EVS project “Botanical Garden”
Duration: 9 months
Local community
The Botanical Gardens of the National Academy of Science is responsible for plant collections in Armenia. The Botanic Garden of Yerevan is situated in the north-eastern part of city (80 ha of semi-desert habitat). The Botanic Institute holds rich herbarium as well as collection of 1070 species which represent 40% of the national collection (650 species) and shrubs which represent 51% of the collection (850 species). It holds the important collection of Armenian flora (1.5 ha, with around 750 species). The collection includes around 200 species of endemic, rare and declining plant species, and provides a basis for the study of Armenian flora, and the ecological interactions of species, in a relatively natural environment. National Botanical Garden has been considered as one of the best in the Former Soviet Union. As a result of energetic crisis in 1992-94 the Botanical Garden with its rich collection of flora was damaged because of cutting of trees and using them for heating, absence of water and heating in the greenhouses of the Garden.
Objectives and motivation
The organization has hosted international volunteers for more than 5 years now, the project hosted international summer workcamps, hosted Long-term volunteers. The international experience of a volunteer gives a interesting and valuable input to work of the gardens. The fact that an international volunteer speaks a different language, and comes from a different culture brings new live to the garden. New ideas regarding activities are more than welcome. We wish that a volunteer develops an own project, according to his/her interest. Nowadays the most important problem is the preservation of biological diversity and helping the Botanical Garden in their main activities:
- Protection and recreation of Armenian and world plant biodiversity in Botanical Gardens of Armenia
- Investigation and protection of the flora of Armenia
- Conservation of rare and endemic flora species of Armenia in ex situ conditions
- Greenery planting in urban areas, settlements and industrial plants
- Conservation and reproduction of alpine forest ecosystems in Armenia
- Rehabilitation of specific diversity of forests
- Conservation and rehabilitation of elite plant species in Yerevan Botanic Garden
- Participation in creation of specially protected areas
- Projects to combat desertification.
Main tasks of the volunteer will be to give assistance to workers of National Botanical Garden of Yerevan in variety of environmental maintenance projects: taking care of spaces of the Garden, clearing the paths, taking out the weeds, cultivating the trees, collecting the seedlings and cleanness of the territory etc. Besides the volunteers will carry out irrigation works together with the staff of the Botanical Garden. The staff of the Botanical Garden will organize several seminars for volunteer on the theme of environment and nature; there’ll be invited specialists from other organizations as well. Support and training will be provided by the staff of the organization and by the community. The volunteer will be invited to social events and will be supported in learning and practicing basic Armenian language, according to his/her wish. The volunteer will work 5 days per week (approx. 30 hours) and will have weekends off.
Recruitment
There are no gender, age and other requirements for the selection/recruitment of volunteers. The volunteer should be interested or have some experience in working with nature and ecology; he/she should be kind, communicative and reliable.
Practical arrangements for the volunteer
Accommodation:
During the 8-9 months service the volunteer will live in a house with other EVS volunteers. All facilities will be provided, he/she will be provided with beds, sheets and linen.
Food:
The volunteer will be able to prepare his/her own meals.
Language training:
The language training will be provided by a language teacher 2 times per week during 4 months.
Training and support:
HUJ as host coordinating organization will provide on-going support and invite the volunteer to some of their activities and meetings with other volunteers. During the week-ends the volunteer will have an opportunity to visit different historical places, to get to know life in Armenian families and to taste all kinds of Armenian traditional food and drinks