NY to host fundraising event for Armenian village environmental project

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and the Acopian Center for the Environment (ACE) are joining together to initiate a new project in Margahovit village, located in the Lori region of northern Armenia, and will hold a fundraising event on June 6 in New York City. Titled “Regardening of Eden,” the project is an unprecedented partnership between two of Armenia’s pre-eminent environmental organizations, The Armenian Weekly reported.

Focusing on the importance of trees, the protection of wildlife habitat, and proper waste management, the partnership will engage local youth and community residents in the creation of a new park, environmental education, trash collection, and recycling programs.

Since Margahovit village does not have a park or a green zone where residents can gather and relax, ATP will establish a green territory for the community as part of this partnership. “We will organize tree plantings with local residents, schoolchildren, and other young community members,” explained ATP Director Jeff Masarjian. “In the future, we expect the community to bring benches and establish a playground, thus developing this territory into a real recreational resource.”

In addition to hands-on tree plantings, ATP and ACE will assist with the establishment of an eco-club at the public school in Margahovit and education programs for the adult population focusing on planting and tree care, recycling, and waste composting. An important element will be a series of trainings presented by ACE on “Appreciating Birds and Protecting their Local Habitats” for schoolchildren at ATP’s Michael and Virginia Ohanian Center for Environmental Studies. Lessons will address bird identification, wintering, and breeding the birds of Lori, ways to preserve bird habitats, and the impact of waste on nature and the environment.

The final aspect of the “Regardening of Eden” partnership is the implementation of recycling and waste removal programs. ATP and ACE staff and local residents will organize clean-up activities in Margahovit village as part of the “Let’s do it! Armenia” campaign scheduled for Sept. 15. “Let’s do it! Armenia” is a pan-Armenian volunteer effort tied to the World Cleanup 2012 initiative. The goal is to unite everyone around the idea of cleaning up trash throughout Armenia, including historical and cultural sites.

To implement the project in 2012 and to sustain it for years to come, ATP and ACE are organizing a public benefit event for the partnership on June 6 at the exclusive Hotel Chantelle in New York City.