Sustainable Forest Management for Greener Economies. Results: Georgia

Transcription

1 Sustainable Forest Management for Greener Economies Results: Georgia

2 The Context 40% of the Country is covered by forest: 5% are absolutely natural 40% maintain initial structure Destruction of forests 19 th century 1990s non-sustainable woodcutting Georgia's total territory 6.95 m ha 43% 3 m ha recorded as forest areas 40% (2.75 m ha ) actually covered with forests about 2.2. m ha - classified as state forests

3 The forest fund of Georgia is presently the state property. The main authorised governing bodies of state forest fund are: National Forestry Agency Agency of Protected Areas National government institutions play a central role in planning, decision making and enforcement monitoring. Government acts as owner, manager and regulator. The National Forestry Agency is responsible for formulating policies and strategies as well as managing the forests. Local self-governing bodies have certain rights and responsibilities over forests but their nature and scope is not clear. Country General Data on Caucasus Forests Total Area 1000 sq. m Percentage share Timber volume mln. cub. m Registered woodcuts mln. cub. m Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia

4 Georgian Forestry Concept December 2013 For the purpose of solving existing problems in the forestry sector, facilitating poverty alleviation and well-being of the population and promoting sustainable development of the country the goal of the Concept shall be establishing a system of sustainable forest management which will ensure: improvement of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the Georgian forests, protection of biological diversity, effective use of the economic potential of forests taking into account their ecological values, public participation in forest management related issues fair distribution of derived benefits.

5 Assessment of Georgian Forestry Concept By Project stakeholders Overall the recently developed forestry concept/strategy for Georgia was evaluated fairly well against Green Economy principles by participants. The weakest aspects of the strategy related to: the promotion of wood energy and employment creation/private sector engagement. The strongest aspect of the strategy related to: ecological health, with inclusive policy processes, and sustainable forest management. It also calls for revising the ownership of forests but does not give clear idea how to do it.

6 Pillar A: Promoting increased and sustainable production and consumption of forest products Recommendations Establishment of adequate institutional structure Increase indirect use of forests Develop infrastructure - Enhancing the motivation of population - Promotion of local production of decorative plants for greening the cities Increase access to forest services Develop labelling and certification systems for forest products. Increase the forest roads network (developing cable lines for taking out wood) Promote the development and implementation of green building standards

7 Pillar B. Forestry contributing to a low carbon economy. Recommendations Promote rational and effective use of forest resources (both timber and non-timber resources) Promote the substitution of non-renewable and highcarbon materials and energy by renewable and low-carbon alternatives Introduce modern technologies Maximise the share of fuel wood (renewable) resources in an energy balance, taking into account their finite resources. Improve the infrastructure for preventing fires Study the impact of climate change on forests and develop relevant recommendations

8 Pillar C. Promoting more and better green jobs and improved forest based livelihoods. Recommendations Prepare qualified personnel through: - Trainings and seminars; - Carrying out partner and exchange programmes. Establish coordination mechanisms among other educational institutions (universities, colleges, etc.) and employers Promote tourism development- Develop tourism infrastructure in the forests; - Support efforts to attract visitors. Promote simplification of the use of forest resources for the private sector and their availability Carry out complete and systemised inventory of forest resources and services Offer investment schemes and means for the forest sector Develop different models and schemes (private, state, community) of forest management Establish economic and market instrument for forest sector management

9 Pillar D. Ecological maintenance and enhancement long term provision of Forest Ecosystem Services. Recommendations Increasing the territories covered with forest, Renewal of degraded forest. Increase in productivity of forests resulting in 20% increase in reserves of wood resources. Renewal of other degraded territories Improvement of ecological state of forest, Protection of biodiversity. Improve monitoring and early warning of forest pests and diseases Improving sanitary situation Attention to the regeneration measures of the forests, especially to the rare and endangered species Elimination of illegal logging Attracting investments (revenues): - Establishment of subsidiary enterprises; - hunting farms; - plant nurseries: fast-growing plants Increase the role and importance of the forest sector and make it visible in the economy of the country, consequently with its possibilities to contribute in the green economy

10 Pillar E. Policy development and monitoring of the forest sector in relation to a green economy Recommendations Develop sustainable forest state policy Develop Action plan for the forest sector in a green Economy including public participation and periodic revision, intended to achieve multiple use and sustained yield of the forest Enhance cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination and coherence between forest policy and other policies that affect forests and forestry Improvement of legislative bases for establishing and implementing the principles of sustainable management and green economy and for preventing illegal cuts and stopping the destruction of forests Strengthening the monitoring Balanced participation of state, non-governmental and private sector Raising public engagement Modernisation of material-technical bases

11 Sustainable Forest Management for Greener Economies Process Documentation: Georgia

12 National Workshops Tbilisi, June 9-11, 2014 (23 participants) Tbilisi February, 2015 (22 participants) Representatives of: Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry of Energy NGOs, Forestry Agency

13 Local Workshops Representatives of: National Forestry Agency Forestry Services NGOs Universities Mtskheta, 19 September 2014 (21 participants) Kutaisi, Georgia, 22 September 2014 (24 participants) Ozurgeti, Georgia, 23 September 2014 (23 participants) Batumi, Georgia, 24 September 2014 (18 participants)

14 Process: Methods Nat. Mtskheta Ozurgeti Kutaisi Batumi

15 Time Constraints (one day per local workshop) Wrong timing (for foresters the winter period is better) Challenges Green Economy is a new concept Engagements (more efforts and time needed to involve wider spectrum of stakeholders)

16 Benefits Participatory methods enable full participation High level of interest in the regions

17 Recommendations form local workshops Ensure local perspective while developing forest policy documents Ensure local participation in the future processes related to the SFM issues for the green economy Better timing for future projects when involving foresters

18 Highlights All topics were taken with interest, but the creation of green decent jobs is ranking highest at the local level Trainings are considered important to raise the qualification of the staff of the forest services

19 Thank you for your attention!