SHORT SUMMARY

In accordance with the UN General Assembly's resolution on the global program "Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," special importance has been attached to environmental education and awarenss, which will lead to the development of an eco-culture in our country.

Meanwhile, the protection regime of the Dilijan National Park is regularly violated, and the police initiate criminal cases based on these cases. However, the entrenched customs, which have become deeply rooted traditions, persist. And the most troubling aspect that the residents, through their consumerist attitude towards nature, serve as an example to their children and continue to destroy nature across generations, not realizing that in the end this will lead to an ecological disaster.

In this context, the development of an eco-culture in our country is very important, because it helps mitigate the destructive effects of climate change and protects biodiversity, contributes to the conservation of natural resources and the reduction of environmental pollution, encouraging responsible behavior and creating a sustainable future for all of us.

IMPACT

Our environmental initiative aims to raise awareness and engagement of stakeholders in the short term, promoting responsible behavior. In the long term, it will contribute to improving environmental quality, preserving biodiversity, and mitigating the impact of climate change, which will have a positive impact on both individuals and the sectors involved in the project, ensuring sustainable development.

Our project has already registered a positive result. That is the creation of our “Ecopatrol” team.

The Ecopatrol team consists of 10 children who help clean up the forest and identify fallen trees, reporting them to the respective authorities when necessary.

The Ecopatrol team even received an award for being an innovative idea.

PROBLEM

THE PROBLEM stems from the unfavorable ecological situation in our country and the extremely low level of ecological awareness and ecoculture in society, particularly among communities near the forested areas of Tavush region, where many residents rely on the forest as their primary source of income. This is evidenced by the numerous cases of violation of the conservation regime of the Dilijan National Park and the numerous criminal cases initiated by the police. Unfortunately, deeply rooted customs, which haves become an insurmountable tradition, persist. And the most troubling aspect is that the residents, with their consumerist attitude towards nature, serve as a harmful example for their children. As a result, generation after generation, continues to exploit and destroy nature, not realizing that in the end this will lead to an ecological disaster.

SOLUTION

To prevent ecological disasters and promote the development of ecological culture, we have decided to create an extracurricular educational platform, called “Dilijan Ecocamp”. This initiative will offer schoolchildren from all communities of Tavush region an opportunity to combine leasure with learning by spending their summer holidays immersed in nature. Through non-formal education, participants will receive eco-education and eco-pedagogy, based on the development of theoretical and practical knowledge, abilities and skills. As a result of which their consumer attitude towards nature will be transformed into a love and caring attitude. Moreover, they will transfer the environmental knowledge and love they have received to their parents and contribute to the formation of eco-culture among them as well.

For the establishment of the eco-camp, the “Dilijan National Park” has allocated us a 5,000 square meter area for a period of 60 years. On this site, we plan to build 10 cottages for the camp and carry out our environmental activities, including:

1․ Organizing eco-educational theoretical and practical classes for campers,

2․ Organizing hiking and cleaning activities in the forest according to the schedule,

3․ Arranging recreational and entertainment activities for campers,

4․ Providing meals,

5․ Offering medical services.

TEAM

The idea for the eco-camp originated from members of the "Contribution to Women and Children" NGO, who are teachers and doctors. I, Manush Hovnanyans, am the founding president of the organization, who has long been advocating environmental issues.

You can learn more about this with the following link:

The Ecocamp program will be implemented by the following members of our organization:

1. Manush Hovnanyan - Program Manager.

2. Meline Gharakeshishyan - Program Accountant.

3. Lusine Davtyan - Trainer, responsibilities: preparing presentations and conducting theoretical courses.

4. Hermine Gishyan - Teacher/Educator, responsibilities: organizing recreation and leisure activities for program participants, forest hikes and cleaning activities.

5. Lusine Hovsepyan - Teacher/Educator, responsibilities: organizing recreation and leisure activities for program participants, teaching games, group songs and dances.

6. Vardan Gevorgyan - Camp Doctor.

BUDGET

Please see the budget here.

FAQ

Question 1. What are the main results of the ecocamp?

Answer 1. The results of the Dilijan ecocamp are:

1. Development of ecoculture,
2. Clean environment,
3. Preserved forests,
4. 0 violations of the National Park regime,
5. 0 registration of criminal cases of tree felling,
6. Every spring - nominal tree planting.

Question 2. Who are the main beneficiaries of the ecocamp?

Answer 2. The direct beneficiaries of the Dilijan ecocamp are the youth of Tavush region, and the indirect beneficiaries include the broader population of the entire region in general as well as specific entities such the "Dilijan National Park" and the police.