National Forest Concept for Georgia

The National Forest Concept is a national policy in Georgia whose main goal is to establish a system of sustainable forest management that will ensure: improvement of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Georgian forests, protection of biological diversity, effective use of the economic potential of forests taking into account their ecological value, public participation in forest management related issues, and fair distribution of derived benefits. To achieve this goal the Georgian forests should be used in a way, and at a rate, that ensures maintenance of ecological health and use of their socio-economic potential.
According to the document, the following priority areas are identified: (1) forests shall be managed in such a way that ensures maintenance of their useful functions and maximum benefits for society, derived from these functions; (2) continuous monitoring of forest resources to ensure rational use of forest resources and assess results of forest use and changes in the environment; (3) identifying the best forms of forest ownership and forest management based on specific case by case assessment (e.g. community ownership, management of state forests by a state body or an entity designated by this body, etc.); (4) elaborating and implementing activities aimed at mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change on forests; (5) developing the Forest Code – the main law governing the forestry sector and secondary legal acts to comply with both the international standards and primary and secondary national legislation; (6) strengthening the capacity of forest management bodies and develop an appropriate concept, legislation, standards and other instruments; (7) carrying out forest inventories and preparing forest management plans necessary for the preparation of a long term plan of sustainable management and development; (8) strengthening the system of professional forestry education by building an integrated educational system that involves schools, colleges, professional colleges, universities, and governmental institutions; and (9) raising awareness among the population and decision-makers about the importance of forests and sustainable forest management principles.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia will coordinate all efforts to harmonise the forest Concept with the strategies of other sectors (agriculture, energy, etc.). The role of the ministry is also to manage the process of using Georgia’s Forest Fund territories for other purposes (including mining, road construction or other infrastructure development, etc.).