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Environmental Education Center to welcome visitors of the Krtsanisi Forest Park
Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA), Mr Levan Davitashvili and Mr Erik Illes, Head of Development Cooperation and Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Sweden to Georgia visited the Krtsanisi Forest Park. Minister Davitashvili and Deputy Head of the Mission Illes discussed capabilities for creating Environmental Education Center at the Park as an effort to complement to the Agency of Wildlife, in frames of bilateral cooperation.
“We are delighted to have a close cooperation with the Swedish Development Agency in various programming. As a future cooperation prospect, we aim at launching a new project, which will be deployed with several million Euros of assistance and complement to restoring-improving the Krtsanisi Forest Park’s infrastructure, study of wildlife – as well as from a genetic angle. Such assistance will also complement conservation efforts at the protected territories, including enhancement of atmospheric air quality management systems. The Krtsanisi Forest Park is a unique ecosystem, which spans as a green space between the two cities and that requires to be recovered, sustained and improved. For the last few years, we have been working on recovering-complementing species that have been listed under the Red Book; also, we have been developing a collection, which features Georgia’s biodiversity and unique nature. Krtsanisi Forest Park will be a unique environmental space for educational purposes, where citizens can gain information on Georgia’s unique nature and biodiversity” – Minister Davitashvili stated.Mr Erik Illes, Head of Development Cooperation and Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Sweden to Georgia stated that the new project will complement to efforts for embracing an immense potential of the Krtsanisi Forest Park in order to comprehensively study biodiversity and raise awareness among the youth and wider public on environmental matters.
The Agency of Wildlife has been actively working on recovering and refreshing the Krtsanisi Forest Park. Upon commencing large-scale efforts, it will embrace the core function and become a valuable recreational space between the two cities – Tbilisi and Rustavi, which will enable visitors to take a walk, ride a bike and mini electric car.
At this stage, construction of a powerful pump station on the Kura river is underway, which will supply water to 8 lakes and chala forest’s irrigation channels. Construction is funded by the Global Climate Fund’s (GEF) Programme “Kura II” and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
It shall be noted that efforts have already commenced construction of a 100 kW Solar System Station; 150 hectares of the Forest Park has been fenced to safeguard it from illegal actions by braconniers. In future, a fishery will be constructed for species that are native to the Kura river, as well as reinstating 7 deserted ponds with fish. Moreover, more than 50 picnic locations will also be set up.
Deputy Ministers of MEPA, Ms Nino Tandilashvili and Mr Iuri Nozadze, along with representatives of the relevant agencies of the Ministry, attended the meeting on reviewing plans for recovering-enhancing the Krtsanisi Forest Park.