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

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"In the previous ten years, we have restored 5,000 ha of forest area; 440,000 ha of forest territory comprising 14% of our forests is within protected areas enjoying the ''highly protected'' forest status," said Nino Tandilashvili, First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in the city of Bonn, on the 9th FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference.

The First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili, participated in the Ninth FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference in Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany.

The Ministerial Meeting was chaired by the German Federal Minister of Agriculture and Food and attended by high-ranking officials of relevant ministries of 46 countries, representatives of the European Commission, and steering groups.

In her remarks, Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili highlighted reforms implemented by the state in recent years.

"It is a great honor for me to deliver remarks at the Ministerial Conference, where we discuss the importance of sustainable management and protection of forests and our efforts in the fight against climate change. Forests are indeed a valuable resource for current and future generations.
Georgia's forest management-related experience was not based on sustainable forest management principles since the forest was under tremendous strain. Georgia is reconsidering its approach towards forests while making efforts to protect this unique resource. 

This process was preceded by several reforms, including adopting the Forest Code, which fully adheres to internationally recognized principles of sustainable forest management and ensures the protection of forest biodiversity in Georgia while considering its ecological, social, and economic functions.

It is worth noting that in 2023, Georgia was awarded the status of a candidate country for the European Union, which is a crucial stage on our journey to European integration.

As a candidate country, Georgia is ready to bring its forest and environmental policies into compliance with EU standards. In the last ten years, we have restored 5,000 ha of forest area;  440,000 ha of forest area -comprising 14% of our forest is within protected areas enjoying the status of highly protected forest. Georgia expresses its readiness to strengthen sustainable forest management and contribute to implementing the broader goals of the European Union Green Deal", said Mrs Nino Tandilashvili.

Within the 9th FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference, the participants discussed forest management-related issues in European countries, considering the challenges and needs of specific countries.