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Memorandum of Understanding signed on the implementation of the program " Sustainable Development of the Area of Aragvi Protected Landscape and Local Community’’
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Mr. Levan Davitashvili, Mayor of Dusheti Manana Narimanidze, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Georgia Petr Mikyska, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Georgia Pavel Wizdal and the Head of the office at Austrian Development Agency Alexander Karner signed the Memorandumof Understanding.
The programme will span over the years 2018-2023, with an overall budget of 2.3 Million Euros, out of which 61% will be financed by the Czech Development Agency, 30% by the Austrian Development Agency, 9% by the Slovak Republic. On the Georgian side, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and Dusheti City Hall will ensure the technical and infrastructural support of the programme.
"Expansion of protected areas is our priority. The territory of protected areas has significantly expanded over the last few years, currently it makes up 12 percent of the country's territory. 100 thousand hectares have been added to the protected areas in Dusheti Municipality, part of which is represented as a protected landscape. The municipality undertakes the management of protected areas by taking into account the interests of the local community, entailing development of local economy and traditional activities in rural areas. I firmy believe, that aforementioned support will enable Dusheti Municipality to ensure a successful management of protected areas ”said Mr. Davitashvili.
Mayor of Dusheti Municipality, Manana Narimanidze noted, that memorandum aims to improve the economic conditions and livelihoods of local communities, ensure sustainable development of tourism, agriculture, education, will contribute into good governance, social care services, environment-friendly management of the region, including sustainable forest management.The program intending to protect the Aragvi protected landscape meets the interests of local community.