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Establishing a biosphere reserve in Tusheti
The village of Babaneuri of the Akhmeta municipality has hosted a symposium “Nomination of three biosphere reserves in Alazani to UNESCO and further development of the region”, which has celebrated establishment of the second biosphere reserve in Georgia.The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia together with the Mikhail Zhukov Foundation and the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus) have joined efforts with the Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University and carried out a project “Tusheti biosphere reserve establishment in a climate-vulnerable region of Georgia, Kakheti – elaboration of documentation for nomination”.
“Biosphere reserves will be established in Georgia, which guarantees and cultivates harmonious co-existence of humans and nature. Meanwhile, the latter enables an effective usage of potential to produce high-quality production in ecotourism and agriculture. All of these will make a positive impact on local dwellers’ well-being and quality of life, which also serves as one of the primary objectives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. Georgia is one of the first countries, which will gain two biosphere reserves at the same time: three of these are Alazani biosphere reserves in Tusheti and Dedoplistskaro reserve in the Dedoplistskaro municipality” – Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr Iuri Nozadze stated.
The symposium held at the village of Babaneuri enabled students of the Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University to present information on biosphere reserves. A panel discussion also took place in frames of a symposium. In the course of the event, exhibition-sale of local production collected at biosphere reserves was also held.
“I am delighted that amidst the pandemic, we have managed to deliver crucial actions. We have collected signatures for a UNESCO’s biosphere reserves support letter for biosphere reserve nomination. Georgia being eligible to have two territories recognized with a biosphere reserve status – is highly crucial for an entire region. Various examples of European biosphere reserves have demonstrated how much the local community will benefit through them” – Anya Zeltser, the Mikheil Zhukov Foundation’s representative stated.