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The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture received a Grant of 33 million Euros
he Supervisory Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) awarded the Ministry of Environmental protection and Agriculture of Georgia with a grant of € 33 million.
Grant was received within the framework of the project “Support to Forest Sector Reform in Georgia to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Due to Forest Degradation”.
The event was opened by the welcoming speech of the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Levan Davitashvili.
The Minister thanked the Green Climate Fund, as well as the Goverments of Germany, Sweden and Switzerland states for co-financing and called the process a milestone.
“As you know, forest reform has been going on for 6 years. We had many meetings, a lots of policy document was prepared. Today we have a new forest code approved by the Parliament of Georgia. Accordingly, a new legislative basis has been created for better forest management. In order to have efficency to set economic benefits from the proper forestry managment process, maintain ecosystem to imporove ecology of the forest. The country needs resources to implement the forest management principles set out in the Forest Code. The support received from the Supervisory Board of the Green Climate Fund will significantly help us to strengthen forest protection,” - said Levan Davitashvili.
According to the Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Georgia, H.E Hubert Knirsch, it is important for Germany to support the forestry sector in Georgia, therefore, the government of Germany will actively assist Georgia in the implementation of this project.
As the Ambassador of Switzerland to Georgia H.E Patrick Franzen decleared Switzerland will support Georgia to implement forest reform, which must be successful, because it is important for the Georgian population.
The project “Supporting Forest Sector Reform in Georgia to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Due to Forest Degradation” will help the Government of Georgia to achieve the ambitious political goal of covering 1.8 million hectares of forests managed by the National Forest Agency (NFA) through the principles of sustainable forest management, which will improve the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Georgia’s forests and, consequently, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The 7-years project will implement in Dedoplistskaro, Telavi, Akhmeta, Kvareli, Chokhatauri, Lanchkhuti, Ozurgeti and Tianeti municipalities.
the First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Khanishvili, Deputy Ministers Ms. Khatia Tsilosani, Ms. Nino Tandilashvili, Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, Mr. Iuri Nozadze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Georgia Patrick Franzen. Representatives of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), municipalities and the relevant service of the Ministry attended the meeting.