Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Awareness of the population regarding protected areas was raised by 15 per cent between 2009 and 2011. Between 2003 and 2013, 639 ha area of forest was restored [ ] 110 Committed to monitor the conservation status of protected habitats and species Georgia ratified the European Land- scape Convention in 2010. Pursuant to the requirements of this con- vention, the party must provide for preservation of landscapes, as part of the cultural and natural heritage and introduce landscape planning, which is of great significance for Georgia since it is a country distinguished by its high historical and aesthetic values and is rich in original natural and cultural landscapes. The process of ratification of the Nagoya Protocol on “Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization” is ongoing. Joining the international treaty is especially remarkable for a country as rich in genetic resources as Georgia. Over 2,000 species of Georgian flora have direct economic value as timber resources and food for humans and animals. 1,200 species of vascular plants are used as medicinal herbs. The Georgia–European Union Association Agreement, executed in 2014, includes important commit- ments for the conservation of species and habitats and the sustainable use of biological resources. One of the most significant commitments is the harmonization of Georgian biodiver- sity conservation legislation with the EU Council Directives on the con- servation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora and the conservation of birds. The country is committed to establishing a system to monitor the conservation status of protected habitats and species and carry out special conservation activities with respect to protected species. Georgia has already made progress to this effect with technical assistance from the GIZ. The draft law will: establish a legal background for the creation of Emer- ald Sites and Special Protected Areas for bird species; determine grounds for identification of such territories, their inclusion in the European network, their conservation and monitoring; include provisions aimed at enhancement of legal protection at the national level of critical- ly endangered species and those species, which are strictly protected under international treaties and EU directives; and also provide a legal framework for accessibility of genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. Utilization of genetic resources in Georgia will be accessible based on the relevant preliminarily communi- cated consent and bilaterally agreed conditions. In 2014, a law on Genet- ically Modified Living Organisms was adopted in Georgia such that the introduction of genetically modified organisms into the natural environ- ment is banned. T he Caucasus is considered by international organizations to be one of the distinguished regions of the world in respect of biodiversity. It is one of WWF’s 35 priority places, as part of the greater Black Sea basin, and is also part of two of the 34 biodiversity hotspots (the Caucasus and Iran-Anatolian hotspots) identified by Conservation International as being simultaneously the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life. The biodiversity of Georgia provides life-sustaining ecosystem services and natural resources for the population, and supports sustainable development of important economic sectors such as forestry, agriculture, hydropower and tourism. Mestia, Georgia Jordan Sanchez on Unsplash Georgia