March 21st marked the International Day of Forests, a momentous time for reflection and action on the vital role forests play in our lives and businesses.On this occasion, we hosted both a thought-provoking conference and a captivating outdoor exhibition in Yerevan, Armenia.

At the Marriott in Yerevan, we gathered for a conference titled "Forest Ecosystem Services and their Impact on Your Business." The event saw a distinguished lineup of speakers, including our founder, Andre Gumuchdjian, the Director of WWF Armenia, Karen Manvelyan, and Marcos Lopez Encilla, Project Manager at Life Terra (Spain). Their presentations shed light on the invaluable services forests offer to businesses and emphasized the significance of sustainable forest management for long-term growth.

Following the presentations, a stimulating panel discussion ensued, moderated by our Deputy Director, Lilith Martirosyan. Representatives from DataArt, Vega, IDBank, and EasyPay, our partner organizations, actively participated, sharing insights and perspectives on integrating forest conservation into corporate strategies. The event was a testament to the role forests play for the business growth as much as the commitment of the business community towards environmental stewardship. We thank Marriott Armenia for offering their hall for this event.

Later during the day, we inaugurated the "We Stand with Forests" open-air exhibition in collaboration with the Armenia Tree Project and WWF Armenia, curated by the AHA Collective and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The exhibition served as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of forest preservation. The opening ceremony was attended by Hakob Simidyan, the Minister of Environment of Armenia, and Hambardzum Matevosyan, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister, among other state officials, as well as heads and representatives of international organizations and foreign Embassies. Some of the artists whose works are exposed also attended the event, bridging the public and their art.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, supporters, and partners who joined us in celebrating the International Day of Forests. Together, we reaffirm our commitment to nurturing and protecting our precious forests, recognizing them as essential allies in our journey toward a sustainable and prosperous future.