News
The National Forest Program (NFP) II Working Group on ‘’Alternative Energy Resources and Sustainable Use of Firewood’’
The National Forest Program (NFP) II Working Group meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA), Ms Nino Tandilashvili and Mr Iuri Nozadze; Mr Alexander Karner, head of the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC)'s South Caucasus Office, Christian Gönner, head of the program (ECOserve) under the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), Ms Nana Janashia, Executive Director of CENN, as well as representatives of MEPA’s various agencies, NGOs and international organizations, and scientists. In the course of the meeting, attendees touched upon increasing usage of forest and natural resources at a global scale; therefore, it is vital to cultivate energy-effective solutions, seek for alternative resources and further enhance these.“The Government of Georgia and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in particular actively complement efforts for cultivating energy-effective technologies and enhancement of renewable energy. The Green Climate Fund has assigned 33 million Euros as a grant assistance to Georgia; in frames of the assistance, Georgia will undertake projects for cultivating sustainable development of forests, and formation of multispectral usage of forests. The project will assist development of energy-effectiveness and alternative fuel market. Assistance and the role of the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) shall be stressed out” – Deputy Minister Tandilashvili stated.
Deputy Minister Iuri Nozadze stressed out that enhancement of energy-effective technologies will decrease demand on wood; therefore, government agencies and scientists shall complement promotion and cultivation of energy-effective technologies.
Attendees were provided with a presentation on the management of natural resources and safeguarding of ecosystem services for sustainable rural development in the South Caucasus, implemented by GIZ (ECOserve) and CENN’s efforts (sustainable management of forests for agricultural development).
The NFP aims at coordinating and complementing the forestry reform. The platform empowers interested parties to take part in working meetings and decision-making processes. The NFP is supported by Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN).