Tbilisi. Heinrich Boell Foundation and the “Get rid of plastic” movement present an atlas of plastic. “The first international version was published in English. Later it was translated into Georgian. Georgian publication contains several articles in regard to plastic wastes and their management in Georgia”. Read more… Source:ge. boell.org

Tbilisi. With the support of the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), an organization “Chiaturians Union” has prepared a detailed monitoring and advocacy report, which touches upon improvement of atmospheric air quality in Chiatura. Take a look at the detailed report  The publication has been created within the framework of the “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” project with the support of the European Union and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS). Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Green Alternative publishes an article by Irakli Macharashvili: Lessons learned from COVID-19: What is the connection between environmental protection and spread of epidemics? “How the conflict between humans and wildlife contributes to occurrence and spread of deadly epidemics - we have to imagine animal markets to understand that. Such markets are places for gathering a lot of animals that may not live together in nature. Stressed and diseased animals are locked in cages and secrete body fluids. They are killed and the meat is cut in pieces at the same places. All this creates a favorable environment for spread of a virus. First cases of the new coronavirus were linked to specifically the Wuhan animal market, where live civets and other animals were sold for food. If we do not learn proper lessons, daily decline in wildlife habitat due to activities of humans will further exacerbate the threat of new epidemics: humans occupy habitat of wild animals and, thus, offer their bodies to viruses, fungi and bacteria that were hosted by animals”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more…  Source: greenalt.org

Tbilisi. The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation publishes an article by Manana Kochladze, the founder of “Green Alternative”: COVID-19, environmental protection and future perspectives. “The COVID-19 pandemic turns out to be a serious challenge for modern societies. Thousands of people have died as a result of rapid spread of the disease around the world, borders have been closed and many people have lost their jobs due to isolation and quarantine. As it was expected, the Pandemic has affected poor population most of all and further increased poverty and inequality in an already unequal world”. Read more… Source: ge.boell.org

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) considers that the Government takes advantage of the state of emergency and restricts participation of public in the environmental protection related decision-making process in disputed projects. “Green Alternative and GYLA call on the Government of Georgia to suspend the projects related decision-making process during the state of emergency. We, applicant organizations, consider that the change in the government resolution has been made to simplify decision-making on problematic projects. An Abastumani bypass road project, for instance, can be named as such a problematic one”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Green Alternative and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association demand abolition of an environmental protection related resolution issued in regard to the Namakhvani HPP project. “On April 6, Green Alternative and GYLA will file a lawsuit in the Tbilisi City Court demanding abolition of an environmental protection related resolution issued in regard to changes made in the Namakhvani two-stage HPP cascade project planned to be implemented on the Rioni River at Tskaltubo and Tsageri municipalities”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender Responds to Protests Launched by Residents of Shukruti Village of Chiatura Municipality.  Residents of the village of Shukruti say that Georgian Manganese LLC, during the mining activity, damages the environment, roads and their houses. They have been blocking the Shukruti mine in protest since February 17, 2020 but don’t have any result.  ‘The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the relevant agencies to use all the resources to identify the causes of damage and to conduct result-oriented negotiations with the company. The Public Defender also calls on the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development to mediate and personally engage in the negotiations between the Shukruti population and the company to protect the locals’ rights to property and a healthy environment’, - Is noted in the statement of the Public defender.  Read more…   Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to an initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia related to selling 100 new licenses for mining by auction.  “We consider that this initiative contradicts a document on the “Strategy for the Mining Sector of Georgia” and is incompatible with principles of democratic, transparent and relevant knowledge-based management of natural resources. The decision of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development further promotes the practice of issuing licenses based on privatization and auction rules, despite the fact that the experience, obtained in Tkibuli, Chiatura and other regions, raises doubts regarding socio-economic and ecological sustainability of this policy, while the “Strategy for the Mining Sector”, approved in December 2019, indicates significant legislative gaps existing in the mountain mining sector, without eradication of which gaps launching of a large-scale wave of licensing is extremely dangerous”, - is noted in the statement of EMC.  Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. GYLA and EMC release a statement regarding public review of projected amendments to the Namakhvani HPP cascade operation conditions conducted at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. “The ministry grossly violated requirements of both the Environmental Assessment Code of Georgia [1] and the Aarhus Convention [2] while conducting public review on December 20 that was of particular interest to the local population. Despite the fact that Deputies of Ministers of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia attended the meeting, the rule of carrying out of public review was violated in their presence. In particular, artificial obstacles were encountered by those interested in attending the meeting, attendees were not allowed to ask questions, critical questions were not answered at the meeting”, - is noted in the statement, - “We call on the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture to: abolish public review, conducted through gross violation of requirements of the Environmental Assessment Code; set a new date for public review; make sure that public reviews are held in accordance with the Environmental Assessment Code in public spaces accessible for population to be affected; ensure proper involvement of population, to be affected by projects, and other interested people in decision-making process as stipulated by both the Environmental Assessment Code and the Aarhus Convention”. Read more… Source: https://gyla.ge

Ajara. Over 20 representatives of Khulo LAG, local guesthouse operators and interested stakeholders took part in a training on ecotourism and agritourism in Khulo municipality.  The training aimed at raising awareness and defining general standards and requirements of developing agri-farming touristic services in Khulo municipality. The training was provided with the support of EU under ENPARD Khulo project and was conducted by Nata Robitashvili, educational projects manager of ‘’Georgian Ecotourism Association’’.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Ajara. Over 20 students from different schools of Keda municipality participated in a discussion on climate change and sustainable waste management organized by EU-supproted Keda Local Action Group (LAG). The event, which took place at Keda LAG office within the EU-funded ‘Keda LEADER’ project, aimed at raising awareness of the municipality’s youth on environmental issues and facilitating their involvement in respective activities.  The discussion preceeded by screening of 1-minute thematic films selected within the international Mobile Film Festival. The students also attended an upcycling activity and practical training in sustainable waste management.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes an article of Tornike Gerliani: Migrants of unrecognized war, i.e. who and how fights against HPPs. “Present article contains a review of methods and strategies of fight and resistance carried out by anti-HPP movements around the world. Subject issues include grounds, practices and their interaction while using different political frameworks. Along with evaluation of implementation of large-scale hydroelectric projects, as well as their severe impact on the environment and population, there will be demonstrated those prevailing political and economic visions, which predominantly define contemporary models of development”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

As part of a broader effort to protect Georgia’s rich natural resources, the European Union (EU), in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is assisting the country in introducing sustainable forest management practices and increasing national expertise in forest inventory.  Lagodekhi is the first of four target municipalities where this support to the National Forestry Agency of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia resulted in the execution of a forest inventory covering more than 21,000 hectares. The data collected will provide the basis for the development of a sustainable forest management plan. By the end of 2020, similar forest inventories will be carried out in the Akhmeta, Tetritskaro and Dedoplistskaro municipalities.  The EU and UNDP assistance also includes specialized training for 15 forestry specialists in different Georgian universities.  Read more... Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Today, “Green Alternative”, a civil society organization of the “Open Society Georgia Foundation” conducted a presentation of the study – “Assessment of opportunity for creation of a protected area in Idliani, Khaishi, Chuberi and Nakra communities of Upper Svaneti”. The study reviews opportunities for creation of a protected area in Idliani, Khaishi, Chuberi and Nakra territories of Upper Svaneti; assesses the extent to which existing environmental, social and economic problems can be resolved through the protected area; besides, defines which category of a protected area would be the most acceptable to create from an environmental, social and economic point of view. The study has been prepared within the framework of the ACCESS project of the East-West Management Institute (EWMI) and is implemented by Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC). Read more… Source:https://emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Women’s fund in Georgia publishes a new study of We Research - “Environmental Justice and Women’s Rights in Georgia”.  “According to the new study, presented by Women's Fund in Georgia, the intersection of environmental and gender equality is a new fi eld for the key actors working on the environmental as well as on gender equality issues Its implementation is challenging for most of the parties concerned The lack of information, experience, and resources is considered as a signifi cant barrier for the key actors working on environmental issues to mainstream gender aspect in their ongoing activities Absence of specifi c action plans and/ or widespread gender neutral and gender stereotypical attitudes is also considered as challenging”, - In the study is mentioned, - “According to focus group participants, vulnerability caused due to the environmental changes is determined by the territorial attachment, economic status and social connections It is noteworthy that in comparison to men, having lower income and lower participation in the workforce make women more vulnerable to environmental changes However, the interviewees do not discuss economic vulnerability issues with specifi c reference to gender”. Read more  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. The signatory organizations express the deep concern regarding the critical situation created in Pankisi Gorge related to the cascade construction of HPPs and call the government of Georgia to immediately cease the demonstration of police power against the local population and to immediately withdraw the forces from the Gorge. ''It is more than 1 year that local population actively protests planned constructions of ''Khadori 3'' and ''Samkuristskali 2'' and court proceedings on these cases are still ongoing. The critical analysis of construction authorization documents clearly reveals that they are unreasonable and environment impact assessment is not properly conducted, including the impact on drinking water. The locals point out that 4 HPPs in the small territory of the Gorge will have a devastating impact on its unique nature as well as on the social environment and sustainable economic development'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) and Green Alternative, on behalf of local population, submitted a lawsuit to the Tbilisi City Court in regard to the Nenskra HPP project. Read more… Source:emc.org

Tbilisi. On 26 February 2019, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria presented a special report on atmospheric air pollution in Georgia and talked about the importance of the right to clean air, problems in this direction and and the ways of solving the problems. ''For the purpose of preparing the report, the Public Defender's Office studied the national legislation, its effectiveness and compliance with international standards, identified the major harmful substances that cause air pollution and their sources, evaluated the atmospheric air pollution monitoring system and response mechanisms'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: Ombudsman’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to facts of harassment committed by police against members and activists of the community opposing construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power plants in the Pankisi Gorge. The organization calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to refrain from practicing police control of local residents and arbitrary restriction of freedom of expression. Read more... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Placement of a hotel and any other type of building in Vake Park is unacceptable for the majority of city population. ''Such an approach to the issue will cause irreparable harm to the ecological environment that is in a critical condition even without this, as well as neglect the demand of the society and create a damaging precedent for protection and development processes of ecosystem services in the future. Besides, we underline that the disputed area is within the borders of Vake Park, represents a recreation zone and allowing construction on it contradicts both law and public interest'', - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network