Armenian Nature

[Muhaha]

Re: Armenian Nature

Toxic pesticide has unhealthy legacy in Ararat Valley

Hasmik Hambardzumyan
Panorama.am
Published: 07 August, 2009

Lilik Simonyan, a medical doctor and scientist working with the Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment NGO was disturbed, but not surprised that traces of DDT was found in the breast milk of all 70 women the NGO tested in the Ararat Valley. The highly toxic and illegal chemical was also found in women tested in an Abovian maternity ward.

The results are alarming, but unfortunately also predictable.

The richly fertile valley is Armenia’s major food basin from which most of the republic’s produce is harvested. The valley is also “rich” in traces of DDT. The chemical pesticide was banned in Armenia in the 1970s, but is believed to still be in use today. A highly stable compound, it is currently seeping into Armenia’s water, land, livestock and even people.

“The problem with DDT is that it lasts forever,” said Simonyan. “Even if people stopped using the pesticide in the 1970s, it would still be in their systems 40 years later. And we believe people are still using it today.”

First developed as a lice killer and insecticide during World War II, DDT was widely used in Armenia and many other countries in Europe and in the U.S. throughout the 1950s and 1960s. A ban on the pesticide was instituted in the U.S. in 1972 after researchers noted that spraying it was a contributing factor in the near extinction of bald eagles and peregrine falcons, by weakening the bird’s eggshells and causing them to crack. Laboratory tests in animals have shown that DDT can cause cancer and other health problems, and DDT exposure has been shown to be associated with premature births and lower birth weight in babies.

There is debate in the international scientific community about whether the ban on DDT in many countries is more helpful than harmful. Many scientific groups have argued that DDT was responsible for eliminating the malarial mosquito. Opponents of the ban contend that discontinuing use of DDT has led to an increase in malarial deaths across the globe. In 2006, the World Health Organization actually reversed its policy on the ban, and now advises it for use in fighting malaria in Africa and other mosquito-ridden areas of the world.

What is agreed upon is that DDT stays in the ground, animal populations and humans for years – even decades – after the pesticide is out of use.

Specialists do not know the real situation with regard to expired chemical pesticides in Armenia, nor do they know how many farmers are using DDT. The Ministry of Agriculture says it is necessary, and yet impossible, to conduct a final inventory of expired chemical pest-killers imported into Armenia since 1997. The ministry is considering an announcement, asking the population to hand over expired chemicals and receive quality chemicals in exchange. But this entails some other, more difficult work: how to preserve or with what means to destroy the collected expired chemical pesticides.

Simonyan said she’s personally seen the largest amount of DDT in the Ararat Valley and the Ararat province in particular. The chemical there has been found in both soil and products made of animal tissues. She said people widely used DDT in the region, which is why it predominates over other revealed chemicals. The organization she heads found DDT in one of the chemical production outlets several years ago, with no such cases being reported later.

In Ararat villages such as Margara, Apaga, Aknashen and Sev Jur village in Armavir Province, DDT is showing up in the bird population. Researchers have noticed that reproduction of storks is low, and one hypothesis is that DDT is the culprit.

Another potential danger spot is Yerevan’s Erebuni, site of a burial ground of expired DDT and other pesticides, put there by the Agriculture Chemistry of Armenia state-run enterprise in 1982. Since then, the area has experienced several landslides.

“There are no destruction mechanisms, and complicated technology is needed. At this point no one is able to find solutions, and the state does not have so much money. The situation is in a state of neglect,” warned Karine Yesayan, Head of the Horticulture Development Department under the Plant Cultivation, Forestry and Plant Protection Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Environmental experts are concerned that the problems at the pesticide dumping ground are getting worse. Simonyan’s organization conducted an investigation into the surrounding soil. They discovered that the concentration of chemical pesticides, particularly that of DDT and hexachlorocyclohexane (another pesticide) exceeds the marginal permissible amount by several hundred times, and has increased in recent years.

Currently, the Global Environmental Foundation through the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has allocated 2.5 million Euros to liquidate the burial ground of toxic chemicals. The program will be launched after an assessment of the situation. Yesayan said the chemicals must first be exhumed from the burial ground, packaged and only later destroyed.

“The residential districts are now closer to the burial site, hence any time the toxic substances may penetrate into the drinking water or reach the population through the soil. In a word, this is dangerous, this is a bomb, immediately next to Yerevan,” said Yesayan.

http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=3989&CID=3797&IID=1247&lng=eng

[Federate]

Re: Armenian Nature

Personal tour of Armenia Tree Project lifts spirits

Antranik Monument Park in Yerevan is flourishing with trees after being barren a decade ago, thanks to the efforts of the Armenia Tree Project, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Tom Vartabedian

Yerevan - It all began 15 years ago with a single twig and the vision of Carolyn Mugar to promote the economic and environmental well-being of Armenia.

Today, the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) remains a pillar for that country in terms of forests, parks, and inner-city landscaping, which not only beautifies the land but enhances the very standard of living.

In a nutshell, the tree of life continues to grow in Armenia and Karabakh, with more than 800 communities reaping the benefits. Some 3 million trees have been planted and restored, hundreds of jobs have been created, poverty has been reduced, educational resources have been dispensed, and a better overall impression has been made upon tourists. The number of trees should rise to 3.5 million by next year and 15 million by 2015. The goal is to have 10 trees planted for each victim of the Armenian Genocide by its 100th anniversary.

A secure Armenia with a tree-filled base can only mean prosperity and growth for the population.

I got the opportunity to take the grand tour during a visit to Armenia in April. Reading about the accomplishments of ATP was one thing. Seeing the work was another. The meeting was arranged by Jason Sohigian, a former editor of the Armenian Weekly, now overseeing the ATP's Watertown, Mass., office at 65 Main Street.
General Antranik's monument

We met at Artbridge Café and Bookstore on Abovian Street in Yerevan, and from there took a short ride to Antranik Monument Park with public relations coordinator Bella Avetisyan and community tree monitor Navasard Dadyan.

Both were proud of the project and rightfully so. It was their passion, and it showed over the next four hours.

The park is found in the southwest corner of Yerevan, bustling with activity. Children were seen frolicking about. Older people were seated on benches solving the problems of the day or playing backgammon. Young couples were found walking hand-in-hand. It painted a good picture of a day in the city.

In 1997, there wasn't a single tree to be found on the premises. On came the ATP to plant 2,700 trees over time. Amazingly, all but 200 survived, turning the place into a cascade of greenery, joined by a rich repository of shrubs and floral concoctions. A new, enormous statue of the general was erected in 2005.

It's as if someone put a magic wand to the place and a miracle occurred.

"We believe in miracles," said Ms. Avetisyan. "Every area that has been refurbished in Armenia has been a small miracle. It's amazing what can occur when people work together. They can restore a country."
A partnership with the people

The ATP isn't alone in this endeavor. They supply trees, not the elbow grease, the grime, the sweat, and sometimes the tears. That belongs to the people. They get involved with their hands and their hearts.

What we saw at the Antranik Park was a variety of maple, ash, poplar, evergreen, and apricot, with a noticeable setting of rose bushes.

"We provide trees for no money," said Ms. Avetisyan. "The population gets involved with providing the labor and irrigation. They are responsible for a minimum 70 percent survival rate and are motivated to take that initiative."

From there, we proceeded across the street to Holy Trinity Church where 4,000 trees and shrubs have been planted. People in the neighborhood today call them "trees from heaven." The park is sprawled out over three acres with a magnificent monument dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia.
A mecca for tourists

A desert-like atmosphere existed there in 1997. Today, it serves as a mecca for tourists and townsfolk, not to mention the animals. Birds also find comfort here.

"It's truly God's work," says Tigran Palazian, chief propagator. "We get up to 50 calls a day looking to plant trees. Some 850 communities have been addressed and there's no end in sight. We look at all the sites. If they meet the criteria, then trees are provided. An attempt is made to satisfy all requests. People associate a healthy environment to a healthy population."

Driving along Antranik Street, we observe islands and walkways replete with trees.

"If it wasn't for ATP, Armenia would be brown, not green," offered Mr. Dadyan. "Armenia would be without three million trees. In the long run, it's better to have a surviving generation than trees. You can restore trees, but not a generation of people. We tend to think that both contribute to one another's welfare - trees and people."
A redwood in a forest of pine

In 1993 following the re-establishment of independence in Armenia, the country was in the midst of an energy crisis. Trees were being cut for fuel. The state had suddenly lost its green cover and there was turmoil everywhere.

"It's been a work in progress," added Mr. Dadyan. "We've planted by monuments and churches, buildings, parks, forests, and just about everywhere else. Wherever there are trees, there's the ATP."

Ms. Mugar provided the initiative as a veritable trailblazer and founder. She comes around often to the greenhouses and nurseries in Karin and Khachpar, providing valuable insight. Ms. Mugar continues to remain a redwood in a forest of pine.

"ATP began in 1994 with the modest goal of re-greening the public spaces in Yerevan where trees had been sacrificed during the 'dark years' after independence," she pointed out. "People were forced to burn whatever they could find to stay warm. Ten years later, we had planted 500,000 trees in Yerevan and neighboring communities. It became clear that rejuvenating public areas alone was not going to significantly impact the larger issue of deforestation. So we accelerated our efforts. By next year, we expect to have 3.5 million trees in Armenia."
At a nursery

Two staffers have now turned into 80, with many others being recruited as the need persists. At the nursery in Karin, we came across refugees from Baku doing the work in the fields, with shovels and hoes in hand. On a hot day, this remains a comfort zone.

"They live on the grounds and work each day, regardless of the conditions," said manager Rubik Ghandilyan. "It's medicine for these refugees - part of their poverty reduction."

Much of the fertility is engineered by Mr. Ghandilyan, who started these nurseries from scratch. In Karin, you have 70,000 seedlings while Khachpar boasts 90,000. For Mr. Ghandilyan, it's "the good earth."

"It's been an ideal place for AYF internships and educational classes," he maintains, referring to the U.S.-based Armenian Youth Federation. "People come here and are amazed by the productivity. Students majoring in horticulture, forestry, agriculture, and botany find an ideal hands-on education here. We have both a masters and doctorate programs available."
25 varieties of pomegranate

At St. Moughni Church on the outskirts of Yerevan, you will find an 800-year-old sanctuary and memorials. You will also see 925 decorative and fruit trees planted since 1996 - a haven of growth at a place least expected. It wasn't Khor Vrap, a prominent cathedral, but every bit as native to the infrastructure.

"This was a model site for us," said Mr. Dadyan. "There was nothing here before. Now it's become a showpiece and we enjoy promoting it."

We passed by a zoo where poplars stretched to the sky - a symbol of Armenia. At a community center, we found fruit trees agog with apple, sweet cheery, apricot, peach, and plum - ripe for picking. The treat was on a tree.

Others also instrumental in the project are executive committee members Nancy Kricorian and Dr. Moorad Mooradian; Jeffrey Masarjian, executive director, who performs yeoman's work from Boston; the deputy director, Mr. Sohigian, and Mher Sadoyan, Armenia director.

Our tour ended at the Karin nursery, where we encountered a beehive of activity and a table sagging with Armenian delicacies. I didn't expect that. Nor did I expect to find 120 Chinese date trees offered for medicinal purposes, much less 25 varieties of pomegranate trees. I thought one pomegranate said it all.

On the wall facing me was the tree of life, spouting its branches and leaves with donors who've planted a tree in Armenia - a practical way to see a contribution help rehabilitate a country with its ripple effect.

I learned something from this experience. A country without a tree isn't fit for a dog, much less a population. Thanks to the ATP, Armenia remains on fertile ground.
About the Armenia Tree Project

Now into its 15th year, the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) continues its mission of providing vitally important environmental projects in Armenia's impoverished and deforested zones.

Since 1994, the nonprofit program has made enormous strides in combating desertification in the biologically diverse but threatened Caucasus region. More than 3 million trees have been planted and restored while hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal tree-related programs. ATP works to further Armenia's economic and social development by mobilizing resources to funding reforestation. These vital new trees provide food, wood, environmental benefits, and opportunities for economic growth.

Its ultimate goal is to assist the Armenian people in using trees to improve their standard of living and protect the global environment. In doing so, the ATP is guided by the need to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem.

Three major program initiatives are planting trees at urban and rural sites; environmental education and advocacy; and community socioeconomic development and poverty reduction.

With a staff of over 80, the Yerevan office manages three state-of-the-art nurseries, partners with villagers to create tree-based microenterprise opportunities, creates urban green belts for public use, restores degraded forest lands, and employs hundreds of part-time workers to plant new forests.

The organization seeks support in advancing its reforestation mission. Persons can help by planting a tree in Armenia for some worthy cause.

connect:
1-617-926-TREE (8733)
armeniatree.org

http://www.reporter.am/index.cfm?furl=/go/article/2009-07-10-personal-tour-of-armenia-tree-project-lifts-spirits&pagewanted=all

[Anoush]

Re: Armenian Nature

They don't seem to pick too many winners there either... i.e. Bill Clinton

I hear you but Clinton has been notorious to fool around with hundreds of women I heard before Monica Lewinsky. Gees, with today's radio, television and the media, how did he survived even until his relationship with Monica? But what he did as the president of America was terrible for the country, let alone his bad mores and ethics. Lets suppose after his carrying on with Monica; she would have threatened Clinton even subtly by asking him to sell arms to Pakistan for instance, and if he didn't sell the arms, she would then let the whole world know about their relationship. That would have been very dangerous for the country. A president of any country and even mayors should watch out what they do and with whom they carry on; because if they don't watch themselves, their messing around could come and haunt not just them, but could put the whole country in a dangerous situation.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Armenian Nature

Unfortunately KanadaHye but that's probably why they fool around on the side.

They don't seem to pick too many winners there either... i.e. Bill Clinton

[Anoush]

Re: Armenian Nature

Unfortunately KanadaHye but that's probably why they fool around on the side.

[Anoush]

Re: Armenian Nature

Am I?

Really KanadaHye? But I see your point... Lol..

[KanadaHye]

Re: Armenian Nature

You are being too harsh

Am I?

[meline]

Re: Armenian Nature

On a side note, I always wonder why politicians are angry underhanded individuals.... and then I look at their wives and it all comes to light.

You are being too harsh

[KanadaHye]

Re: Armenian Nature

Isn't that why they just planted trees in the previous article?

On a side note, I always wonder why politicians are angry underhanded individuals.... and then I look at their wives and it all comes to light.

[Federate]

Re: Armenian Nature

Armenian First Ladies ‘Oppose’ Mining Project

Rita Sargsyan to the left, Bella Kocharyan to the right

Armenia’s current and former first ladies have signed a petition against a controversial mining project approved by their husbands, ecologists strongly opposed to its implementation said on Wednesday.
The country’s leading environment protection groups and other non-governmental organizations have for years been campaigning against plans by the Armenian Copper Program (ACP) company to develop a massive copper and molybdenum deposit in the northern Lori region. The Teghut deposit is estimated to contain 1.6 million tons of copper and about 100,000 tons of molybdenum.

The project, if implemented, will lead to the destruction of 357 hectares of rich forest, including 128,000 trees. Critics say that would wreak further havoc on Armenia’s green areas that have already shrunk dramatically since the 1990s.

ACP admits the heavy environmental cost of its plans but says it will be more than offset by 1,400 new jobs which it has pledged to create in the economically depressed area. The Liechtenstein-registered company has also pledged to build new schools and make other investments in the local infrastructure. The project was formally approved in 2007 by then President Robert Kocharian and his government headed by Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

The non-governmental Committee to Protect Teghut launched last month a fresh campaign against the mining project, collecting signatures in support of its stance. It said on Wednesday that a relevant petition addressed to Armenia’s president, prime minister and parliament speaker has already been signed by about 5,000 citizens, among them First Lady Rita Sarkisian and Kocharian’s wife Bella.

According to Mariam Sukhudian, a member of the committee, the two women agreed to sign the petition as they visited a public park in Yerevan on Tuesday. “We noticed Kocharian’s wife and the current first lady, Rita Sarkisian, there” she told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. “One of our girls, Arpine, approached Bella Kocharian. As soon as she learned what the matter is, she took the paper and signed it. Rita said, ‘Is it about that copper-molybdenum thing?’ and signed it too.”

“We can say that, in a sense, they have joined our movement,” said Sukhudian. “We will scan their signatures and disseminate them through the Internet.”

Hrayr Savzian, chairman of the Ekodar environment protection group and another committee member, also welcomed the signatures put by the first ladies. “I hope that this will be a subject of conversations at their homes, which is not bad in itself,” he said.

The Committee to Protect Teghut now plans to showcase that fact during a demonstration in Yerevan scheduled for Friday. “During the June 5 demonstration we will definitely attach their signatures to a separate sheet and carry it with us,” Savzian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.

The current Armenian prime minister, Tigran Sarkisian, appears to be taking the environmentalists’ concerns more seriously, having set up last year a working group tasked with studying the environmental impact of the Teghut project in greater detail. Still, his government has refused to suspend the project pending that study. The Committee to Protect Teghut now intends to take the matter to court.

The copper field’s exploitation requires at least $260 million worth of investments. The Russian bank VTB agreed last year to lend a corresponding sum to ACP. The global economic crisis appears to have delayed the release of the loan, however. A top ACP executive said earlier this year that the company now expects to launch large-scale open-pit operations at Teghut in 2011.

http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/1746171.html