VISION
To build Armenia and Artsakh into a world-class destination for ecotourism and outdoor adventures and preserve the Armenian Highland for generations to come.
MISSION STATEMENT
Armenia Nature Fund (ANF) aims to bring awareness to the Armenian Highland by: 1) preserving the flora and fauna of Armenia and Artsakh 2) building infrastructures and promoting ecotourism 3) supporting and empowering the local economy with employment opportunities. Additionally, ANF practices and promotes responsible use of Armenian Highland’s ecosystems and resources through education and advocacy.
Anush Khojoyan
Anush Khojoyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and graduated Armenian National Agrarian University in2003 with bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Audit. Immediately after, she moved to Clemson, SouthCarolina to pursue her master’s degree in Applied Economics and Statistics. After graduation in 2005, she moved to California and started working as an accountant. In 2014 she went back to studying and successfully completed the requirements for her CPA license. While being in a constant office environment, she wanted to find a way to workout, relax and recharge. After one of her friends suggested to hike with her, Anush found that being in nature was the best therapy in the world. She started regularly hiking and pushing herself to reach new summits because being in nature made her truly happy. Anush never forgets her heritage and holds Armenia close to her heart. She wishes that outdoor activities and ecotourism were more developed in Armenia because it’s important not to lose the connection with nature, especially with such a stunning nature that Armenian Highland provides.She is excited to be a small contributor to this cause and can’t wait to see Armenia becoming a destination for ecotourism.
President
Board of Directors
Robert Assarian
Robert Assarian is a jeweler by trade with a Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America, GIA. As a jeweler, Robert has gained an appreciation for beauty and rarity and regards his homeland of Armenia and Artsakh as the crowning jewel of his life. Robert’s true calling was summoned in 1984 when he discovered his deep love for nature, and since then the pursuit of nature has fully consumed his mind and soul and he has invested in many efforts to share his knowledge and passion for the great outdoors. In 2013, Robert created the Facebook group, Armenian Hikers Association, which currently serves as a platform for Armenian outdoor enthusiasts with over 5,000 members. In 2016, Robert co-founded the Armenian Hikers Associate Armenia NGO, in Armenia, to improve the ecotourism infrastructure of Armenia and Artsakh. In 2018, Robert co-founded the Armenia Nature Fund, a not for profit public charity organization. Robert is passionate about connecting with people and catalyzing change in a genuine and caring manner. He is proud and privileged to preserve, protect and promote Armenia and Artsakh’s natural environments.
Arthur Barsegyan
Arthur Barsegyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, where he spent his early childhood, before moving to Los Angeles in the late eighties. As a teenager in the summer of 1992, Arthur had a pivotal moment in life when he went on a trip to Yosemite with a friend’s family and he experienced a transcendental love for nature. Thereon, he continued to camp and fish every chance he had. After high school, the great outdoors had to take a backseat as his studies consumed most of his time. Arthur graduated from USC in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, but in hindsight, he was always looking for his next adventure. Fortunately, living in Los Angeles afforded him many opportunities to explore different trails within the city and surrounding areas. In 2013 he discovered the Armenian Hikers Association, a social hiking group, and began hiking, leading hikes and camping with the members. The group also introduced him to other outdoor activities such as backpacking and mountaineering. In the past three years Arthur has climbed high elevation peaks including Mount Ararat in the Armenian Highland, Pico de Orizaba in Mexico and Mount Elbrus in Russia, earning the label of “mountain goat” by his friends. In 2017 Arthur had a second pivotal moment while on a hiking trip to various scenic parts of Armenia when he discovered the magnificent nature of the country and everything it has to offer. Arthur’s dream is to see Armenia become a world class destination for outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world and he is grateful to be a part of organizing and fulfilling this goal.
Sona Hovsepian
Sona Hovsepian, MSW, LCSW, completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Armenian Studies. Thereon, she promised herself that she would pursue a career in helping people as she avidly continued her academic career and graduated with dean’s honorable mention and departmental honors from the USC School of Social Work. Her role as a family therapist at the Glendale Adventist Alcohol and Drug Services includes working with individuals and families faced with the challenges of addiction. Additionally, she is a health science specialist at the Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the Department of Veterans Administration collaborating on research studies specific to veterans with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders. Sona is not only a humanitarian but also an active member of the Armenian community, she is the co-founder of the Homenetmen Youth and Family Guidance Center and served as Vice-President for CV Alliance. She also was a past board member of Burbank Housing Corporation, Haik Project, and the Armunity program at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. Sona’s love and appreciation for nature began when she was six years old and spent the summer months with her grandmother in their summer house. Hiking in the remote regions of Armenia, collecting wood for winter, and learning to recognize and name various herbs and flora she collected to bring home and share with her family, were most memorable and enjoyable for her. Discovering backpacking club in high school and learning new trails in Southern California allowed her to enjoy hiking adventures throughout the years. Sona’s service to Armenia Nature Fund as a board member allows her to combine her skills and passions: from helping people to enriching her culture and homeland through the vehicle of nature.