Second National Environmental Action Programme of Georgia 2012-2016

The Second National Environmental Action Programme (NEAP-2) is a national cross-sectoral programme of Georgia for the period of 2012-2016. It is an official document representing Georgia’s agenda for environmental actions for 2012-2016. The plan sets long-term goals and, therefore, serves as the foundation for long-term environmental planning. Recognizing the need for economic development, it emphasizes sustainable development from environment point of view rather than restrictive perspectives.
The NEAP-2 provides for an array of measures for protecting the environment. In the area of water resources, it provides for establishment of an effective water management system; establishment of effective pollution prevention and water abstraction control mechanisms; reduction of water pollution from untreated municipal wastewater; and reduction of pollution from diffuse sources in agriculture. In the area of ambient air protection, it aims for improvement and step-by-step automation of the existing air quality monitoring network that will make it possible to assess the state of ambient air and factors affecting the air quality; reduction of industrial emissions through the introduction of modern energy saving technologies and proper enforcement of the requirements of environmental impact permits; and gradual reduction of vehicle emissions through introduction of relevant instruments based on international experience and national specifics. In the field of waste and chemicals, it provides for improvement of household and hazardous waste management (collection, transport, and disposal); and reduction of environmental pollution from accumulated wastes. For protection of Back Sea, the document targets preservation of commercial marine living resources; conservation and management of Black Sea marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats; reduction of Eutrophication; and ensuring good water quality for human health, recreational use and aquatic biota. For the ecosystem preservation, the document provides for rehabilitation, protection and conservation of viable populations of selected endangered species and habitats; improvement of effectiveness of hunting and fishery management to ensure sustainable use of fauna resources; development of a unified and effective protected areas network; improvement of the effectiveness of protected areas management through the capacity building of its administrations and introduction of financial sustainability mechanisms; and creation of proper databases for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of biological resources through developing the relevant bio-monitoring system. In the area of forestry, it provides for establishment of prerequisites for a sustainable forest management system; and reduction of unsustainable and illegal forest use. In the field of land resources, the document plans to reduce degraded land areas, improve the soil quality and minimize soil contamination and enhance the existing capacity of the spatial-land information system to ensure improved management of land resources through application of modern tools and technologies. In the field of mineral resources, it provides for clean-up of abandoned mining sites; introduction of sustainable practices for existing and new sites; improvement of the groundwater monitoring system; and introduction of sustainable practices for groundwater extraction.
The NEAP-2 also covers the area of disaster risk management. For this purpose, it contains the following targets: improvement/modernization of early warning system; prevention/reduction of negative impacts of floods and flash floods in river basins of Georgia; resumption of artificial influence activities on some hazardous events (hail, drought, snow avalanches); and risk reduction for industrial accidents. In addition, in the area of radiation safety, it provides for enhancement of State management and regulation of the sector; and improvement of radiation safety for people and the environment. Finally for climate change, it provides implementation of adaptation measures in regions vulnerable to climate change; identification of climate change impacts on other regions and sectors; and creation of favorable conditions for the reduction of GHG emissions.