On February 28th, the Inception Workshop for the five year “Enhancing Financial Sustainability of the Protected Area System in Georgia” program was held. Funded by the Global Environment Facility through UNDP, this project is implemented by the Caucasus Nature Fund and partners directly with Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. Working in close collaboration with the Agency for Protected Areas, the project aims to secure long-term financial sustainability and improve PA management in order to conserve globally significant biodiversity in 12 Protected Areas in Georgia. Through introducing innovative financing schemes, building the capacity of central and PA-level staff, and improving the access to and quality of relevant biodiversity indicators, the project will contribute to the modernization of Georgia’s Protected Areas management system.
CNF’s Executive Director Geof Giacomini summarized, “To achieve our ambitious goals, the project depends on partnership with numerous stakeholders as well as an appetite for innovation. Through this new funding, CNF will address the capacity needs in Georgia’s PA system in a systematic way, creating a long term training program, while also introducing more modern technology and creative approaches to financing in Georgia’s PA systems”.
