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Success Story
Visit boosts activist’s
energy to protect natural resources in Armenia
Redoubling a Pledge to the Environment
Photo: PH International/Armenia
Karapet Afrikyan (standing, right), who completed a USAID-supported environmental management internship in Syracuse, New York, shares his experiences with his colleagues.
“I see so many positive changes in myself both as a professional and as an individual. I am glad that my position allows me to share my knowledge and have an immediate impact on Armenia’s environmental policies and practices,” said Karapet Afrikyan.
Karapet Afrikyan works both as the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s bio-resources management department head and as a forest project coordinator at the non-governmental organization Armenian Forests. To say that he is busy is an understatement, but he thrives on working to maintain Armenia’s natural resources and keeping its environment clean.
His two positions – one with the government and one with a key organization – allow him to promote what he learned during a USAID-supported three-week practical internship in environmental management in Syracuse, New York.
Upon returning from the United States, Karapet took an active interest in sharing the knowledge he acquired during the visit. He held trainings in seven cities throughout Armenia for environmental specialists and students majoring in forestry management. He has also worked closely with local, regional, and state agencies to encourage government officials to participate in developing and enforcing environmental protection standards.
Karapet himself has been instrumental in the process of adopting and amending environmental laws and regulations related to forest management, including providing input into Armenia’s new forest code and overall environmental plan. His concern for the environment has been broadcast to all parts of Armenia through televised debates on forestry management issues. He has also published information in maps and encyclopedias, ensuring that the knowledge he gained in the United States will be shared throughout Armenia.
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