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

Georgia hosts the 10th Regional Dialogue on the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region EAPAC

Georgia hosts the 10th Regional Dialogue on the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region EAPAC.
During the 10th regional meeting on the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the representatives of the governments of 17 countries and approximately 70 biodiversity experts brought forward national biodiversity strategies and ways for mobilizing financial resources for conservation/ protection of biodiversity.

Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mrs. Anna Chernyshova, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Georgia, Mr. Onno Van den Heuvel, Head of the Biodiversity Finance Portfolio at UNDP, and Mr. Giorgi Kvesitadze, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, delivered opening remarks at the event.

The Deputy Minister emphasized the steps of the Government of Georgia towards biodiversity conservation and the importance of sharing other nations' experiences in the mentioned area.

"Active participation in conventions and strong collaboration with partners have resulted in holding such a large-scale event in Georgia. Global biodiversity loss is a major challenge. This dialogue aims to explore ways of financing and preserving biodiversity jointly. Let's share our experiences and best practices in restoring and conserving forests, fulfilling our commitments under the Vienna Convention, and using the state budget in this direction", said Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili.


The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has been implementing the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) since 2012, intending to close the financing gap for biodiversity and mobilize resources more efficiently. Forty-one countries supported the initiative, including Georgia, which joined the BIOFIN global partnership in 2016. According to Mrs. Anna Chernyshova, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Georgia, the Government of Georgia has taken significant steps in recent years towards biodiversity protection.

 
"Globally, biodiversity is facing a major crisis, with various flora and fauna disappearing due to urbanization. We have gathered today to discuss ways to preserve biodiversity. It is important to mention that Georgia is one of the richest countries worldwide regarding biodiversity. 21% of the flora is endemic, and there are more than 100 protected areas, which is the result of the tremendous efforts of the Government of Georgia", Mrs. Anna Chernyshova said.

Notably, Georgia adopted the National Biodiversity Finance Plan in 2019. Since then, the state budget for the Department of Forest and Biodiversity has quadrupled. Seventeen innovative projects have already been launched in the country, aiming to promote sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity.

Every year, UNDP-BIOFIN organizes regional dialogues worldwide to share best practices and refine strategies, mechanisms, and methodologies. In 2024, 91 more countries will join the initiative.