Samtskhe-Javakheti. The Open Environmental Civic Initiative (OECI) started researching the condition of resort forests in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region. To this end, field trips and workshops were organized in November in Borjomi and Bakuriani, where the members of the initiative agreed on the necessity of organizing the scientific expedition. On November 25, the expert group of CENN has visited Bakuriani. The expedition covered the blocks of the Bakuriani forestry. According to the preliminary assessments, the current situation in the resort forests is alarming.The expedition's report will be finalized in the coming days and will be presented to the general public along with the respective structures of the authorities. In addition, recommendations will be developed for changing the situation. According to the coordinator of OECI in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region KhatunaKhmaladze, the coordination and effective dialogue between the interested parties will have a decisive importance in this process."When a forest is granted a concrete function and a respective category, using the forests should also strengthen this function. Unfortunately, once the best resort forests were chopped down in just a few years. The authorities and society must decide together if we still need Bakuriani, Abastumani, Shovi or other famous resorts and make the relevant steps", - KhatunaKhmaladze says.

Source: cenn