Three fully equipped Business Services Yards, trained foresters and informed communities – the forest protection project comes to an end with impressive results.
With over US$920,000 in funding from Japan, Georgia’sNational Forestry Agency and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) worked hand in hand to boost forestry reform and protect municipal forests from illegal logging and wildfires. The year-long initiative contributed to Georgia’s climate pledge to unconditionally reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 35 percent below the 1990 baseline level by 2030.
On 15 March, representatives of Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, the Embassy of Japan to Georgia and UNDP presented the project achievements to the public.
“The ongoing forestry reform is aimed at introducing sustainable forest management and protecting biodiversity while addressingthe needs of local communities and ensuring that the forestry sector contributes to economic development,” said Deputy Minister Kakha Kakabadze. “The forestry reform assists Georgia to fulfil the ambitious commitments to the Paris Agreement and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 35 percent below the 1990 baseline level by 2030. We welcome cooperation with international partners in introducing sustainable forest management and promoting environmental awareness and education.”
“The forest protection project benefitted 43,000 people in Mtskheta Municipality and reached out to communities across Georgia with a message of clean energy and sustainable living,”said Suzuki Toshiyuki, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan to Georgia. “We welcome Georgia’s continued cooperation with Japan in building a low-carbon economy and bringing about green economic growth.”
“Our joint work in Mtskheta Municipality shows that the responsible use of forest resources benefits people, nature and the economy,” said Nick Beresford, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia. “I am particularly pleased to note that we engaged and empowered youth to become active participants in environmental conservation and sustainable development.”
Since its launch in April 2022, the partnership between the National Forestry Agency, Japan and UNDP has led to thefollowing achievements:
###
Support for the forestry reform in Georgia is part of the UNDP’s global Climate Promise effort to assist 120 countries and territories to achieve their climate goals. Georgia is one of 23 countries where Climate Promise is funded by Japan, the largest supporter of this pioneering and groundbreaking initiative.
