Tbilisi: The Minister of Environment and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia, opened the “Busy Yard” in the village of Jighaura, with Japanese Ambassador, Imamura Akira and UNDP Permanent Representative in Georgia Nick Beresford.
With the financial support of the Japanese government, within the framework of the project “Sustainable forest management and support of climate-friendly forest management practices”, a “busy yard” was set up in the village of Jigaura of Mtskheta municipality.
“The reform takes into account the development of forestry, in which the role of “busy yards” is important. “Our goal is to phase out social cuts in the future with services that are more comfortable for the population, businesses and easier access to natural resources,” said Environment and Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia.
The project “Sustainable forest management in Georgia and support of climate-friendly forest management practices” is carried out with the financing of the Japanese government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), for which 920 000 US dollars has been allocated. There are already 39 “busy yards” set up nationwide. By the end of 2023, additional 17 “busy yards” will be arranged.
According to the Japanese Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Georgia, Imamura Akirama, the Georgian forest is a precious treasure that is important for both the sustainable and climate-friendly development of the country and for the well-being of people; Japan is pleased to share its many years of forest management experience with Georgia and thus help to protect and sustainably use of natural resources.
It is noteworthy that within the project “Sustainable management of Georgian forest and support of climate-friendly forest management practices”, Dzegvi and Kvemo Lisi “busy yards” with appropriate equipment, 4 trucks, 3 “pickup” brand cars, 1 tractor and 3 electricity generators, equipment.
Personal safety kits, 100 units of fire extinguishers, 30 units of special fire-resistant helmets, 50 units of radio transmitters (radiation) and 3 quadricycles were given to the speakers, which will help to manage the risk of forest fires. In addition, energy efficient stoves were given to the most poor families of the villages of the region. About 43,000 residents have received Bioma, the sustainable fuel for their daily needs.
As the UNDP Permanent Representative in Georgia, Nick Beresford noted, the UN Development Program supports forest reform in Georgia, a step forward in sustainable natural resources management and combating climate change.
