Highlights Include the Planting of 200 Trees in Nor Nork Community As an official partner of the Earth Day Network, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) joined with the Young Biologists Association NGO and Aarhus Ecological Information Center to organize a series of events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. One of the most noteworthy events was a public tree planting on April 16 at St. Sarkis Church in the Nor Nork community of Yerevan. Two hundred tree seedlings were provided by ATP with the support of the Earth Day Network. After a brief training on planting techniques by ATP staff, the trees were planted by local residents and representatives of organizations including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the British Council, the Young Biologists Association, and the Yerevan State University Student Scientific Society. Students from the local Quantum College also participated along with a group of volunteers from the Fulbright Scholar Program. One of the guests of honor for the event was British Ambassador to Armenia Charles Lonsdale, who joined participants to plant his own tree for Earth Day. In his remarks, Ambassador Lonsdale expressed his appreciation to the event sponsors for organizing this important environmental initiative. Numerous Armenian celebrities also joined the event including Ashot Ghazaryan, Arsen Grigoryan, Vardan Badalyan, Lala Mnacakanyan, and DJ Vakcina, who all planted trees together with the other participants. “Armenia Tree Project was honored to contribute to the worldwide celebration of Earth Day once again this year with a tree planting program in the Nor Nork community,” stated Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. “ATP is especially pleased that so many people in Armenia and around the world are committed to the goal of planting trees in urban and rural areas.” The Earth Day celebrations in Armenia began with a petition campaign organized by young volunteers to promote a “green lifestyle” in Armenia. More than 3,600 people signed the petition which will be presented to the government with suggestions to encourage private sector organizations to support a “green lifestyle.” The response to the petition was announced at a seminar titled “How to Live Green and Stop Climate Change.” The leaders of several environmental organizations reported on climate change and its impacts on the environment during the event. Another panel discussion titled “The Time to Speak Up” was held at the Best Western Congress Hotel, where climate scientists and environmentalists made presentations on climate change and biodiversity issues in Armenia. The aim of the discussion was raising awareness of climate change among the youth. The final event held on Earth Day was a painting competition titled “Live Green” at the Best Western Congress Hotel. Participants were children of ages 7-13, who were awarded prizes from the Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds, LOLO children’s magazine, and Armenia Tree Project. Staff from ATP’s Environmental Education Program organized a recital competition for children who didn’t participate in the painting contest. Eleven-year old Alik Hambardzumyan won first prize in the competition for his painting “Barn Swallow.” After the competition, a group of children from the Yerevan Municipal Youth Center presented a concert which was followed by performances about ecological topics by children from Yerevan School No. 93. “We extend our thanks to the British Ambassador and to other organizations that joined our partnership including the Earth Day Network, Young Biologists Association, and Aarhus Ecological Information Center,” added 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.” Since 1994, Armenia Tree Project has planted and restored more than 3,500,000 trees at over 800 sites around the country and created hundreds of jobs for impoverished Armenians in tree-regeneration programs. The organization’s three tiered initiatives are tree planting, community development, and environmental education. For additional information and to support ATP’s mission, visit the web site www.armeniatree.org <http://www.armeniatree.org>. PHOTO CAPTIONS As an official partner of the Earth Day Network, Armenia Tree Project joined with the Young Biologists Association NGO and Aarhus Ecological Information Center to organize a series of events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day ATP staff with British Ambassador to Armenia Charles Lonsdale at a public program in the Nor Nork community of Yerevan where 200 trees were planted by local residents and representatives of organizations including the OSCE and British Council Numerous Armenian celebrities joined the Earth Day tree planting including Arsen Grigoryan (pictured here with his daughter), Ashot Ghazaryan, Vardan Badalyan, Lala Mnacakanyan, and DJ Vakcina