FORUM SYNOPSIS:
ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES (29 March 2006)

Invited speaker, Mr. Jeffrey Tufenkian, h ead of the The Armenian Forests , presented the activities of his non-profit organization as well as described the main environmental issues in Armenia , with a concentration on forest protection.

After a short introductory conversation with the volunteers about their professions and current community service activities in Armenia , Tufenkian began his presentation with a basic overview of what The Armenian Forests mission and activities.

The Armenian Forests NGO was founded in 2002 as a project of the Tufenkian Foundation and became an independently operated non-profit organization in February 2003. The mission of the organization is to protect and develop Armenia 's forests for current and future generations through the development and implementing models of local reforestation and stewardship. As a means to reclaiming, protecting and expanding forested areas, the organization involves individuals, communities, other NGOs, government and businesses in a variety of solutions, on multiple fronts, including: changes in policies, norms of thinking and action, economic involvement, public education and media advocacy.

Tufenkian briefly described the history of deforestation in Armenia . According to statistics, the total amount of Armenia 's forest coverage was 20-25% in the late 19 th century. The situation changed due to the energy crisis in the early 1990's, when the forest coverage was reduced to 11% with the population relying on firewood as their sole means of heat during the winter months. Today only 8% of the whole territory of Armenia is covered by forests. Unfortunately, the forest reduction continues under the guise of sanitary cuttings and the healthy trees are being cut mainly for export and furniture production. According to Tufenkian, the main reason for the decrease of forests today is the lack of the rule of law.

Among the projects and activities implemented by the Armenian Forests NGO, Tufenkian highlighted the reforestation of about 470 hectares (1175 acres) in the Lori, Gegahrkunik, Kotayk regions as well as in Yerevan . He also informed the volunteers about the Shikahogh campaign organized by a number of environmental organizations against a road project which was planned to be built across the biggest reservation in Armenia to connect Armenia with Iran . This project was a great danger for the Armenian multi-climate, flora and fauna. The Shikahogh reservation is considered to be one of the few places where the Persian leopards still exist. The advocacy campaign organized by the Armenian Forests , the Armenia Tree Project and other local and international environmental NGOs, was able to force the officials from the Ministry of Transport to stop the project.

After the presentation, a lively Q & A session took place, with a few of the questions and answers that took place included below:

Q. How much reforestation should be done in Armenia to reach the needed level?

A. We should have at least twice as much forest as we have today. We will need millions of dollars during the coming 5-7 years to reach the normal level of 20-25% of forest coverage.

Q. Are people concerned with the deforestation problems?

A. Segments of the population begin to be concerned with it, yes. But for the last 15 years this was the last thing people were thinking about. During the last parliamentary elections our research showed that none of the represented parties had environmental issues amongst their programs.