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Minister Davitashvili: “The year of 2020 has been transformative for forestry reform”
“In 2018, the forestry concept drafting process was launched, which had preceded reform, dialogue and discussion for 7 – 8 years. Throughout the consultation process, engagement of all the experts, national and international, had been ensured. Donor engagement shall be highlighted, as well as assistance of various European countries for strengthening the Ministry, which resulted into the Parliament adopting new forestry code in 2020, which will be enacted in January of an incumbent year. The code elaborates a unified practice of forestry management, which will empower us to deploy natural resources and ensuring a better ecological environment at forests.For gaining instant results, Georgia has received an unprecedented assistance from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) of 33 million Euros. The Ministry has joined forces with German partners to develop an application, which entered into a competitive process and harvested Georgia’s victory in a grant contest. The grant assistance will be deployed to three regions: Guria, Mtskheta – Mtianeti and Kakheti, which will enjoy deployment of sustainable management practice and modern methods.
Grant assistance will span across capacity building of the National Forestry Agency, as well as Department of Environmental Supervision, state agencies and private sector. Engagement of private sector will be significant and meaningful.
In terms of forestry reform process, Georgia is the only country in the former USSR space, which embarked on national registry of forests; the process will commence during an incumbent year and will comply with all the international requirements, respectively. We will have an accurate and complete information on Georgia’s forests. For an accurate management of forest operations, it is vital to hold forest inventory and 10-year management plan. In 2021, 10-year management plans will be drafted spanning across 169, 187 hectares of Adigeni, Tetritskaro and Ambrolauri forest areas. Within an incumbent year, recovery process of forests will cover 297 hectares” - Mr Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia stated within the “Ministerial Hour”.