Georgia: In Lagodekhi protected areas, the presentation of two new products, “SMART spatial monitoring and reporting system” and “e-learning for protected areas”, was held.
The new products were created within the framework of the project “Strengthening the financial sustainability of the system of protected areas in Georgia” financed by the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The presentation was attended by Yuri Nozadze, Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture, Davit Iosebashvili, Chairman of the Protected Areas Agency, Anna Chernishova, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Tobias Munkhmayer, Executive Director of the Caucasus Nature Foundation (CNF), and local self-government representatives.
“Georgia has a history of more than a century of management and development of protected areas. The first protected area in Georgia and the Caucasus was created 110 years ago. It was the Lagodekhi Nature Reserve, the area of ​​which was approximately 3,500 hectares. Today, the total area of ​​protected areas in Georgia is 800,000 hectares. Management of protected areas in accordance with international standards is one of our challenges. Implementation of the modern SMART monitoring and the patrolling system will make patrolling by rangers more operational and effective. Special software will bring together unified data on issues related to biodiversity inventory and law enforcement in protected areas. I would also like to point out that the improvement of the technical condition of the rangers’ social and territorial administrations is a matter of special concern of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture, in which the contribution of donor organizations is the greatest,” said Yuri Nozadze, Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture.
Within the framework of the presentation, special attention was paid to the benefits obtained by the introduction of the new system in the direction of management of protected areas, preservation of biodiversity, and improvement of the quality of ranger patrols. It was noted that as a result of the implementation of SMART, it will be possible to:
- The ability to measure the effectiveness of patrolling,
- Increasing the quality of patrolling and improving the management of the protected area,
- Promoting accountability and good governance at the national level,
- Preparation of standardized reports and indicators on poaching and other violations.
“We are implementing one of the most modern technologies for improving biodiversity monitoring and management of protected areas. Rangers and administration staff will have the opportunity to use this technology for park management or better data analysis. We are glad to support the Government of Georgia in this important issue and thank the Agency for Protected Areas and the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture for our joint activities,” said Anna Chernyshova, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Program.
The Agency of Protected Areas of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture is actively working in the direction of introducing modern technologies in protected areas.Â
Within the framework of the project “Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of the System of Protected Territories in Georgia”, 12 targeted protected territory administrations – Borjom-Kharagauli, Lagodekhi, Mtirala, Kintrishi and Machakhela National Parks, Pshav-Khevsureti, Tusheti, SMART patrol training were conducted step by step to the rangers of Algeti, Kazbegi, Vashlovani, Javakheti protected areas in order to improve their qualifications and training.
The project “Strengthening the financial sustainability of the system of protected areas in Georgia” is a 5-year “technical assistance” project financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The Caucasus Nature Foundation (CNF) is responsible for the implementation of this project in Georgia.
