The Ministry of Agriculture of Adjara recently hosted a discussion on the concept document on the national policy for the sustainable management of pastures
The key components of the concept document were discussed during a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture of Adjara, attended by Giorgi Misheladze, Chairman of the National Agency for Sustainable Land Management and Land Use Monitoring, along with representatives from the Regional Environmental Center of the Caucasus (REC Caucasus). The meeting was also attended by Zaza Shavadze, the Minister of Agriculture of Adjara, senior officials from the Ministry, and the mayors representing various municipalities within the Autonomous Republic.
The Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia lead the development of the concept document for the national policy on sustainable pasture management. This initiative involved collaboration with both Georgian and international experts aimed at establishing a cohesive and comprehensive approach to the sustainable utilization and preservation of pastures. These novel approaches are designed to proactively combat land degradation on pastures and safeguard biodiversity. The concept document serves as the foundation for the forthcoming legislative initiatives, which will address pasture management concerns.
According to the newly developed document, pastures owned by the state and municipalities (including protected areas and forest lands) will be made available for use through a common use regime or leasing arrangements. According to the municipal pasture management plans, the pastures will be identified, classified, zoned and use modes determined. A system of common use of pastures will be introduced on pastures near rural settlements. Associations of users will be established and village pastures will be transferred to them. Leasing arrangements will be used for the remaining pastures. It is important that the status of rural pasture, winter and summer pasture will be determined by law.
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).
