Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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Otar Shamugia meets the Ambassador of Japan to Georgia Imamura Akira and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Georgia Anna Chernyshova

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Mr. Otar Shamugia held a meeting with the Ambassador of Japan to Georgia Mr. Imamura Akira and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Georgia Ms. Anna Chernyshova. 

During the meeting, the parties highlighted issues regarding the sharing best practices for sustainable forest management and ecotourism development in Georgia.

Mr. Otar Shamugia expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the Japanese government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for their financial support and active cooperation in implementing National forestry reform.

“Climate change mitigation is a huge challenge for us, as well as for the whole world. Therefore, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures should be taken in all sectors in response to the existing challenges. It should be mentioned, that the adoption of a sustainable forest management system is a part of the aforementioned measures. Moreover, sharing the experience of our international partners, as well as their support, is of the utmost importance in fulfilling our commitments. Within the framework of large-scale forestry reform, the new project will help us to establish sustainable forest farms in Mtskheta municipality and manage forests according to their functional purpose", said the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Mr. Otar Shamugia.

" Japan’s forest resources triple over the past 50 years and covered an area of two-thirds of the country's territory. The forest makes an important contribution to the implementation of our national plan, whereupon, Japan should reach carbon neutrality by 2050. We are happy to share our experience and relevant best practices with the Georgian side and promote the preservation and maintenance of the forest ecosystem to get environmental, economic and social benefits", stated Mr. Imamura Akira Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Georgia.

“43,000 people will receive sustainably produced timber resources for their daily use under the framework of our project, which we are jointly implementing with the Japanese government and the National Forestry Agency. The model of sustainable forest management will be introduced in Mtskheta municipality, and it will be extended to all regions of Georgia in the future ", said UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Georgia Ms. Anna Chernyshova 


At the invitation of UNDP and the National Forestry Agency, the Japanese experts visited Georgia this week, they paid a visit to the log sort yard in Bodorna and forest areas in Mtskheta municipality, aiming to study the opportunities for sustainable forest management and ecotourism development. The Japanese experts developed relevant recommendations and presented them during the meeting.

It was mentioned,  that USD 920,000 received from the Japanese government will be used for the creation and arrangement of log sort yards with the assistance of UNDP.
It should be mentioned, that the current forestry reform in Georgia serves to introduce sustainable forest management, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and introduce an environmentally friendly lifestyle across the country.

The forestry reform is in full compliance with the national goals and international commitments for climate change mitigation and adaptation and for combating the effects of climate change.

The Deputy Ministers Mr. Kakha Kakabadze and Mr. Yuri Nozadze, as well as the Heads of relevant departments of the Ministry and other stakeholders, attended the meeting at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.