OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(MARKET WIRE)--Oct 2, 2008 -- Tree Canada President Michael Rosen and Tree Canada Associate, Adrina Bardekjian Ambrosii will be in Armenia from October 11-25 to share their forestry expertise to help combat desertification. The two-week trip is the second phase of the Building International Bridges for Forest Futures project. In April 2008, Tree Canada sponsored two Armenian foresters, Alla Berberyan and Gagik Amiryan, to learn about sustainable forestry and conservation practices by touring urban and rural forests in south/central Ontario. Project travel is financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Armenia is a small country with limited resources. Only 8% of Armenia's forests remain intact. Conservationists fear that the country will become a desert within 20 years if deforestation is not stopped. They see education as a key component in promoting the benefits of healthy forests for the social and economic well-being of Armenians. After the visit by Tree Canada staff, both organizations will identify and implement practical projects that can be developed collaboratively in the future.

Tree Canada will be visiting (amongst others):

Minister of Environment, Mr. Harutyunyan

Director, Sevan National Park, Mr. Ziroyan

Director, Gugark Forestry Agency, Gagik Amiryan

Dean Sayadyan, Agricultural University of Armenia

K. Menvelyen, Director World Wildlife Fund, Armenia and

Nazeli Vardanyan, Director, Armenian Forests (NGO)

Phase 3 of the project will consist of how Tree Canada and Armenian officials will be able to work together to help restore that nation's forest cover.

http://www.adrina.ca/project_buildinginternationalbridges.htm

Tree Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments. A winner of the Canadian Environmental Award (2007), Tree Canada engages Canadian companies, government agencies and individuals to support the planting of trees, the greening of schoolyards, and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the benefits of planting and maintaining trees. To date, more than 75 million trees have been planted, more than 450 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has organized 8 national urban forestry conferences. More information about Tree Canada is available at www.treecanada.ca.

     Contacts:
     Adrina Bardekjian Ambrosii
     Project Manager
     416-819-8705