In September 2016 ARK together with World Vision Armenia realized a project aimed at promoting permaculture ideas and practice in Kapan Region. Permaculture as the most progressive type of sustainable organic agriculture begins with landscaping to create most comfortable conditions for growing plants. 

In climate and landscape conditions of Kapan Region the created garden beds are to keep water and humus, protect soil from wind erosion and make a good balance of light and shadow. With constriction material  provided by World Vision, ARK created these very garden beds in the ARK Camp not far from Kapan.  In agriculture season of 2017 ARK plans to share this innovative practice with farmers and youth of the region. We plan to hold the workshops in the pavilion built by the construction material from World Vision. 

We express our gratitude to World Vision Armenia for their support and hope for further fertile cooperation.

#ECO4CLIM16 Yerevan Local Climate Champions: Oscar Alvarado presented on behalf of ARK Armenia 
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#Yerevan #ImpactHubYerevan #ArmeniaTree #COP22, #Marrakech  #ClimateChange

Armenia Tree Project has planted more than five million trees since its inception in 1994 and provided environmental education since 2005. ATP is the only major tree planting program in the country and in its 22 years has successfully established four nurseries, two environmental education centers and has greened community areas in every province of Armenia and Artsakh, in more than 1100 planting sites. In the process, the foundation has provided employment for hundreds of people and provided vital resources to thousands of village residents.

​Dear friends!
In a few weeks we would have a great chance to take part in very important changes that are going to take place in social life of Armenia.  We give rise to those changes when social impact will be based not just on charity but mainly on social business. ARK will be one of the 27 fundraising teams in the coming crowdfunding campaign which will raise funds to boost social entrepreneurship in Armenia.  All the teams will have one common goal and a joint campaign. But individual activity of each of the teams will be a crucial criteria to get the grant announced in the framework of “Community Development through Social Entrepreneurship” program. Ten best teams out  of 25 will get  a 7000 EURO grant each to develop their individual social business projects. 
Thus taking active part in the coming crowdfunding campaign you will not enhance development of social entrepreneurship in Armenia but also help ARK to get the grant and become a sustainable eco-touristic social business. 

​Good harvest is much more convincing than a hundred words.  It can convince thousands and thousands that food can be produced without pesticides, herbicides and mineral fertilizers, even without weeding, in sustainable ecosystems.

In July ARK had a really nice experience hosting 13 British teenage volunteers. The visit was organized by Wilderness Expertise Oversees Expedition, a company with a passion for personal development. The group stayed in ARK premises in the Dacha and the Camp. We enjoyed every minute of their stay with us. The guys were well organized and greatly motivated. They were interested in organic farming and permaculture, local history and ethnic food. They constructed permaculture garden beds and seeded them. Just 40 days after they put seeds we already have harvest!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you ever so much! 
In their free time they enjoyed communicating with local youth and had really interesting time playing games, , sightseeing or just walking around. The group leaders were very nice and helpful. Thank you ever so much!

​In May 2016 ARK started partnership with The Transcaucasian Trail.
The Transcaucasian Trail is a proposed hiking path across Georgia and Armenia. 

​ARK provided the project with lodging in ARK camping sites in Kapan and Arajadzor.  

​In Syunik region ARK team took part in scouting and mapping trails which will become part of the Transcaucasian Trail system.  

​Many thanks to Tom A​llen, Allessandro Mambelly, Vahagn Vardumyan as well as our volunteers and friends whose efforts will sure help to bring more tourists to the region. 

​In February – April 2016 ARK had a successful crowdfunding campaign to build a second ARK Bridge Project  Eco-camp in the village of Arajadzor and install tourist info support signs between Tatev and Kapan. 

​ARK received incredibly generous support from our friends and relatives, from our volunteers and their families, from people whom we know and from those we don’t. Support of all those people helped ARK team believe that we do important and requisite job. 

​Many thanks to Oscar Alvarado and Karine Vann whose devotion and professionalism helped us make it happen!
Many thanks to all sponsors of the campaign!

​In April 2016 ARK received a wonderful generous present from our volunteers from Argentina Francisco and Florencia.  In Eco construction this wonder is called “rocket oven”. This amazing oven helps to save wood and is many times as effective as a usual one. 

Wide use of this technology would help to considerably reduce ecological pressure on the wonderful forests of our region.
Thank ever you so much  Francisco and Florencia!

Now is October and the active part of the year of 2016  is coming to an end.  It's time for ARK to sum up what we have done during this period.  
In February 2016 ARK received donation from Dundee Precious Metals to install billboards promoting Kapan Region, which will help to attract tourists' attention and bring them to Kapan.
One of the billboards was installed in front of the Wings of Tatev. This helps to attract tourists who visit Tatev and inspire them continue their way further south to Kapan and surrounding villages. 

The other billboard was installed near Arajadzor village which is not far from Kapan. The billboard reminds silk-road travelers of the beauties of the region and motivates them to stay and enjoy. 

We express our gratitude to Dundee Precious Metals for helping to promote eco-tourism in Kapan Region. 
Special thanks to our volunteers Karine Vann for designing the billboards and Oscar Alvarado for organizational and technical support.