USD 11 Million to Support Protected Areas Under Renewed Partnership Between Georgia and the Caucasus Nature Fund
Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Davit Songulashvili and David Morrison, Executive Director of the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF), signed a renewed memorandum of cooperation on the development of protected areas.
Songulashvili thanked the Caucasus Nature Fund for its longstanding support and effective cooperation.
According to the minister, renewing the memorandum marks another important step towards developing Georgia’s protected areas and strengthening cooperation with international partners on nature conservation.
“This renewed cooperation will make a significant contribution to the further development and strengthening of protected areas in Georgia. Our goal is to support the creation of new protected areas, improve existing infrastructure and implement projects that combine nature conservation with greater economic opportunities for local communities. I am confident that our renewed partnership with the Caucasus Nature Fund will help us achieve meaningful results in these areas,” said Davit Songulashvili.
“The country’s significant progress over the past decade is clearly evident. I am pleased that we are part of this process. We have a particularly exciting year ahead in terms of developing protected areas,” said David Morrison.
Under the renewed memorandum, the Caucasus Nature Fund will support the development of the new Tsiv-Gombori protected area in Kakheti. With support from the international donor organisation the Wyss Foundation, CNF will also continue supporting the development of protected areas.
The Wyss Foundation’s grant to CNF under the memorandum totals approximately USD 7.25 million. Including co-financing from CNF and additional donors, the project’s total value is approximately USD 11 million over five years.
Particular attention will be given to effective management of protected areas, strengthening staff capacity, developing biodiversity monitoring systems and deepening partnerships with local communities.
Cooperation between Georgia and the Caucasus Nature Fund on protected areas began in 2008. With the fund’s support, 15 protected areas in Georgia have been developed.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, was also attended by First Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili and heads of the ministry’s relevant agencies and departments.
