Otar Shamugia: "We continue working on further expanding the protected areas''

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, spoke about the state policy, current projects, and results achieved in the development of protected areas on the TV channel Maestro ‘’Maestro Regions’’.

"Protecting our biodiversity and unique nature is one of the top priority issues. Recently, we have increased the area of protected areas by about 300 thousand hectares and currently, it makes up  11.5 percent of the territory of Georgia.

 In 2022, we plan to establish protected areas in Racha and Shida Kartli regions; the surveys are being conducted in the protected areas of Samegrelo, Svaneti, Adjara, and Guria regions. Accordingly, we are working on further expanding the protected areas", Mr.  Shamugia said.
 The Minister emphasized the importance of developing the ecotourism infrastructure, noting, that protecting nature is crucial, on the one hand,  although, in accordance with the sustainable development principles, we must use the opportunities that give us our unique nature.

" Important projects are being implemented in the country to develop the ecotourism infrastructure, promote the development of tourism, develop the economy in the respective area.

Approximately GEL 35 million is allocated for the arrangement of trails in the protected areas. These contracts had already been signed and the building of walking trails has already been started.
It should be mentioned, that the number of visitors is rapidly increasing, and, in dynamics, significantly exceeds the previous years’ data results. We need to create the appropriate infrastructure, obviously, together with the private sector.
Approximately GEL 150 million worth of private investment is made in the protected areas, which is crucial. "We will continue to work in this area and promote the development of protected areas as tourist destinations," Mr. Otar Shamugia said.