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

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Launching the large-scale project for restoring and planting the Rustavi floodplain forest

"We are working on an important project to restore the Rustavi floodplain ecosystem, marking a significant step toward developing the city of Rustavi. The project will be financed by funds accumulated from environmental fines and penalties. This initiative sets the first precedent since the Law of Georgia on Environmental Liability came into force, which enabled us to adopt this approach. The project will improve air quality in Rustavi. At the same time, the residents and guests of Rustavi city will enjoy a very beautiful, well-organized, and vast recreational space", declared the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, during the presentation of the Rustavi floodplain forest restoration project.

The project will encompass 160 hectares of floodplain area, where tourist and recreational infrastructure will be organized. The plans include walking and cycling paths, rest areas, guard cottages, and a presentation space. Additionally, camera traps will be installed to observe local wildlife (birds, animals), and water purification barriers will be placed in the Mtkvari River. Approximately 60,000 tree saplings will be planted on 24 hectares, contributing to ecosystem regeneration. The park will ensure a safe, favorable environment for physical activities and an opportunity for educational institutions to hold educational seminars on environmental protection issues.

The Mayor of Rustavi, Mrs. Nino Latsabidze, MPs Mrs Maia Bitadze and Mr Irakli Shatakishvili attended the event. 
The Mayor of Rustavi thanked the civil activists, the Parliament of Georgia, and the Georgian Government team for supporting the project and making efforts to improve the ecological condition in Rustavi city.

''This space is the ‘’lungs of our city’’ which was unfortunately destroyed in the 1990s. Today, our generation and our team have the opportunity to work together and, through joint efforts, restore a unique floodplain forest that will heal and improve the ecological condition of the city. This is an unprecedented, huge project, and the residents of Rustavi have been waiting for it for a long time," said Mrs Nino Latsabidze.
The MP, Mrs. Maia Bitadze, emphasized the scope of the project, noting that the Rustavi floodplain forest restoration project will support the recreational development within the city, which will be attractive to local inhabitants and tourists.


The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, with joint efforts with Rustavi City Hall, will repair and regenerate the Rustavi forest floodplain on 160 ha of area. This is an unprecedented project, which will be implemented through funds accumulated from the environmental protection fund," said Mrs. Maia Bitadze.

The finances for implementing the project were allocated from the environmental fund, which was created through monetary compensation paid for the environmental damage.

Environmental funds exist in almost all European countries, but Georgia is the first in Eastern European countries to create such a fund. The fund aims to plan and implement necessary measures in various municipalities to improve the environment. It is worth mentioning that the Rustavi floodplain forest restoration project is the first project funded by the Environmental Fund.

The floodplain forest is within the borders of Rustavi municipality, on both banks of the Mtkvari River between the old and new bridges. 
According to the floodplain forest development strategy, this section is currently an unused space where the ecosystem is degraded and polluted with various types of waste.