Tbilisi. With the support of East-West Management Institute, Jumpstart is launching it’s new project - Air Filter. ''This project aims to create and support a network of organizations and committed individuals to plan and implement joint advocacy efforts to reduce air pollution. Filter.ge was established to create a one-stop online platform where people can not only get information about air pollution in a very colorful and engaging way, but can also find out how they can pledge to get involved in solving this issue with small changes in their everyday habits. Pledges will be actions that everyone can easily undertake such as reconsidering your routes to work or school, choosing a more eco friendly transportation means, and becoming a more responsible consumer'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: jumpstart.ge

Tbilisi. Local population protests beginning of a construction on the territory of a square in Gldani. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) will legally defend interests of local residents. In full... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Ozurgeti office of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, together with non-governmental organizations, operating in the Ozurgeti City, addresses the Ozurgeti City Assembly with a petition, which aims at maintaining and protecting recreation areas in the City. In full… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes an article: ''Statistics for trees cut in Tbilisi due to construction works''. ''Among trees, cut with the permission of the City Hall In 2016, in comparison with previous years, at least 5 times more units have been granted the status of affected. Besides, the total number of trees, cut on the basis of permits, has not increased. This circumstance raises the question of how conscientiously the status of affected is granted to trees in the capital'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia launched a new phase of the Small Grants Programme funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). ''The new phase of the GEF Small Grants Programme focuses on the conservation of landscapes and seascapes, as well as on strategic programming, to more effectively integrate environmental agenda into national development'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ge.undp.org

Tbilisi. On November 6 at ''Kiwi'' Vegan Cafe Women's Fund in Georgia held an event to support Guerrilla Gardening in Georgia. ''With this, importance of cooperation and solidarity among feminist and green movements was highlighted. Speakers of the event, Natia Kvantaliani and Mariam Bakradze spoke about veganism, civic activism and vegetation. Rezo Kiknadze and other musicians played for the guests of the event and later the aucience had a chance to taste Kiwi's delicious vegan meals. The contributions from T-shirts, books & green-bags' sale went to support Guerrilla Gardening in Georgia'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: Social Page

Tbilisi. on August 4, a waste separation corner was open at Goodwill’s Didi Digomi Branch. Now it is possible to separate paper, PET bottles, plastic bags, and aluminum cans. Separately collected waste will no longer end up in landfills, instead, it will be transported by the private company for the further recycling. Goodwill is the first hypermarket chain where the ''green'' initiative takes place. The project was being implemented with the support of USAID program ''Waste Management Technologies in Region'' in a partnership with the waste collecting company ''Clean World''. In full… Source: The organizations web-page in a social network

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations appeal to a court against construction of ''Panorama Tbilisi'' in a landscape zone. ''In the opinion of several local and foreign specialists, implementation of "Panorama Tbilisi" completely destroys the historical landscape of Tbilisi City, which is the most important part of a cultural and ecological environment of the city, respectively, mentioned project is in contradiction with the constitutionally guaranteed right of the use of natural and cultural surroundings. The arguments of the claim are based on a legal research, carried out by the organization ''Initiative for a Public Space'''' – is stated on the web-page of the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center. In full... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Green Alternative publishes a report: ''Convention to Combat Desertification''. The report has been prepared within the framework of the Green Alternative project: "Promotion of implementation of the UN three conventions: Institutional mapping and assessment of capacity needs for monitoring and reporting”. Source: greenalt.org

Tbilisi. On 15 January 2015, the "Waste Management Code", a law defining what environmental pollution is and the fines for violating the law, entered into force. Six months later, police had fined 7,284 people for violating the law, amounting to 232,660 GEL in fines. JumpStart Georgia visualized the type of environmental pollution violations, the fines for these violations, and the number of times a fine has been issued for each violation, is said on the web-page of organization. Visualization...  Source: feradi.info

Tbilisi. "Green Alternative” provides its notes and comments on Tbilisi Environmental Protection Strategy (2015-2020) document, released by Tbilisi City Hall. "The document is general. Though the description of problems, existing in the city, corresponds to the current situation, the ways of their solutions and approaches are not provided. This fact is the major disadvantage of the document because through these specific ways the city has to achieve set objectives. Besides, it is also unclear what are expected outcomes in a given timeline and how the strategy implementation is linked with the formation of the city budget, it does not include indicators for reports and evaluation, which, in the end, will make it more complicated as the implementation of the document itself as its monitoring and evaluation”, is stated on the website of the organization. Notes and comments… Source: greenalt.org

Tbilisi. On June 30, Open Society Georgia Foundation hosted the presentation of the new report -Georgia and the Neighbors: FOCUS on Russia- Georgia under Russian Expansionism and Financial Crisis. The report has been prepared by Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC). The report reviews current challenges to Russian Economy and Russo-Georgian economic ties, thus explores effect on Georgia in the areas of trade, investments and remittances, tourism and energy, given Russian Expansionism and Financial Crisis. Furthermore, defines possible risks for Georgia stemming from Russian Expansionist Politics and suggests recommendations. The report… Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. Non-Governmental Organization ''Green Alternative'' publicizes preliminary analysis on reasons of the catastrophe caused by natural disasters in Tbilisi on June 13-14. ''… It’s very important to establish the reasons of the catastrophe caused by natural disasters in Tbilisi on June 13-14, so that it will be a lesson to us and we should avoid similar accidents in future or, in case of impossibility, minimize the damage…'', said in the publication. Read more… Source: greenalt.org

Tbilisi. CSO Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) has released a brief overview and analysis in relation to a catastrophic flooding in the River Vere ravine on 13 June 2015 in Tbilisi. For the full text... Source: cenn.org

Tbilisi. Student movement ''Green Fist'' has released a petition addressing the Government of Georgia. ''Green Fist'' came up with an initiative to develop a central forest-park in the Vere ravine, after the zoo is relocated to another place. The movement's members are collecting 10000 signatures through manifest.ge. 4 100 individuals have already signed the petition. For the full text... Source: netgazeti.ge

Adjara. In connection with the World Environment Day, as part of the program ''Georgian Volunteer'', on June 5 a film was shown and the discussion was organized over ''Human role in environmental activities''. The event aimed to comprehend the essence of volunteering and alert youngsters to maximum participation in such events. Meeting participants have formed groups, in which they have discussed ecological problems of Batumi and ways of their solution, and at the end have planned future events.

Kvemo Kartli. CiDA has organized a volunteering initiative on May 20 in Rustavi. Initiative participants have planted saplings and flowers in kindergartens and the elderly shelter, participated in children's entertaining activities together with kindergarten teachers and cleaned a day center garden for persons with disabilities. For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. CSO "Green Alternative" has released comments and opinions over the initial draft Law "on Environmental Impact" shared by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources on May 1. For the full text... Source: greenalt.org

Tbilisi. CSO "Green Alternative" has released a study "Natural resources management and factors facilitating elite corruption", prepared as part of the coalition project bearing the same title and based on three study reports. The study... Source: greenalt.org  

Samegrelo. As part of the "Youth Engagement and Development" project of the association "Atinati", a meeting was organized with guerilla gardeners NataPeradze and Mariam Bakradze. "Guerilla gardening in Georgia and the world" was a main topic of the meeting. Guests have informed youngsters about the underlying story of guerilla gardening in the world and its development in Georgia. For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Environmental CSOs have organized a protest rally on April 28 by the Tbilisi City Council. Environmental CSOs and members of the civil movement have protested against cutting down the trees on the hippodrome. For the full text... Source: liberali.ge