Tbilisi: The Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia, Solomon Pavliashvili, attended the 5th Global Biodiversity Financing Forum held under the Global Project “Biodiversity Financial Initiative” (BIOFIN) in the Republic of South Africa.
 Solomon Pavliashvili took part in high-level sessions and panel discussions, where major insights and challenges in terms of biodiversity financing were discussed, shared best experiences and defined future steps of the global initiative.
 The Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia introduced the forum participants to Georgia’s experience in implementing BIOFIN and presented the main insights related to the evaluation and reduction of subsidies that have a potentially negative impact on biodiversity.
Solomon Pavliashvili stressed the importance of developing climate-friendly agriculture, reducing the use of pesticides and promoting sustainable production.
 The Deputy Minister highlighted the advantages of having one Ministry in the jurisdiction of Environment and Agriculture, noting that this fact facilitates effective policy formation/implementation of agriculture development, considering environmental and biodiversity principles.
 The 5th Global Biodiversity Financing Forum was attended by Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and representatives of more than 40 countries participating in the project.
Biodiversity Financial Initiative (BIOFIN) is a global program that since 2012 has supported the development and implementation of biodiversity financial plans in countries participating in the program.Â
With the support of BIOFIN, since 2016, based on quantitative and qualitative data, a thorough and comprehensive assessment of the financial needs of biodiversity in Georgia has been carried out and, using innovative methods, appropriate activities are carried out to fill the fiscal deficit.
