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

Adjara. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC), on behalf of a civil society organization ''Batomi'', has filed a lawsuit in the Batumi City Court against the City Assembly of the Batumi Municipality. EMC demands to abolish the resolution, based on which the City Assembly allowed construction of a 28-storey hotel complex at the significantly green-covered area of the Green Cape. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi More than fifty representatives of Georgian and European youth took part in a youth event organised in Tetritskaro municipality in the framework of the EU-funded project "Rural development for sustainable growth of Tetritskaro municipality”. The aim of the event was to get local young people learn more about European values and culture and give them the information about the opportunities EU creates for them in Georgia through ERASMUS + as well as ENPARD project implemented by RDFG in Tetritskaro. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. With EU support local development strategy was adopted in Keda, by Keda Local Action Group (LAG) in the framework of the ENPARD’s rural development project. Diversification of economic activity in rural areas, development of climate smart agricultural value chain, environmental protection, natural resources management and disaster risk reduction, education, culture, sport and support of youth activities – these are the key areas of the strategy. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations addresses both Mayor and Chairman of the Assembly of Tbilisi City in regard to intended construction in the Digomi forest-park. ''We demand to reject issuance of a new building project agreement and permit for construction on the territory of the Digomi forest-park; in accordance with the statement of Tbilisi City Mayor, grant the building-construction of KIA Motors, located on that territory, the status of inappropriate building; within the framework of a new draft master plan, extend the status of landscape-recreation zone throughout entire territory of the Digomi forest-park'' - the statement reads. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On July 26, local residents of Chuberi and Khaishi protested against the measures taken by the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance in the villages of Mestia municipality - Chuberi, Khaishi and Idliani. Protesters blocked the Zugdidi-Mestia road.  Representatives of the Public Defender's Office in Samegrelo and Zemo-Svaneti are monitoring the ongoing developments on the ground. ''The Public Defender says it is important the law enforcers not to restrict the freedom of assembly and demonstration of the protesters. She also calls on the protesters to peacefully express their protest'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Organizations, working on human rights and environmental issues, release a statement regarding the crisis in Chuberi. ''As it is known, 35 hydroelectric power plants are planned to be constructed on the Enguri River and its tributaries in Zemo Svaneti. Besides Zemo Svaneti, there are more than 100 hydroelectric power plants intended to be built in other mountainous regions of Georgia. For none of these projects there have been carried out a detailed assessment of geological and seismic risks and threats of their enhancement due to global climate change. Which fact causes fair disturbance among population''. The organizations call on the state to study current geological and hydrological processes in regions, threats and ways of their prevention, and, at the same time, help Chuberi population to recover the damage. Read more… Source: greenalt.org

Ajara. Young leaders and innovators from Keda municipality attended Green Camp organized under the EU-supported CENN project "Keda LEADER” at the Bulachauri Green Center. 21 winner students of the youth competition "Me LEADER” were part of the 10-day intensive camp course. The environmental specialists delivered lectures on a different topics such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global challenges of a climate change, sustainable forest management, modern technologies and approaches in waste management sector, water and sanitation issues, urbanization and regional development. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Samegrelo. With the support of the civic council of ''Transparency International Georgia'', 26 residents of the village of Anaklia addressed the Mayor of Zugdidi: local inhabitants requested to build a square at the IDPs settlement, as well as to arrange public toilets in the active touristic zone. At this stage, civic councils of the organization are established in Adjara, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and Imereti, which aim at advocating problematic issues with local and central authorities. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Institute for development of freedom of information (IDFI) releases statistics on illegal fishing. In the period of 2010-2017, 4,688 instances of violations of fishing regulations were discovered, among these 18% had signs of criminal offences. Read more…  Source: datalab.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association is intending to study decisions related to relocation of trees. ''During the last years, the society has repeatedly witnessed a fact of relocation of perennial trees, conducted by companies connected with the name of Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former Prime Minister. This process is still ongoing. While at the same time, there is a high public interest in the topic'' – is noted in the statement released by GYLA. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. "Eastern European Center for Multiparty Democracy” (EECMD) and "Open Society Georgia Foundation” are going to make a presentation of a report on fulfillment of commitments under the EU Association Agreement on February 16, in Batumi. The report is about following issues: fight against corruption and a civil service reform; labor standards; rights of children; environmental protection; equality. At 11:00, Ana Arganashvili, Executive Director of the organization "Partnership for Human Rights”, will talk about rights of children at "Independent Journalists' House” (address - #48, Memed Abashidze str.); at the same time, there will be conducted a review of issues related to fight against corruption and a civil service reform, labor standards, environmental protection and equality at the Eastern European Center for Multiparty Democracy (Democracy School, #20, Akhmed Melashvili str.). Attendance is free at both meetings. Read more… Source:http://www.osgf.ge

Ajara. ENPARD partner CENN hosted the first steering committee and LAG networking meeting On January 31- February 1, 2018, senior representatives of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Ministry of Agriculture of Ajara AR, Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, ENPARD implementing partners and Local Action Groups (LAGs) gathered at the first Steering Committee and LAG networking meeting organised by ENPARD partner – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN). The event took place within EU-supported project "Optimising the Potential of Local Assets for Rural Development of Keda Municipality” at Bulachauri Green Center. It aimed at introducing the progress within the project and exchanging information and recommendations among involved counterparts. In the framework of the two-day event, CENN also hosted LAG networking meeting at which it brought together representatives of 8 LAGs established with the support of ENPARD in different municipalities in Georgia. The networking platform was a good opportunity to tighten the linkages and partnership opportunities among participants, exchange feedbacks or suggestions for further development and share experience. The CENN team shared information on the organization’s ongoing environmental actions in different municipalities in Georgia and encouraged deeper partnership among rural development projects and LAGs in this regard. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Agricultural University of Georgia initiated foundation of an ecology club "The Lone Earth” in frame of Shota Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation funded project "Science Begins from School – Research with Participation of Schoolchildren” 2017 competition on a base of N64 Tbilisi State School. The club found with active support of St. Ilia the Right Tbilisi school of Patriarchate of Georgia and Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN). Meetings of the club will be held every 2 weeks and presents different issues of ecology. In full  Source: CENN 

Ajara. On 23-27 October 2017, CENN delivered open lessons on Climate Change and presented the young leaders and innovators competition "Me LEADER” at the high schools in Keda Municipality. The initiative is taking place in the framework of the EU-supported project "Optimizing the Potential of Local Assets for Rural Development” in Keda Municipality. The EU-funded project "Optimising the Potential of Local Assets for Rural Development of Keda Municipality” is implemented by Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) in partnership with the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), Institute of Democracy (IoD) and Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning (ÖIR). The project aims at diversification of the local economic activities, improving investment climate, and empower competitive agricultural and environmental practices in Keda Municipality via bottom-up strategic planning of rural development. In full Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia publishes a video: ''Would you like to know what we breathe on a daily basis?'' ''According to the data of the World Health Organization, Georgia ranks first in the world in terms of mortality caused by such diseases, the reason of which might be the air pollution'' – is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Video... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. From April 3, there will appear street officers in the capital, who, within the limits of the authority, given to them, will charge individuals and legal entities with a penalty for throwing household or other types of waste. In accordance with the Waste Management Code, a citizen will be fined with a certain amount of money for polluting an environment with municipal (household) wastes. Reade more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Why environmentalists from 20 countries around the world oppose construction of dams and hydro electro stations on rivers. What challenges civil activists have to fight against while dealing with the state and large corporations and what impact incorrect management of hydro resources will have on climate change – an international conference was held in Tbilisi to discuss these issues. Read more… Source:netgazeti.ge

Samegrelo. An association "Atinati” is implementing a program called "Future generation”, in the framework of which and through the partnership with Lazika Capital, partner schools to the program (Kulishkari, Jikhashkari, Chakvinji and Grigolishi schools) have been provided with Colchis box tree seedlings. "The program called "Future generation” is implemented by an American organization PH International through the funding of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. In Samegrelo region the program is implemented by the association "Atinati” – is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

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