Tbilisi: Georgian Minister of Environment and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia attended the discussion of the Global Environment Fund (GEF) funded project- “Land Degradation Neutral Balance (LDN) for restoration and sustainable management of degraded pastures”. The working meeting was held within the framework of “That Way”. At the meeting, the draft of the National Policy for Sustainable Management of Pastures was also discussed.
“It is important to be able to use and protect the land resource effectively. The document of the state policy for sustainable pasture management was prepared with the active involvement of Parliament, representatives of relevant agencies and foreign experts. The document will provide the foundation for creating a relevant legislative framework that will help us take the right steps to regulate pasture management issues in the county.
“With this, all stakeholders, be it the central government, local governments or farmers, will have written functions and obligations to maximise the use and protection of natural resources,” said Otar Shamugia.
The concept of the National Policy for Sustainable Pastures Management is to formulate a unified, consistent approach to sustainable benefits and protection of pastures, which ensures the prevention of land degradation on pastures and biodiversity conservation, it will contribute to improving pasture fertility, sustainable development of the livestock industry and increase productivity.
This policy document will be based on the preparation of a relevant legislative package in the field of pasture management.
The project, at the national level, is implemented by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Caucasus Regional Center for Environmental Protection (REC Caucasus). The partner of the project is the Caucasus Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations Network (CENN).
Draft National Policy Concept for Sustainable Pastures Management has been developed within the framework of the project “Achieving National Goals of Land Degradation Neutral Balance (LDN) by Restoration and Sustainable Management of Degraded Pastures” With the coordination of Risi working group, by national and international experts.
The working meeting was attended by Maia Bitadze, Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources and Chairman of the Parliament’s Agrarian Affairs Nino Tsilosani, representatives of NGOs and other stakeholders .
