The results of implementing the National Policy on Sustainable Pasture Management in Georgia have been summarized
The project initiated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture – “Achieving National Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Targets through the Restoration and Sustainable Management of Degraded Pastures” — was concluded with a final summary event.
The project was launched in 2020 and aimed to both establish a national policy and institutional framework and demonstrate a practical example of restoring degraded pastures.
The closing event was opened online by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Lasha Dolidze. The Deputy Minister positively assessed the work carried out within the framework of the project and stated that it provides a strong foundation for the restoration and sustainable management of pastures.
Giorgi Misheladze, Chairman of the National Agency for Sustainable Land Management and Land Use Monitoring, spoke about the first stage of pasture management reform—pasture inventory and assessment—as the basis for informed decision-making. He emphasized the importance of data-driven management and noted that quantitative and qualitative assessments of pastures are essential both for reducing degradation and ensuring long-term sustainable development.
Within the framework of the project, Georgia developed its first unified national policy on pasture management, along with the relevant legislative and institutional framework. Pasture inventory and assessment were conducted in the pilot Dmanisi, Gurjaani, and Kazbegi municipalities. Modern approaches to land degradation monitoring were also developed. In pilot villages, pasture user community associations were established and strengthened to manage pastures jointly and in a coordinated manner. In addition, a modern controlled grazing system, supported by the necessary infrastructure, was established across 530 hectares.
The project was implemented with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus).
