South Caucasus Nature Protection Programme
Source: WWF, 12 January 2006
On December 2, 2005 the Georgian Government and the Government of Federal Republic of Germany singed the Agreement “On Financial Cooperation for Implementation of the South Caucasus Nature Protection Programme in Georgia [EUR 2.25 million]“. Later on, the Agreement was ratified by the Parliament of Georgia by its resolution #2614 of December 28, 2005.
In accordance with the above Agreement implementation of the South Caucasus Nature Protection Programme in Georgia has to be managed through the German Credit Bank of Reconstruction (KfW). Thus, prerequisite for enactment of the already ratified intergovernmental Agreement is Financial Agreement that has to be concluded between the KfW and the Georgian Ministry of Finances and, in addition, Separate Agreement that has to be concluded between the KfW and Georgian ministries of Finances and Environment. Signature of these Financial and Separate agreements with KfW was supposed 2 years ago, but was delayed for a number of reasons. At this moment, texts of both Financial and Separate draft agreements are being intensively negotiated between the KfW and the Georgian Government.
The “South Caucasus Nature Protection Programme” (known also as “Ecoregional Nature Protection Programme for the Southern Caucasus”) is part of the Caucasus Initiative, launched by the German Federal Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This Programme aims at promoting the co-operation between Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan with respect to the development of a coherent strategy to ensure biodiversity conservation in the unique Caucasus Ecoregion.
In cooperation with stakeholders from all three countries a “Vision of an Ecoregional Conservation Plan” was elaborated in preparation of the programme, outlining the long-term objectives and strategies to conserve the rich biodiversity in the region which take into account the anticipated long-term sectoral developments in all three countries. In cooperation with Georgian and Armenian representatives the selection process of priority conservation areas in the Caucasus Ecoregion focused on the Javakheti Plateau (Javakheti/Georgia-Shirak/Armenia transboundary area) as one of the key candidate areas for priority action.
The purpose of the Georgian Programme component (the Project) is the establishment of protected areas in Javakheti (Georgia). In addition to the area based projects in each of the three countries (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan) the establishment of a Transboundary Joint Secretariat is intended to support and co-ordinate these area-based projects and to ensure that the individual projects are embedded in a shared vision of biodiversity conservation and spatial development for the Caucasus. This is to contribute to sustain the biodiversity and to prevent conflicts in the Southern Caucasus Region.
The design of the Project is based on the documents “Establishment of Protected Areas in Georgia’s Javakheti Region” dated August 2003 available to KfW and the Georgian Ministry of Environment and on the agreements made between KfW and the Georgian Ministry of Environment during the local Programme appraisal on September 22, 2003.
The following Project activities are intended to be financed by the Federal Republic of Germany:
- To establish a Javakheti National Park bordering the Republics of Armenia and Turkey to the South (approx. 20,000 ha), and five wetland sanctuaries (Khartsaki, Khanchali, Bugdasheni, Madatapa and Sagamo) as well as the National Park’s support zone in accordance with IUCN guidelines and the Georgian legislation. The above five wetland sanctuaries (Lakes Khanchali, Bugdasheni, Madatapa, Sagamo and Kartsakhi) should be integrated in the overall planning of the national park
- To integrate the National Park and 5 wetland sanctuaries into the land use of the project area via a land use planning which covers all local self-governing authorities in the support zone
- To develop selected support zone programmes in order to decrease the pressure on the national park and sanctuaries and to foster the acceptance of the population
- To promote a transboundary cooperation in biodiversity conservation in the Project region
In addition to the area based projects a Transboundary Joint Secretariat will be established and will co-ordinate the area-based projects. The Secretariat will fulfil the following functions:
1. Conceptual, logistical and training support to the area-based projects as well as support for public awareness campaigns and for the transboundary coordination boards,
2. Promotion of the vision of a (ecologically and socio-economically) Sustainable Development of the Southern Caucasus Region,
3. Promotion of the concept of spatial and land-use planning at different levels in support of biodiversity conservation,
4. Provision of an information and dialogue platform for various stakeholders involved in biodiversity conservation issues, explore solutions for the long-term financial sustainability of national parks/protected areas.
The Georgian Ministry of Environment is supposed to be the Project Executive Agency, while the direct implementation responsibilities for the Project will be carried out by the independent consultant selected jointly by the KfW and the Project Executive Agency based on internationally accepted competitive bidding procedures.
For further information, please, contact Malkhaz Dzneladze, ENP Coordinator mdzneladze@wwfcaucasus.ge
