The Delegation of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Shenavan Agroforest
On June 10, "Shen" NGO delegation accompanied Ursula Laubli, the Deputy Regional Director, and Artur Pokrikyan, the Senior National Programme Officer for Inclusive Economic Development of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Armenia, to the Shenavan Agroforest. Here Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, the administrative head of Shenavan settlement, and the community residents welcomed us.
Shenavan Agroforest is the first in Armenia. It was established this year thanks to the funding of the French "A Tree For You" organisation and active community participation within the framework of the two-year project "Agroforestry Restoration of 7 ha of Community Land in Shenavan".
The forestry specialists and agronomists of "Shen" NGO presented the details of the project to the guests and introduced the performed works on the spot. Back in April, the area of the agroforest was fenced in order to avoid grazing. Residents of the community involved in planting have passed appropriate preparatory training. 7500 saplings were planted, 1,500 of which will be poplar, 1,800 will be hazel, and the rest will be such shrubs as barberry, blackberry, rosehip, wild hazel, and yellow acacia. A drip irrigation system was installed for the area of about 2 ha of the agroforest. Apart from tree planting, bean and oat sowing has already been done.
Within the framework of the project "Shen" also provided necessary equipment to Shenavan on the day of the visit in order to carry out the agroforestry works more efficiently.
The visit was impressive for the guests and also important as in 2023 the Swiss Cooperation Office in Armenia had launched a 10-year development project "Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia” (FORACCA). The project has a variety of climate change-related components, including the testing of new methods for restoring forest landscapes and assessing the value and role of forests in economic terms and for climate protection policy.
