From the Director's Desk

January 2008

Two-thousand-and-seven was a truly remarkable year of achievement for Armenia Tree Project. Your generous support, combined with the professional skills, hard work, and dedication of our staff in Armenia and Watertown has made ATP one of the most trusted and highly respected environmental organizations in the region.

That’s because we get things done and deliver tangible results.

In 2007, some of these included:

• Providing tree-related income for over 500 households in Armenia
• Planting 550,000 trees all over the country, exceeding our pledge to the United Nations Environment Program’s “Billion Tree Campaign”
• Establishing the new Hrant Dink Memorial Forest near Margahovit, Armenia
• Providing environmental education training and classes to thousands of schoolchildren, university students, professionals, and local residents
• Working as professional partners with organizations and governmental bodies including United Nations Development Program, Yale University School of Forestry, Yerevan State Agricultural Academy, Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund Armenia, American University of Armenia, American University of Beirut, Children of Armenia Fund, local and regional municipalities, and Armenian government ministries
• And involving a growing spectrum of people both in Armenia and around the world in advocating for responsible stewardship and sustainable management of the nation’s natural resources.

As we move forward in 2008, we will expand the reach of our programs to include and benefit even more of our constituents in Armenia. Planting hundreds of thousands of trees builds upon creating a sustainable future for Armenia’s children, but that alone is not enough. This is precisely why we created our environmental education programs and engage in advocacy for environmental preservation and sustainable resource management.

We worked hard in 2007, both in Armenia and within the Diaspora, to stop the planned open pit copper mine in Teghut from being approved by the Armenian government. The environmental devastation that will result from this mining project will be enormous. Thus far, the voices and thousands of letters of protest from within Armenia and around the world have been ignored, as the government has summarily approved the mining plans, with no regard for the long term environmental and public health consequences.
We will continue to advocate on behalf of a sustainable future for Armenia, and resist those who seek short term profit at the expense of long term public interest.

There is no question that each of us has a vision of Armenia as a secure nation with a vibrant society, a healthy economy, and a flourishing democracy. But history has shown that the long term survival of any nation and culture is based first and foremost upon the sustainable use of its natural resources. What will Armenia become if it does not have healthy air, water, and land that can support the population?

We are at a “tipping point” in the history of Armenia, and indeed, the planet. Fulfilling our long term mission to preserve and restore Armenia’s environmental integrity while helping to create a sense of stewardship and an environmental ethic in Armenia will ensure a positive legacy for future generations. Please join us as we move forward in 2008 toward this vision.

Jeff Masarjian
Executive Director
Armenia Tree Project

Click here to view the April 2007 Directors Statement
Click here to view the January 2006 Directors Statement
Click here to view the September 2005 Directors Statement
Click here to view the June 2005 Directors Statement
Click here to view the December 2004 Directors Statement