Sustainable Livelihoods and Responsible Attitude to Environment

Restoration of Borjomi forest after a wildfire during the armed conflict in August 2008

Summary

A joint initiative of the Government of Georgia, Government of Finland and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aimed to bring back to life Borjomi forest heavily damaged by a wildfire during the armed conflict in August 2008. The initiative also promoted agriculture, tourism and environmental education to boost economy and improve livelihoods.

Project document

Activities

80 hectares of the burnt forest have been restored with over 120 thousand seedlings of oak, pine and fir-trees. 60 hectares have been planted with assistance from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia, National Forest Agency, Government of Finland and UNDP, and 20 hectares – with assistance from the Government of Austria. A pilot school nursery has been established to provide seedlings for reforestation and support young foresters.

The Government of Georgia took a lead in the reforestation works since the completion of the project in 2015. The replanted segments of forest are being maintained and safeguarded by the National Forest Agency.

Results so far

Restoration of Forest Destroyed in the 2008 Conflict

Up to 80 ha of burnt forest cleaned, fenced and restored
120,000 seedlings planted
Training and jobs for 30 local workers and 15 IDPs

Environmental Education

Youth eco-clubs in Borjomi, Akhaldaba and Tsagveri
First teachers’ guidebook in Georgian:”Environmental Education at School”
Pilot programmes in water safety, waste management, forest management and biodiversity, energy efficiency, climate change, bio farming, healthy life-style
More than 700 school kids, their families and teachers engaged in informal environmental education
50 public events, trainings and information campaigns
Vertical gardens in 6 public schools and Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
More than 600 children enrolled in clean-up, planting, young rangers’ programmes
3 tons of waste paper and 250 kg PET waste collected by six eco-clubs
Eco camps in Ureki, Lagodekhi, Kobuleti, Tskhaltubo for 120 children
Youth Conferences “Human Influence on Environment” and “My Environment”
4 TV shows “Eco Vision”(Imedi TV) and 5 talk shows (Borjomi TV)

Eco Villages

Farmers’ Extension Centre in Tsagveri
Training and consultancy to more than 100 farmers
Organic farming assistance to 87 households
More than 25 ha of land cultivated after 15 years of stagnation
3 agro farming cooperatives
Vet Centre and lab in Tsagveri
Wheat, berries, vegetable harvest increased by 20-30 %
Farmers’ income increased by up to 25 %

Energy Efficiency, Sanitation, Food Safety

Insulation and heating systems in Tsagveri public school and library
Solar water heaters and eco toilets in Tsagveri kindergarten
7 eco toilets for Tsagveri households

Disaster Risk Reduction

Village Emergency Groups
Municipal Emergency Groups
Village profiles, resources and emergency plans
Lobbyists to advocate Disaster Risk Reduction with the local municipality
Training in Disaster Risk Reduction: mobilization, models, vulnerability and capacity assessment, first aid, fire and rescue work, project writing and advocacy

Tourism

Tsagveri Tourist Information Center;
Marking of 6 hiking trails (100km);
Information leaflets;
Map banner in Tsagveri;
Training for guides;
Rehabilitation of Tsagveri Park together with Borjomi Municipality and “IDS Borjomi Georgia”.

Planting pine trees on the first pilot plot. 2013. Photo: Vladimer Valishvili/UNDP

Contact information

Contact persons

Nino Antadze
UNDP Environment and Energy Team Leader
nino.antadze@undp.org

Photos

Forest restoration in the village Daba. 2014. Photo: Vladimer Valishvili/UNDP

Status	Completed
Start date	April 2012
End date	December 2015
Focus area	Environment & Energy
Implementing partners	Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia
Donor	Government of Finland
Budget	Euro 1,179,677 (US$ 1,505,593)