On 6 October 2023, the CIC hosted an open workshop for Georgia’s wildlife conservationists at the invitation of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.
The meeting was held in a hybrid format at the offices of the Ministry, and was attended by representatives of state authorities, national and international conservation NGOs, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and more.
Participants at the workshop discussed and explored different methods of sustainable wildlife conservation in Georgia, with the aim of reporting to a Working Group tasked with developing a draft law entitled On Biological Diversity of Georgia.
The law – which would regulate the national protection of wildlife species and their habitats – will be drafted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, creating a legal basis for the creation of an effective system for nature protection and management. Notably, the move would be bringing Georgian legislation more in line with those in place across Europe.
The CIC prepared a presentation on sustainable wildlife conservation and management, giving case studies and examples from different countries from within the CIC Network. The presentation was followed by an interactive discussion on the adoption of best practices for sustainable use within Georgia.
One of the key outcomes of the workshop was the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture requesting the CIC to provide its experience in the development of conservation programs in the future.
In this regard, the CIC will be involved in dialogues with stakeholders, and will provide technical expertise to ensure that local initiatives are in line with best practices relevant to conservation through sustainable use.
