Press Release
23.04.2004
US Ambassador John Ordway, Armenia Tree Project and Jinishian Memorial Foundation to Celebrate Earth Day in Mountainous Village of Dzoravank
On Friday, April 23, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Ordway, and Mrs. Maryjo Ordway marked Earthday in a joint Armenia Tree Project/Jinishian Memorial Foundation tree planting to establish a large (0.8 hectare) fruit and nut orchard for the refugee community of Dzoravank in Gegharkounik Marz. This joint endeavor was being made possible thanks to the organization and outreach efforts of the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and a donation by Jinishian Memorial Foundation. In cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, IREX and ACTR/ACCELS, 20 alumni from U.S.government exchange programs travelled as volunteers to Dzoravank to help with the tree planting. The date of the event was chosen to coincide with the celebration of Earth Day (celebrated globally on April 22 every year).
ATP Founder Carolyn Mugar, Executive Director Jeff Masarjian and Country Director Susan Yacubian Klein were in Dzoravank for this important event. Other high ranked guests had also been invited and they visited the sight.
This marked the second year Ambassador Ordway celebrating Earth Day with ATP in the Getik River valley. Dzoravank is the second village in the area where ATP is implementing a combined long term reforestation-poverty reduction program. The program was initiated in 2002 in the village of Aygut, situated approximately 10 kilometers distance from Dzoravank. ATP intends to expand to all 13 villages located in the picturesque Getik River valley. In this program of sustainable mountainous development, ATP partners with the villagers and with other international and local organizations to combat the linked problems of poverty and natural resource degradation. Among the contributors to date were USDA/MAP, World Food Program, Heifer International,Project Harmony,ORRAN, Boghosian Education Center, and Satsil..
For further information, please contact Karen Sarkavagyan or Bella Avetisyan at the Armenia Tree Project, phone numbers 569910 and 553069, E-mail
[email protected]
The Armenia Tree Project was founded in 1994 during Armenia's darkest and coldest years with the vision of securing Armenia's future by protecting Armenia's environment. Funded by contributions from Diasporan Armenians, ATP has planted and rejuvenated over 500,000 trees at more than 450 sites ranging from Gumri to Goris.
Earth Day with ATP and Yerevan Cleaning with "Maqur Yerevan" NGO
