News
Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia congratulates rangers on their professional day and gives them symbolic gifts.
Representatives of the Government of Georgia, diplomatic corps and international organizations attended the event. During the event, the guests have taken a moment of silence to honour the heroes dying in the line of duty.
World Rangers Day has been celebrated this year in Lagodekhi National Park. It should be mentioned, that the history and development of protected areas in Georgia begin with the creation of Lagodekhi protected areas, which are considered the first protected areas in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Georgia.Â
"I would like to congratulate all rangers on Ranger Day, thank them and express my special respect for choosing a difficult profession with a set of duties, also I express my appreciation for their contribution to the protection of protected areas. Our unique natural treasures are protected by more than 400 rangers from 21 administrative divisions.
Each of them performs the duty assigned to him at the risk of his own life, which involves preventing poaching, dealing with the fires caused by either negligent or intentional conduct, conducting monitoring of biodiversity, taking care of cleanliness and if necessary providing assistance to visitors.
World Ranger Day is celebrated on July 31. We celebrate this day late this year due to the tragedy that happened in Gudauri, which killed 8 heroic professionals, our fellow citizens", said the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia.
110 years ago, in 1912, the first protected area in Georgia - the Lagodekhi Nature Reserve was created, with an area comprising 3,500 ha. Currently, there are 94 protected areas in Georgia, with a total area of up to 800,000 ha, which covers 11.5% of the country's territory. Rangers are actively involved in nature protection. Each of them performs the duty assigned to him at the risk of his own life.
The Agency of Protected Areas of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has been celebrating the professional day of rangers since 2017. This year, the agency awarded more than 40 rangers with certificates of appreciation and cash prizes for their special contribution to the protection and development of protected areas. Compensations were given to the families of rangers killed in the line of duty.
Professional Day of Rangers was established by the International Federation of Rangers and was celebrated for the first time in 2007.