head Carel Hostra noted that he placed great value on the new manual. “The manual is important as it doesn’t dwell only on nature protection, but also emphasizes the responsibility of individuals towards nature protection. Let’s change the world starting with ourselves,” stated Mr. Hostra.

Environmental Education Program Manager Alla Berberyan pointed out that this was a completely new step for teachers in Armenia. “Teachers have taken a lead role in the elaboration of the manual, became deeply familiar with the modern methodology standards of education, and gained the relevant knowledge and skills to create a new teaching tool,” emphasized Ms. Berberyan at the launch of the new edition.

Climate mitigation program addresses forest restoration in the South Caucasus…

The Caucasus branch of the World Wildlife Fund organized a media tour to the afforestation sites in Northern Armenia established by Armenia Tree Project and the forestry department of the Ministry of Agriculture. In December, ATP announced its partnership with WWF and Germany's KfW Development Bank on a large-scale afforestation program in the Lori region.

The work was part of the WWF-KfW program, Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change through Forest Protection, Management and Restoration in the Southern Caucasus. It was financed by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety through KfW as part of Germany's Climate Initiative.

“Climate change is happening globally and Armenia is not an exception. Weather extremes have serous implications for forests. We are proud to collaborate with KfW and WWF to create a better future for the environment and people,” stated ATP Yerevan Director Mher Sadoyan. “We hope we can fight the adverse impacts of climate change in those territories of Armenia which are most affected, and reforestation is one way to achieve this goal.”

This environmental program created hundreds of jobs for rural residents who often migrate to earn a living abroad. As part of the goal to address the socio-economic status of the communities in the project area, ATP provided seasonal tree planting jobs for more than 300 people from the region. The television coverage posted above was made available by Ankyun Plus 3 TV after the media tour.

Armenia joins global celebrations for 40th anniversary of Earth Day…

Conservation activists joined national and international organizations in the Republic of Armenia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this month. Armenia Tree Project partnered with the Young Biologists Association, OSCE Aarhus Ecological Information Center, and Earth Day Network to organize an entire series of events including a tree planting in the capital city of Yerevan.

Two hundred native seedlings were provided by ATP with the support of the Earth Day Network for the public tree planting in the Nor Nork community of Yerevan. British Ambassador Charles Lonsdale joined participants to plant a tree and expressed his appreciation to the sponsors for organizing this environmental initiative.

Other Earth Day events included a seminar on “How to Live Green and Stop Climate Change” and a panel discussion where climate scientists and environmentalists addressed climate change and biodiversity issues in Armenia. The final event held on Earth Day was a “Live Green” painting competition for young children.

“We extend our thanks to the British Embassy and other organizations that joined our partnership including the Earth Day Network, Young Biologists Association, and OSCE Aarhus Center,” noted ATP director Jeff Masarjian. “Although our work is ongoing, we were glad to work with so many people on this day to demonstrate our commitment to the environment, be a part of global Earth Day celebrations, and contribute to the actions taking place all over the world to stop climate change.”

Click here for photos uploaded by ATP and the Young Biologists Association. For more information about other Earth Day events taking place around the world this month, visit the website of the Earth Day Network: http://www.earthday.org/

H2Economy to Join Cambridge Panel on Hydrogen Fuel Cells...

A panel discussion featuring the president of a hydrogen fuel cell company from Armenia and two local counterparts will be held on April 29 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Cambridge Public Library on 449 Broadway.

Titled “Fuel Cells and the Hydrogen Economy: Views from Armenia, the US, and Beyond” and sponsored by the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City Association, the event is part of the week-long Cambridge Science Festival organized by MIT, Harvard University, Cambridge public schools, the public library, WGBH, and the Museum of Science. Admission is free and the public is invited to learn about fuel cells.

Agassy Manoukian, the CEO of H2Economy in Armenia will describe innovative work being done by his company. Radha Jalan, the CEO of Boston-area ElectroChem, Inc., and Brad Bradshaw, the CEO of Hy9 Corporation, will describe their companies’ achievements in this field. Charles Myers, the president of Trenergi Corp. and interim president of the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition, will moderate the panel.

Accompanying Manoukian to Cambridge is another guest of CYSCA, science educator Gayane Poghosyan of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia. She will attend the events and meet with science educators in the Boston area.

National Geographic highlights ATP’s sustainable forestry programs…

National Geographic daily online news service editor David Braun has released a profile of Armenia Tree Project on his popular blog, Nat Geo News Watch.

“Armenia has learned the hard way what it means for a country to lose its forests--and the huge backbreaking effort required to replant them. But in its struggle and determination to restore its trees, Armenia is an inspiration for the rest of the planet,” writes Braun.

“The endeavor to bring trees back to Armenia is thanks mostly to an initiative called the Armenia Tree Project, a program supported by the international conservation charity World Wildlife Fund and BMU/KfW, the German Development Bank,” he adds.

He points out that last year one million trees were planted by ATP, which brings the total number of trees planted to 3.5 million. “A million trees required a million individual efforts--holes dug, backs bent, tender hands placing seedlings in the soil, careful nurturing of saplings to raise them to productivity. All of this is done by individuals determined that their trees will become forests that will sustain livelihoods and restore a vibrant environment,” notes Braun.

“The massive tree planting program has stimulated employment for Armenians, from the cultivation of seedlings to planting to protection of the nascent forests. In many ways the effort to restore trees to Armenia is a restoration of the nation's vitality,” he concludes in his National Geographic post.

Click here to read the entire Nat Geo News Watch article, “How Trees Are Restoring Hope to Armenia,” which describes how people are pulling together to reinvent Armenia’s future through restoring its trees.

Stockholm Environment Institute looks at climate change in Armenia...

The UNDP Armenia has released a thorough and alarming study conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute on The Socio-Economic Impact of Climate Change in Armenia. The 130-page report was written by Elizabeth A. Stanton, Frank Ackerman, and Flavia Resende, who are highly respected experts in the field of environmental economics.

The study points out that climate change will have far-reaching effects on social and economic life, and the ability for people to adapt will depend on whether or not funding will be available to support adaptive policy measures and how quickly these policies can be implemented. “Armenia’s future economic development will depend on the decisions that the current generation makes about investments in adaptation [to climate change],” warns the report.

According to this UNDP study, national scenarios forecast an increase to Armenia’s average annual temperature to be 4.5 degrees C in the lowlands and 7 degrees C in the highlands over the next century. Average annual precipitation is expected to decrease by as much as 9 percent, with the biggest reductions predicted for Yerevan and the Ararat Valley, which can expect 30 percent less precipitation by 2100. Higher temperatures will lead to more evaporation which means less soil moisture and reductions of up to 24 percent in river flows, which will reduce the availability of water for agriculture and power generation.

On an optimistic note, the experts from the Stockholm Environment Institute point out that many of the best available climate adaptation policy measures can be important for Armenia’s economic development. These include improving water and power generation infrastructure, integrating climate adaptation in plans for economic development and energy production, planning for more efficient use of resources in the context of growth and higher rates of consumption, and considering the needs and vulnerabilities of rural and low income households.

“Unless quick action is taken on large-scale adaptation measures, it is unlikely that Armenian families, their livelihoods, or their economy will be unscathed by climate change. Armenia’s poor and especially its rural poor populations will be particularly vulnerable,” warn the authors. “Social impacts will include an increased incidence of illness from heat waves as temperatures rise, a shortage of water and an increase to electricity tariffs as competing needs collide, food shortages or increased food prices as agricultural productivity falters, and an increased incidence of dangerous and damaging landslides, mudflows, and floods as dry soil and deforestation coincide with extreme storms.”

UNDP representative Dirk Boberg points out that this report is a pilot process undertaken by UNDP in only a few countries. He indicates that the priority sectors for adaptation to the impacts of climate change are water, agriculture, energy, and forests. “[This study] provides economic analysis and recommendations for decision-makers that need to manage the impacts of climate change by minimizing negative impacts and maximizing adaptation opportunities,” he writes in the foreword to The Socio-Economic Impact of Climate Change in Armenia.

Armenia joins 350 international day of climate action…

As part of the global 350 climate change campaign, activists led by Armenia Tree Project and other NGOs worked with schoolchildren to plant 350 pine seedlings in northern Armenia on Oct. 24.

“We were proud to represent Armenia in this international 350 movement. This campaign was initiated by activists and scientists concerned about rising levels of carbon dioxide that is causing climate change globally and even in Armenia, where we are witnessing more weather extremes and drier weather that has implications for forests and agriculture,” explained ATP Yerevan Director Mher Sadoyan.

“Activists all over the world planned actions on this day to let global leaders know that carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere need to be lowered to 350 parts per million, or scientists predict we will face climate changes that could lead to widespread disruptions for people and ecosystems,” added Sadoyan.

“Trees absorb carbon that causes climate change, so we hope our contribution to the global 350 campaign will help reduce the adverse impacts of climate change, especially for rural populations in Armenia and other countries that are most affected,” stated ATP Environmental Education Program Manager Alla Berberyan.

“The climate action was a positive event to raise awareness of the importance of the number 350 to the Armenian and the international community, and we are expecting it to have a practical educational impact,” noted Berberyan.

To read this story in Armenian, click here.

ATP celebrates 15 years of greening Armenia...

In celebration of the 15th anniversary of its founding, Armenia Tree Project NGO has released a new documentary about its tree planting and environmental education programs. The 15-minute film, "Every Tree...," was directed by Kennedy Wheatley and photographed and edited by Amaya Cervino.

"ATP began in 1994 with the modest goal of re-greening the public spaces in Yerevan where trees had been sacrificed during the ‘dark years’ after Armenia’s independence when people were forced to burn whatever they could find to stay warm," recounted founder Carolyn Mugar.

"By 2004 it became clear that rejuvenating public areas alone was not going to significantly impact the larger issue of deforestation. It was then, only five years ago, that I issued a challenge to our staff to undertake a program to plant 15 million trees by 2015," Ms. Mugar wrote in a message to supporters.

"I personally accompanied the filmmakers on a tour of ATP’s three nurseries, two education centers, and dozens of planting sites, and I think this film captures the emotion and impact of our tree planting, poverty reduction, and education programs," noted ATP director Jeff Masarjian.

"This has been a difficult year because of the global economic recession," added Mr. Masarjian. "Nevertheless, we are making every effort to follow through on our commitment to purchase and plant the tree seedlings grown by partner families who are working with ATP."

The status of renewable energy in the Republic of Armenia…

The solar hot water and cooling system shown in the foreground on the roof of American University of Armenia is powered by a two-wing array of 72 solar panels that was constructed locally and generates a total of 5 kW (Photo by Jason Sohigian)

Armenia uses a diverse mix of energy resources, from natural gas to nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, and geothermal energy. In 2005, 42 percent of the energy consumed was generated by the Medzamor Nuclear Plant, 30 percent was produced by hydropower and wind, and 28 percent was generated by thermal power plants fueled by natural gas.

I recently completed a study on the renewable energy sector and had an opportunity to visit a few key sites and interview Tamara Babayan and Ara Marjanyan of the Armenia Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund, Kenell Touryan and Artak Hambarian of American University of Armenia, and Diana Harutyunyan of the Climate Change Information Center.

The basic principles of Armenia's Energy Sector Development Strategy adopted in 2005 are achieving sustainable economic development, enhancing the energy independence of the country, and ensuring efficient use of domestic and alternative sources of energy.

A new market study by Danish Energy Management indicates that Armenia has proven experience in solar PV technologies and significant deposits of raw materials for developing a local technological chain. This extensive study co-authored by SolarEn LLC points out the existence of a wide variety of siliceous raw material, local experience in PV technologies, and a highly competitive research and development potential.

“From the various PV technologies analyzed, [a] few can be considered ready and some of those can be applicable for PV industry development in Armenia. Technological chains based on local raw materials and existing infrastructure can offer a certain degree of competitive advantage for investors. Today in Armenia a number of companies and organization exist that can help jump-start the PV industry development,” noted the report optimistically.

The capacity of the Pushkin Pass wind farm is 2.64 MW and it comprises four 660 kW Vestas wind turbines (Photo source: Implementation of Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism)

The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a map of wind power resources with SolarEn LLC, which assesses a wind power potential of 4,900 MW from seven sites that cover an area of 979 sq km. Armenia’s Energy Sector Development Strategy includes a series of renewable energy targets that include 595 MW of hydropower, 500 MW of wind power, and 25 MW of geothermal power by 2025.

According to Vardan Sargsyan of the State University of Economics, the economically viable capacity for wind energy is comparable with nuclear in Armenia. During a 2006 NATO conference in Istanbul on energy, sustainable development, and environmental security, Dr. Sargsyan indicated that the government is planning to generate 10 percent of its electricity from wind power and that prospective sites have been identified for wind farms.

The first in wind farm in the South Caucasus was put into operation at Pushkin Pass in 2005. The total installed capacity is 2.64 MW and the “Lori 1” project comprises four 660 kW Vestas wind turbines. The wind farm was funded by a $3.1 million grant from Iran, which is also working on a natural gas pipeline and hydropower station along the border of the two countries. The project was initiated in 2002 with the support of The Netherlands and the total installed capacity was intended to be 19.5 MW using 23 turbines, and negotiations are currently underway with investors to expand the wind farm.

Currently organizations such as the Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund are developing feasibility studies and offering preferential financing. At the same time, experts are nurturing the development of renewable energy through tax incentives, reviews of tariff structures, and legislation that demonstrates a commitment from the government. Ultimately the renewable energy sector can help Armenia achieve its energy independence and sustainable development goals, while at the same time emerging as a global leader in the clean energy sector.

Update: This study was adapted for publication in the January 2010 issue of the Armenian Weekly. It is also being published in German by ADK Magazine (click here for part one and part two).

ATP case study part of upcoming World Forestry Congress in Buenos Aires…

The author with ATP reforestation manager Vadim Uzunyan (left) and a backyard nursery micro-enterprise owner in the Getik River Valley

A case study about the Armenia Tree Project Backyard Nursery Micro-Enterprise Program has been accepted as part of the proceedings of the XIII World Forestry Congress.

The international gathering is scheduled for October 18-23, 2009, in Buenos Aires. The paper was originally drafted for a master’s level course in Sustainable Development that is part of the Environmental Management program at Harvard.

I updated and expanded the section on lessons learned and submitted an abstract, which will be presented as a poster at the meeting and published in the proceedings of the XIII WFC. The following is the text of the abstract as submitted:

“Case Study: Armenia Tree Project’s ‘Backyard Nursery’ Micro-Enterprise Program Delivers Poverty Reduction and Environmental Benefits in Rural Areas”

Armenia’s forest cover was 18 percent in the 17th and 18th centuries, and a period of cutting for industrial and farming uses has brought the forest cover to a dangerously low level of less than 10 percent. Landsat data has revealed that Armenia’s forest cover was as low as 7.7 percent in 2006, and a major feature of the deforestation has been an accelerated rate of forest fragmentation.

Armenia Tree Project NGO was founded in 1994 and has initiated programs to address the interrelated issues of poverty and deforestation, with the goal of “using trees to improve the standard of living and protect the environment, guided by the need to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem.”

The organization identified a remote area in northeastern Armenia that was isolated by landslides caused by deforestation and employs its refugee population to grow seedlings to replenish their local forests in a Backyard Nursery Micro-Enterprise Program. ATP identified 20 families to grow seedlings in backyard plots in a pilot project. ATP purchased the surviving seedlings when they were ready to be planted in the forest, and hired additional workers from the village to do the planting.

After the first seedlings were planted in 2004, the organization expanded the program and began working with hundreds of families to produce seedlings. Although the sums paid are small by Western standards, the program has nearly doubled the annual income of these rural families.

The program has accomplished reforestation and poverty reduction goals, but the organization is concerned that it may not be fully sustainable in its current design because it relies on philanthropic donor inputs. However, some sustainable development experts have argued that any program that protects the environment or reduces poverty is sustainable over the long term.

To address the issue of sustainability, ATP is exploring the possibility of identifying other potential buyers of these seedlings, such as the Armenian State Forestry department or forestry programs in neighboring countries. The program may also benefit from the sale of ecosystem services generated by the newly established forests, such as carbon sequestration or groundwater recharge.

The ‘Backyard Nursery’ Micro-Enterprise Program is a good example of a sustainable development project since it provides economic (employing families to grow seedlings), social (partners provide needed services such as school lunches, computer access, health care), and environmental (reforestation to address landslide/erosion problems) benefits.

Update: To read ATP's press release about the XIII World Forestry Congress, click here. To view a PDF of the poster being presented at the series of meetings in Buenos Aires, click here.

Destruction/Development: The Wealth of Natural Capital…

The IREX Alternative Media Project organized a two-day seminar at American University of Armenia on “Advanced Coverage of Environmental Issues” for 14 journalists from various regions of Armenia.

The program was led by Leah Kohlenberg and included presentations on Bird Conservation Studies by Karen Aghababyan (Acopian Center for Conservation Learning), Trash and Recycling by Lilik Simonyan (Women for Health and Healthy Environment), Tree Planting Programs by Bella Avetisyan (Armenia Tree Project), National Parks by Siranush Galstyan and Artur Khoyetsyan (World Wildlife Fund).

The second day featured presentations on Wildflowers by Anna Asatryan (Institute of Botany), Deforestation by Hovik Sayadyan (State Agrarian University), and Trash and Recycling by Helmut Bernt (GTZ). The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) is an international organization providing programs to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, and foster civil society.

IREX will coordinate the work of the journalists to publish a regional supplement related to the issues presented at the seminar in time for World Environment Day in June. I was invited to discuss the topic of Sustainable Development and “The Wealth of Natural Capital,” and the following is an overview of the concepts presented.

The benefits people obtain from ecosystems include provisioning services such as food, water, and timber; regulating services that affect climate, floods, and water quality; cultural services that provide recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits; and supporting services such as soil formation, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment concluded that non-market ecosystem benefits are often more valuable than market benefits. “The value of managing ecosystems sustainably is often higher than the value associated with the conversion of the ecosystem through farming, logging, or other intensive uses,” noted the influential report.

In addition, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity study led by Deutsche Bank managing director Pavan Sukhdev has shown that the value of environmental services lost every year is greater in magnitude than the current global financial crisis. “Whereas Wall Street by various calculations has to date lost, within the financial sector, $1-1.5 trillion, the reality is that at today’s rate we are losing natural capital [from global deforestation] at least between $2-5 trillion every year,” noted Sukhdev on the sidelines of the IUCN Congress in Oct. 2008.

I presented case studies that demonstrate the economic value of environmental services, as examples that could be replicated by professional, industry, and public sector experts in Armenia. First, the Catskills watershed provides drinking water to New York and is the largest US surface water supply that is not mechanically filtered. In 1989, city officials were faced with an EPA order to build a filtration plant that might have cost $6-8 billion, and instead the city allocated $1.5 billion to create buffers of undeveloped land around the reservoirs, to let nature pay for its own conservation.

Second, a study by the Audubon Society and Gund Institute for Ecological Economics estimated that Massachusetts forests provide $2.9 million in environmental services each year. For example, conservation efforts protected forests around the Quabbin Reservoir, which provides 40 percent of the state’s drinking water. Because of the services provided by this forest buffer, taxpayers were exempted from financing a $750 million filtration plant. Third, a 1986 project analysis in the Philippines estimated that logging would generate gross revenues of $9.8 million over 10 years, while a corresponding increase in sedimentation would result in lost revenues of $8.1 million from fisheries and $19.3 million from tourism over same period. The results convinced the government to ban logging in the Bacuit Bay watershed and declare it a reserve.

“We cannot--and should not--put a brake on the legitimate aspirations of countries and individuals for economic development,” concluded The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity study initiated by the European Commission. “However, it is essential to ensure that such development takes proper account of the real value of natural ecosystems. This is central to economic and environmental management.”

Update: The IREX Core Media Support Program media supplement, Protecting Armenia's Environment, was published in July 2009.