The concept document for the national policy on sustainable pasture management was discussed at the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Regional Administration
This document was discussed during a working meeting held in the city of Zugdidi by Giorgi Misheladze, the Chairman of the National Agency for Sustainable Land Management and Land Use Monitoring, Nino Vibliani, the Deputy State Representative of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region and representatives of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, local self-government and the Caucasus Regional Environmental Center (REC Caucasus).
The concept document, prepared by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia in collaboration with Georgian and international experts, aims to establish a unified, coherent approach to sustainable use of pastures and pasture protection, which should ensure the prevention of land degradation on pastures and the preservation of biodiversity. The concept is the basis for legislative initiatives that will regulate pasture management issues.
Based on the finalized document, pasture status will be determined by law; The law will also introduce modes of use of state and municipal pastures, which implies both common use and lease. In accordance with municipal management plans, pastures will undergo identification, classification, zoning, and the determination of modes of use. A system of common use will be introduced on pastures near rural settlements. User associations will be created and village pastures will be transferred to and managed by them. The remaining pastures will be subject to leasing.
The concept document of the “National Policy for Sustainable Pasture Management" was developed by national and international experts in coordination with the inter-agency working group formed within the framework of the project "Achieving Land Degradation Neutral Balance (LDN) National Goals through restoration and sustainable management of degraded pastures". The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
