Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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Nino Tandilashvili attended the Project " Enabling the implementation of Georgia's Forest Sector Reform - ECO. Georgia" Steering Committee Meeting.

The First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili, delivered opening remarks at the 5th Steering Committee meeting of the project " Enabling the implementation of Georgia's Forest Sector Reform - ECO.Georgia".

Mrs. Tandilashvili thanked all participating agencies and international donor organizations for their support, emphasizing the project's significance in reforming the forestry sector.

‘’As we know, sustainable development of the forestry sector is one of the significant priorities of the country. Maximum involvement of all responsible agencies plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of forestry sector reform. In the face of numerous challenges, we have tangible achievements. I believe that creating an action plan and a guiding document will be very beneficial to the sustainable development of the forestry sector.

It is essential to mention that "business yards" are already operating across the country, and their number will increase by the end of the year. The Rural Development Agency successfully implements the financing program for energy-efficient stove enterprises. The process of developing and approving forest management plans is actively underway in several municipalities. Meantime, we are strengthening the controlling agency, the Department of Environmental Supervision, by providing the appropriate equipment and techniques to make the control more strict to detect the facts of illegal forest use / illegal cutting", said Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili.
During the meeting, Mrs. Lydia Christman, the Head of the Cooperation Development Department of the Embassy of Germany in the South Caucasus, and Mrs. Barbara Böni, Regional Director of Cooperation South Caucasus, emphasized the progress achieved in the forestry sector in Georgia and the importance of developing an action plan document and active public involvement in reforming the forest management.

Mrs. Nino Chhobadze, Chair of the non-governmental organization "Georgian Green Movement/Friends of the Earth-Georgia", attended the meeting as a new member of the Steering Committee.

The project " Enabling the implementation of Georgia's forest sector reform - ECO.Georgia" is financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and jointly implemented by the Government of Georgia and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). The project includes three components: "Sustainable forest management", "Energy efficiency and alternative fuel market development", and "Income sources and local self-government in forest management". The project covers three regions of Georgia - Kakheti, Guria, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti.