Tengiz Nasaridze discusses challenges in pasture management

Georgia: The topic of pasture management, including their identification, forms of pasture use, provision of degradation prevention, and other important related issues, was discussed at a meeting.

Tengiz Nasaridze, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, and Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Mzia Giorgobiani, attended the meeting. Tengiz Nasaridze discussed the challenges in pasture management and noted that the draft law on pasture management will be completed soon.

“Pasture management, over the years, has been a challenge for both our farmers and the local and central governments.” We agreed on the main issue at the working meetings, which will be reflected in the draft law. In a few months, we will present the bill in a format appropriate for public consideration. The draft law is being worked on with full respect for the interests of the population and the farmers”, – said Tengiz Nasaridze.

The draft Law on Pasture Management aims to prevent pasture degradation, preserve biodiversity, improve productivity, ensure accessibility, and promote the sustainable development of the livestock sector by creating the legal basis for sustainable pasture management.

The bill will regulate the management of grazing pastures on state, municipal, and private property in protected areas, including those managed by the Agency of Protected Areas, protected landscapes, multi-use areas, forests, and pastures outside their limits.

According to the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Mzia Giorgobiani, it is essential to have a dialogue in such a format to correctly define the role of the organizations and all prepared to meet the reform.

The meeting was held within the framework of the project “Achieving the National Goals of Land Degradation Neutral Balance (LDN) for Rehabilitation and Sustainable Management of Degraded Pastures,” organized by the Caucasus Regional Center for Environment (REC Caucasus), the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Foundation for Environment (GEF). ..