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A new platform “Forest Friend” was created at the initiative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
The presentation of the platform was held in the botanical garden. The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia, the business sector, and environmental non-governmental organizations attended the event.
Minister Otar Shamugia, Chairperson of the Committee of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Parliament of Georgia, Mrs. Maia Bitadze, and the Resident Representative of UNDP Georgia, Mr. Nick Beresford emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the role of forests and public participation in forest preservation/protection efforts.
"The forest is our treasure and a unique natural wealth that requires care, maintenance, and protection. Our current event serves the same objective. Through this platform, we hope to provide our citizens with an opportunity to participate in forest maintenance and protection activities alongside professionals in the field.
It is important to team up to protect our unique resources and take care of our forests with joint efforts. Recently, we have carried out several important activities to ensure sustainable forest management.
The first issue I would like to emphasize is the new Forest Code, which is fully compliant with European requirements, although there are still challenges related to illegal forest use. We have taken many steps in the mentioned area, with special initiatives aimed at enhancing the Environmental Supervision Department. Society should participate in the mentioned process, and this platform will provide us with this opportunity’’ said Mr. Otar Shamugia.
In his remarks, the Minister thanked the donor organizations for the financial support provided for the effective implementation of the regulations stipulated by the new Forest Code, and for sharing knowledge and competencies with the Georgian side.
"This initiative led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and personally by Minister Otar Shamugia, is crucial. We are pleased to be funded by the UNDP's Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BIOFIN). They are implementing very important initiatives around the world, and we are confident that this will be one of their successful projects in Georgia", said Mr. Nick Beresford.
The Chairperson of the Committee of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Parliament of Georgia, Mrs. Maia Bitadze, emphasized the importance of increasing community engagement in the forestry sector.
"On behalf of the Parliament of Georgia, I express my full support for the platform, which was created today as a result of the Ministry's efforts. I believe this will be another critical platform," said Mrs. Maia Bitadze.
The volunteer platform " Forest Friend" was created with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture's National Forestry Agency, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program's Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project.
The " Forest Friend" platform encourages everyone to make contributions and directly engage in the establishment of new forests, including private enterprises, volunteers, and individuals united around the idea.
Participants who register on the platform will track the progress of their selected projects online and will receive interesting and useful thematic information from industry specialists and environmentalists.
By 2023, the target regions for reforestation are Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Guria, and Racha-Lechkhum-Kvemo Svaneti, based on updated forest management plans. The platform will cover all nine regions by 2024.