Stakeholders' Committee

Structure

Nazeli Vardanyan is a member of MCA-Armenia Program Board of Trustees since September 2005 and a delegate to Stakeholders Committee since May 2006. She also represents civil society and environmental issues in the Governing Council of the Program.

Mrs. Vardanyan is the Executive Director of Armenian Forests NGO, as well as the president and founding member of "Yanus" Legal NGO. Prior to this she served as the Chief of Law and Staff Department in the State Committee of Forestry of Armenia (1989-1995); the Senior Lawyer of Law Department in the Agricultural Ministry of Armenia (1982-1989). Her professional experience has always been connected with educational and teaching activities: for many years she has been lecturing in the Law Department of Yerevan State University, later she was the Head of Law Department in the Institute of Law, Environment and Economy, brunch of Moscow ILEE. Currently Mrs. Vardanyan is lecturing on Environmental and Civil Law in the Armenian-Russian /Slovenian/ University.

In 1982 she graduated from the Yerevan State University, in 1990 she graduated from the State and Law Institute of USSR Academy of Sciences with a major in "ecological law", receiving a PHD in Law. She also holds a Masters Degree in Law from American University of Armenia. She has participated in a number of educational and development programs, is the Coordinator of Human Rights and Sustainable Development Working Group of Northern Alliance of Sustainable Development (ANPED), as well as the Coordinator of Forest Code and National Forest Program drafting working group of the World Bank.

Mission and Program Directions of Armenian Forests NGO

Our vision: to have a prosperous economy which emphasizes environmental protection and sustainable development

Our mission: to protect and restore Armenia's forests for current and future generations
The problem

Destruction of the forests in Armenia is reaching tragic levels. Having once covered 45% of the current territory of Armenia, forests now cover barely 7-8%. They are currently being further destroyed causing soil erosion, landslides, loss of springs, rivers, fruits and other forest products, loss of productive soil and biodiversity, loss of sensitive animal habitat, as well as greater weather damage. Although some of the greatest loss occurred during energy crisis years, the cutting and devastation still continue at alarming rates. According to expert estimates, at current rates of destruction Armenian forests could be destroyed within 20 years.
Who we are

Armenian Forests NGO began in 2002 as a project of the Tufenkian Foundation, and was registered as an independent organization in February 2003. As a means to reclaiming, protecting, and expanding forested areas, Armenian Forests NGO involves lawyers, economists, forestry and media experts dedicated to the cause of having healthy forests. The organization cooperates with interested individuals, communities, other NGOs, government and businesses in a variety of solutions of Armenia's forestry issues, including changes in policies, increasing civic participation, changing norms of thinking and action, economic improvement, public education, and media advocacy.

Our objectives

- Protection of forested areas
- Expansion of healthy forest areas
- Transition to sustainable forest management

How do we accomplish our objectives?

- Developing and implementing models of local reforestation and stewardship
- Conducting public education and outreach through the news media and local organizations
- Supporting a broad based effort towards reforestation, protection and stewardship of Armenia's natural resources
- Attracting investments aimed at protection of Armenia's natural resources, including development alternative energy to reduce demand for wood fuel and creation of jobs in forested areas to increase economic independence
- Supporting local and national policies and their enforcement in line with international covenants

Our accomplishments

- Being the first NGO to undertake successful reforestation in Armenia
- Establishing the first community forest of Armenia-planting 125,000 trees on 100 hectares (247 acres) with local residents at Odzun village (Lori Marz) which achieved a remarkable first year survival rate of over 90 percent
- Restoring 683 ha (1687 acres) of forests (1,121,000 trees) through planting and coppicing as of the end of 2006
- Being the lead NGO involved in development and adoption of the new national forest code signed into law fall 2005.
- Ending the devastation of Armenia's pine forests used as New Year's trees via successful campaign in cooperation with other organizations, policy actions with government, and through extensive media coverage of the issue
- Co-leading a campaign with other local and international organizations to successfully save Shikahogh Reserve - the last unspoiled forest of Armenia in summer 2005.

Our current actions

- Supervising the restoration of 1200 ha (2964 acres) of degraded forests in Tavoush and Lori Marzes
- Advancing new and ongoing reforestation projects and nurseries in Kotayk, Sevan National Park, Aragatsotn, Lori, Syunik and Yerevan
- Building support to curb illegal cutting and export of wood, as well as promotion of activities aimed at mass reforestation in Armenia via ongoing media coverage and lobbying
- Developing a fruit garden to support job creation and income generation for further reforestation efforts
- Engaging local communities and experts in the process of developing regulations for the national forest code
- Training and support to local NGOs to engage youth in environmental protection
- Spearheading coalition actions with other local and international organizations aimed at protecting and restoring Armenia's fragile environment.