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Armenia Tree Project Begins Propagation Of Rare And Endangered Speci

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  • Armenia Tree Project Begins Propagation Of Rare And Endangered Speci

    ARMENIA TREE PROJECT BEGINS PROPAGATION OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
    By Armine Tokhmakhyan and Jason Sohigian

    hetq
    12:15, September 30, 2011

    YEREVAN--The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 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. A series of regional
    Red Lists are produced by countries and organizations to assess the
    risk of extinction to species within a smaller geographic area.

    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 Aram
    Harutyunyan, Armenia's Minister of Nature Protection, in the preface
    to the publication. "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 may become endangered because of a number of influences
    including 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 information on 223 plant species
    that are in danger of extinction.

    "In response to the concern over the loss of native plants,Armenia
    Tree Projecthas a policy of growing only indigenous trees in its three
    nurseries," explains Samvel Ghandilyan, ATP's Nursery Program manager.

    The only exception to this is "naturalized" trees, which were
    introduced long ago, have not been observed to have a negative impact
    on the local ecosystem, and provide an added benefit of food security
    (fruit and nut trees).

    "An ecosystem is a community of plants, animals, and smaller organisms
    that live, feed, and interact within the same physical components of
    an area or environment, including the soil, water, and sunlight. When
    you introduce plant species that are not native to the area, there is
    a risk that the local ecosystem will be negatively affected, creating
    a less suitable environment for local species," adds Ghandilyan. "In
    recent years we've noticed that many native species that comprise
    our local ecosystem have either vanished or drastically reduced
    in numbers. Native and naturalized species possess certain traits
    that make them more likely to thrive under local conditions without
    negative impacts, 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
    species of 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
    or Acer Thrautvetteri, and Halfsphere Rose or Rosa Gaenuspherica."

    "Our nurseries serve the communities of Armenia by providing fruit
    and decorative trees to more than 900 planting sites," explains Areg
    Maghakian, ATP Deputy Director of Operations. "As a result of this
    work, we will soon be able to observe some of the species included in
    the Red Book in the parks, churches, and schools throughout Armenia."

    ATP's next ambitious initiative is the restoration of Armenian Heritage
    Fruit Trees. In the past, Armenia had numerous varieties of apple,
    peach, and apricot trees. These fruit trees are now rare and measures
    are being taken to preserve the heritage trees from disappearance.

    "Last year we started to produce Heritage Fruit Trees at ATP's Karin
    and Khachpar nurseries," adds Maghakian. "In 2010, we successfully
    grafted Parvana and Shaqareni apple, Malacha and Dzmernuk pear, and
    Yerevani and Sateni apricot trees, which will be delivered to community
    planting sites in coming years. As part of our mission to re-green
    Armenia, ATP has a commitment to preserve our precious biodiversity
    by planting native and endangered trees all over the country."

    ATP's mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees
    to improve their 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. ATP's
    three major programs are tree planting, environmental education, and
    sustainable development initiatives. For more information about ATP,
    please visit the web site www.armeniatree.org.

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