The Thousand Leaf Project

Visit 1000Leaf Project website: https://1000leaf.aua.am/

Project Description:

The Thousand Leaf Project is a collaboration between the Armenian Environmental Network, a project of Earth Island Institute, and the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. The aim of the project is to house information about wild plants and mushrooms (growing in a natural state; not cultivated) that Armenian people have used throughout history and that are still used today. The information is collected and submitted by “citizen scientists” like you and moderated with assistance from ethnobotanical experts.

The Thousand Leaf Project webpages include four sections: Wild Plant and Mushroom Database, Recipes, Sustainable Harvesting, and Additional Resources. Entries can be submitted for any of these sections using our online submission form.

The plants, mushrooms and their uses can vary significantly by region. Many of the wild plants and mushrooms have historical significance and are not well known outside of the community. Through better, more comprehensive documentation of Armenia’s ethnobotanical history, we hope to work with the skills and knowledge of local residents as well as local ethnobotanists in order to keep this information alive, and pass it on to not only other Armenians but to the world.

By raising awareness of this, the project not only aims to keep traditional knowledge of Armenia’s edible plants alive and conserve these natural resources, but also aims to foster an interest in visiting Armenia, encourage eco-tourism in a sustainable fashion and encourage active participation within the country. To show the gastronomic heritage of the country, the stories of the people themselves, and the natural beauty of the different regions of Armenia, allowing others to experience this part of the world, and in-turn encouraging tourism.

The information on this website belongs to the public to use for educational purposes and all information should be credited to “The Thousand Leaf Project”, a joint project of AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and the Armenian Environmental Network.