Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Armenian Forests NGO News Bulletin #2

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Armenian Forests NGO News Bulletin #2

    PRESS RELEASE/News Bulletin
    Armenian Forests NGO
    38 Moskovian St., apt. 10
    Yerevan 02, Republic of Armenia
    Phone: (374 10) 54-15-29
    Fax: (374 10) 58-20-39
    E-mail: [email protected]
    www.ArmenianForests.am


    12 May, 2006

    News Bulletin #2

    This is the second news bulletin of the activities carried out in
    ten communities throughout Armenia under the Community Environmental
    Action Groups project. The first news bulletin was posted in
    December 2005.

    Mher Sharoyan
    Media Coordinator
    Armenian Forests NGO


    This bulletin is an update of the actions carried out in the period of
    January-April 2006 by the Environmental Action Groups of the communities
    selected within the USAID-funded "Community Environmental Action Groups"
    project that is implemented by Armenian Forests NGO.

    Given the fact that spring is one of the two windows for doing forest
    and park establishment and restoration most of the activities of these
    groups have been focusing on that during this period. In the summer they
    will concentrate on lobbying and other activities including focus on
    solid waste and other environmental issues.



    1. Tavush marz, Sarigyugh community

    Local group had consultations with the director of Ijevan's Dendropark
    Mekhak Sayadyan for sowing yew seeds nearby Sarigyugh village. The
    sowing took place on 10-15th April.

    The Sarigyugh activists also participated in the cleaning works of
    surroundings of Ijevan town's main waste disposal site, collecting
    mainly polyethylene bags. The action was organized by "Young Tavush"
    youth NGO, members of which are part of action groups in Ijevan and
    Sarigyugh. The action was supported by Tavush governor Mr. Ghularian,
    Ijevan mayor Mr. Ghalumian, Director of local <Kar Art> stone producing
    enterprise Mr. Grigoryan.

    Local Environmental Action Group coordinator has met with the head of
    local community Mr. Elarian and discussed the possibilities of involving
    funds for fencing the planned Plane tree park to be established near the
    village. The local group has also applied to the local World Vision
    branch for getting funds for the above-mentioned goal, as well as met
    with the Environmental department head of the Tavush marz. No funds have
    been allocated yet.

    Due to bad weather - non-stop rains and dampness - the care works of the
    yews growing in nearby forests have been postponed till May.



    2. Tavush marz, Ijevan community

    In January 2006 local coordinator met with local
    agricultural-environmental "Bardi" CJSC director and discussed the plans
    of Ijevan's greening and restoration. Local activists also agreed with
    local "Ijevan" TV to broadcast cartoons on environmental issues.

    Meetings have been held with the representatives of local forest
    economy, Nature Protection Ministry's agencies, Ijevan branch of Yerevan
    State University as well as local TV, as a result of which a round
    table-discussion was held January 29 on the topic "Why are forests
    logged?". The roundtable was broadcast on the local TV channel.

    As a result of cooperation with the mayor's office it was agreed to
    restore local Azatamartikneri Park. Armenian Forests NGO (hereinafter
    AFNGO) specialists advised upon the types of trees and bushes that
    should be planted there. After that the projected number of trees and
    bushes (mainly pine trees and rose and arbor-vitae (lat. Thuja) have
    been obtained for planting.

    March 29 restoration works of the Azatamartikneri Park launched with
    participation of the municipality's staff, local YSU branch students, as
    well as AFNGO employees. Some 80 pine trees and 1500 rose bushes and
    arbor-vitae were planted during three days, and the care works are
    organized by the local group. The event was covered by national and
    local media.



    3. Tavush marz, Gosh community

    The planting and terracing of the first section of the hill slopes
    behind the Gosh Monastery continued and was accomplished, and the
    planting on the second section started. The planted trees will have wind
    and water protective importance for the Monastery and nearby households.
    The activists have carried out care and treatment of the trees planted
    in fall 2005. They also cleaned a territory at nearby forest from thick
    branches, cut stubs and spunk.

    A subbotnik (cleaning of area) was organized in the village, the streets
    of the community were cleaned by the local youth group. Similar works
    have been carried out on the shore of Gosh lake - during an eco-tour
    organized for the activists.

    Currently the environmental group carries out treatment and protection
    of the yew trees in nearby forest (Note: Due to the fact that yew trees
    are quite rare in Armenia, any forested territory that has yew tree
    cover near Sarigyugh and Gosh communities is under special attention of
    Armenian Forests NGO and community groups.)



    4. Lori marz, Lejan community

    This is the last of the ten communities selected. The environmental
    action group members were gathered and local coordinator was appointed.
    The most pressing environmental issues of the community have been
    identified; and based on their needs, targeted trainings have been
    conducted for the active group and a working plan has been drafted.

    As an initial action they decided to begin coppicing works of the nearby
    forest in the beginning of May. It is also planned to green the
    surroundings of the local school and post office, and plant poplar trees
    alongside the road entering the village. For this purpose AFNGO plans to
    purchase 200 trees (150 poplar, 50 pine trees) and 2500 bushes for
    planting.

    As another issue that will be addressed is the contamination of the
    village river with solid waste; discussions with the village
    administration and AFNGO specialists are being carried out regarding its
    cleaning and restoration.



    5. Lori marz, Stepanavan community

    January 31-February 2 trainings have been held for the action group.
    February 2 the AFNGO specialists and the local coordinator met with the
    mayor of Stepanavan Mr. Gharakeshishyan, during which an agreement was
    reached to allocate 1.1 ha of land at Ajapnyak district of town for
    establishing a new park. Afterwards meetings with experts of
    municipality's architecture department were held to discuss issues
    related to the establishing the park and land leveling works.

    Following the mayor's pledge to assist in every possible means, land
    works of the area allocated for park started early April and the area
    was made ready for planting. Seedlings were obtained from Vanadzor
    forest economy, because the prices at Stepanavan's forest entity were
    high. The group planted a total of 200 trees and 1500 bushes on April 15
    and16th. The local action group manages the park including the watering
    of seedlings and other care work.

    The local activists also met with the director of the local forest
    entity, who has promised to provide free seedlings for planting on the
    slopes of the Dzoraget river gorge.



    6. Lori marz, Vanadzor community

    There is an idle water-purifying station situated at the Pambak river
    shore within the town, which the municipality planned to allocate to
    "Asad" LLC for producing chemical substances. The local environmental
    group found out that the company doesn't have a comprehensive strategy
    of waste management, which would definitely lead to contamination of the
    river. The group undertook relevant measures in working with members of
    city elders' council, in result of which the territory was not allocated
    to the mentioned company.

    The activists have also inquired about the place and prices of
    submitting certain types of wastes (like polyethylene bottles and bags),
    which gave the consumers an opportunity to separate their waste disposal
    and compensate certain expenditures. The local coordinator has regular
    meetings with the local media and comments and gives interviews on the
    community's environmental problems, as well as recommends necessary
    actions to improve the situation.

    Throughout April 2006 large-scale coppicing works have been undertaken
    on one of the hill slopes surrounding Vanadzor, where they plan to
    rehabilitate a total of 30 hectares of forest. Particularly on April 7th
    and 14th an overall of 40 students and volunteers from Yerevan and
    Vanadzor participated in coppicing works, a technique of regenerating
    trees from stumps. Two exchange students from Lithuania and Slovenia,
    who are in Armenia for cultural exchange program, also participated in
    coppicing works. Coppicing works are initially guided and supervised by
    AFNGO specialists, and after relevant instructions the action groups
    carry out the works on their own.



    7. Gegharkunik marz, Sevan community

    Major issues in this settlement include town greening, waste management
    and having clean lakeshore of Sevan. Following extensive trainings held
    for the local group by AFNGO specialists February 22-24, schoolchildren
    eco-teams were set up in the town and special courses were held for
    women activists. For involving all interested parties the activists had
    meetings with the mayor of Sevan and other municipality officials,
    school teachers, students, community members, NGOs, as well as local
    media. As a result of cooperation, together with local STV-1 TV the
    action group has prepared and aired a TV discussion on the topic of
    "Public's role in environmental process".

    On April 21 the rehabilitation works of two city parks began, which will
    continue in early May as well. A similar number of trees and bushes as
    in other community parks have been planted in both areas, and the nearby
    residents take care of the seedlings. In another area, due to
    social-cultural issues, guarding of the territory is carried out. The
    planting and all other activities are being covered by the local TV
    channel.



    8. Gegharkunik marz, Martuni community

    Two action groups are set up in Martuni - a youth group (9 people) and a
    school group (10 pupils). The "Martuni Women's Community Council" NGO,
    which comprises the core of the local environmental group, has allocated
    a room with relevant equipment for the activists.

    The local Peace Corps volunteers, among them an environmental
    specialist, expressed a will to assist the group in every possible way.


    In February the local coordinator met with the municipality officials to
    discuss the possibilities of rehabilitating the city park. An agreement
    was reached on maintenance and shared investment for restoring the park.
    Following three-day trainings of the youth groups of the town,
    preparatory works were extensively organized and seedlings have been
    obtained upon the guidance of AFNGO specialists. April 21 the
    restoration works started, as a result of which 125 trees and 1700
    bushes were planted with joint efforts of AFNGO staff and local
    activists. Mayor of Martuni and marz authorities also participated in
    the works.

    The action group also met with the Martuni branch representatives of
    "Sevan" National Park and discussed issues of Sevan lakeshore
    restoration. In result it was decided to rehabilitate the protective
    forest cover near the shore through coppicing.



    9. Kotayk marz, Tsakhkadzor community

    Local activists and AFNGO staff have together stopped a case of illegal
    logging in the nearby forest of the resort town, and have come to an
    agreement with the company that caused the damage to compensate the
    loss. The company is to allocate certain amount of funds to plant a
    corresponding number of trees (as many as have been cut) and even go
    further to assist in restoring another area of forest. For correct
    rehabilitation of the damaged forest, AFNGO specialists have examined
    the territory, did the relevant planning, and scheduled the works for
    May 2006.

    Activists lobbied local authorities for allocation of several areas
    around the town for additional reforestation. After cooperation with
    forest economy and municipality, it was agreed to plant trees on
    treeless areas of nearby forest land to expand forest cover. Restoration
    works, as well as coppicing of certain areas will start in early May.
    The activists are to obtain seedlings in cooperation with the
    pan-Armenian tree planting project led by Nig-Aparan Union, which
    promised to provide a necessary amount of seedlings free of charge.
    Local youth and school environmental groups have been trained by AFNGO
    forest specialists for appropriate work during tree planting. Tree
    planting and coppicing works in the community and nearby forests will be
    implemented by the forces of local action group.

    The local coordinator also worked closely with municipality to obtain a
    territory for establishing a forest nursery.

    The AFNGO specialists have supported local "Forests for future
    generations" NGO, members of which are also part of the environmental
    group, to apply to Open Society Institute for financial assistance to
    conduct research on civil society issues.



    10. Vayots Dzor marz, Jermuk community

    Local activists have tracked illegal logging of pine trees in nearby
    forests, and reported about the case to local authorities and forest
    economy. The group members have also witnessed cutting of ash trees in
    city parks, after which the municipality undertook relevant measures.

    The local coordinator led a group of local schoolchildren to conduct a
    subbotnik (cleaning of area) nearby their school on April 22, after
    which a tree planting in the backyard and surrounding territory was
    organized.

    The coordinator has also met with municipality officials and agreed upon
    establishing a new park on 1 hectare. The territory was allocated for
    the purpose, yet the planting works have been postponed till May due to
    cold weather.


    For additional information or any question feel free to contact Mher
    Sharoyan, Assistant Project Coordinator, at [email protected] or
    call (+374 10) 54-15-29.
Working...
X