Nino Tandilashvili the first deputy minister of environment protection and agriculture of Georgia stressed the expansion of the network of protected areas. As per the minister this will align the georian laws as per the European standards which is very significant as the country has gained the status of the candidate country.
As per Nino Tandilashvili, “The possibility of developing ecotourism infrastructure in protected areas is a European approach, which has already been implemented and approved in many countries.”
According to Nino Tandilashvili the First Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture the direction of environmental protection is an important part of the European integration process under which work is actively underway in Georgia.
The year 2023 has been distinguished for achievement in the environmental field as the “Law of Georgia on Biodiversity” was discussed throughout the country and later on, was approved by the Georgian government at the end of the year.
This law fully reflects the principles of the European Union’s biodiversity protection, especially in the field of protected areas and nature protection that has been implemented in the country as well.
Nino Tandilashvili also noted “We have to create and expand the network of protected areas in the country. Georgia is a distinguished country for its nature and biodiversity, and it needs to protect this heritage.
There is a need to use it with caution and it also needs to be used purposefull boosting ecotourism potential which promotes regional development. This is exactly the European approach, which has been planted and approved in many countries”.
According to the statement of the Deputy Minister in 2023 there was active work on the development of ecotourism in Georgia. the construction of a network of about 1,200 km of trails has been carried out and several important ecotourism projects have been implemented. Among these, the Bald Canyon and Martville Canyon development projects are noteworthy in the municipality of Martville.
She added additionally that”When protected areas are created in any country it is followed by the development of ecotourism infrastructure. Thus an additional centre of attraction is created in the region; at the same time, other new opportunities appear for the local population besides employment, which include small or medium businesses growth, the construction of hotels, and the development of food facilities, which in turn follow ecotourism services”.
It should be noted that European countries or the United States of America had developed the ecotourism infrastructure together with the state and the private sector. We should also encourage the private sector in this direction. The promotion of ecotourism is considered as one of the priority areas of rural development in the European Union. Therefore for our population to understand accurately, it is imperative to enable the private sector to develop specific ecotourism services. This does not mean that the population will be restricted from access to the local territories. On the contrary it will bring additional benefits for them the minister added.
