The head of the National Forest Agency, Besik Amiranashvili, met with Papuna Margvelidze, the State Commissioner of Racha-Lechkhum-Lower Svaneti, and representatives of the local government. The main aim of the meeting was to discuss the main directions of the forest sector reform.
The main goal of the forest reform developed in the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture is to improve forest protection and forest use practices. At the working meeting, Carlo Amirgulashvili, the head of the Ministry’s Forest Policy Department, spoke about the activities planned within the framework of the reform. It was noted that within the framework of the reform, the salary of forest guards doubled from January this year, and the position salaries of the regional forest service and central office have been increased, which undoubtedly increases the motivation of employees and, at the same time, interest in the profession.
“One of the main goals of the planned reform in the forest sector is to strengthen the monitoring and control of the forests. “As a result, the number of forest protectors is planned to increase, which, together with the effective implementation of forest care and restoration measures, will create additional jobs in the region,” said Besik Amiranashvili, the head of the National Forest Agency.
According to the reform, the function of physical protection of the National Forest Agency returns. The addition of 401 forest rangers is being considered, reducing the protected area per ranger from 10-15 thousand hectares to an average of 2,000 hectares. Also, to increase the efficiency of forest protection and monitoring, the technical arming of the National Forest Agency with modern technology means is considered.
Besik Amiranashvili, the head of the National Forest Agency, introduced Vakhtang Ghachava, the new head of the Racha-Lechkhum-Lower Svaneti Forest Service. Vakhtang Gachava has extensive experience in public service. Until now, he held the position of Deputy Head of Kutaisi City Administration of the Imereti Police Department.
