ECE/CEP/157 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS GEORGIA Second Review UNITED NATIONS New York and Geneva, 2010 Environmental Performance Reviews Series No. 30 NOTE Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. In particular, the boundaries shown on the maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. The United Nations issued the first Environmental Performance Review of Georgia (Environmental Performance Reviews Series No. 18) in 2003. This volume is issued in English and Russian only. ECE/CEP/157 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No E 10.II.E.9 ISBN 978-92-1-117025-2 ISSN 1020-4563 iii Foreword Environmental Performance Reviews (EPRs) for countries with economies in transition were initiated by Environment Ministers at the second Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, held in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1993. Subsequently, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on Environmental Policy decided to make the EPRs part of its regular programme. The first cycle of reviews that began in 1994 covered 23 countries from the UNECE region and was carried out until 2004. At the fifth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Kiev, 2003), the Ministers affirmed their support for the EPR Programme, in particular as an important instrument for countries with economies in transition, and decided that the Programme should continue with a second cycle of reviews. This support was reconfirmed at the sixth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Belgrade, 2007). This second cycle, while assessing the progress made since the first review process, puts particular emphasis on implementation, integration, financing and the socio-economic interface with the environment. Through the peer review process, EPRs also promote dialogue among UNECE member States and the harmonization of environmental conditions and policies throughout the region. As a voluntary exercise, EPRs are undertaken only at the request of the countries concerned. The studies are carried out by international teams of experts from the region, working closely with national experts from the reviewed country. The teams also benefit from close cooperation with other organizations within the United Nations system, for instance the United Nations Development Programme, as well as with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other bodies. This is the second EPR of Georgia to be published by UNECE. The review takes stock of the progress made by Georgia in managing its environment since the country was first reviewed in 2003. It assesses the implementation of the recommendations contained in the first review (Annex I-b). This second EPR also covers nine issues of importance to Georgia related to policymaking, planning and implementation, the financing of environmental policies and projects, and the integration of environmental concerns into economic sectors, in particular the sustainable management and protection of water resources and the protection of the Black Sea, waste management, risk management of natural and technological hazards, and forestry and biodiversity and protected areas. I hope that this second EPR will be useful in supporting policymakers and representatives of civil society in their efforts to improve environmental management and to further promote sustainable development in Georgia, and that the lessons learned from the peer review process will also benefit other countries of the UNECE region. Ján Kubiš Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Europe v Preface The second Environmental Performance Review (EPR) of Georgia began in May 2009 with a preparatory mission. During this mission, the final structure of the report was discussed and established. A review mission took place from 28 September 2009 - 7 October 2009. The team of international experts taking part included experts from Bulgaria, Germany and Portugal, as well as from the secretariats of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nation International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The draft EPR report was submitted to Georgia for comment and to the Expert Group on Environmental Performance Reviews for consideration in February and March 2010. During its meeting on 15 March 2010, the Expert Group discussed the report in detail with expert representatives of the Government of Georgia, focusing in particular on the conclusions and recommendations made by the international experts. The Expert Group decided to address those recommendations of the first EPR of Georgia that were still valid in two different ways. If a chapter from the first EPR was also covered in the second EPR, then valid recommendations and their conclusions from the former would be reflected at the end of the respective chapter in the latter. If a first EPR chapter however was not covered in the second EPR, valid recommendations would be mentioned in Annex I-A “Valid Recommendations from the first Environmental Performance Review not covered in preceding chapters”. The remaining first EPR recommendations that had been implemented partially or fully would be covered in Annex I-B “Implementation of the recommendations of the first Environmental Performance Review”. The EPR recommendations, with suggested amendments from the Expert Group, were then submitted for peer review to the Extended Bureau of UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy on 16 March 2010. A high- level delegation from Georgia participated in the peer review. The Committee adopted the recommendations as set out in this report. The Committee on Environmental Policy and the UNECE review team would like to thank the Government of Georgia and its experts who worked with the international experts and contributed their knowledge and assistance. UNECE wishes the Government of Georgia further success in carrying out the tasks involved in meeting its environmental objectives, including the implementation of the recommendations contained in this second review. UNECE would also like to express its deep appreciation to the Governments of the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland for their financial contributions; to the Governments of Germany and Portugal for having delegated their experts for the review; to UNEP, UNISDR and the United Nations Development Programme for their support of the EPR Programme and this review. Team of experts for the second EPR of Georgia, 2009 vii LIST OF TEAM MEMBERS Mr. Antoine NUNES ECE Team Leader Mr. George G.GEORGIADIS ECE Project Coordinator Mr. Jyrki HIRVONEN ECE Introduction Ms. Barbara RUIS UNEP Chapter 1 Ms. Vania GRIGOROVA Bulgaria Chapter 2 Mr. Mikhail KOKINE ECE Chapter 3 Mr. Yaroslav BULYCH ECE Chapter 4 Mr. George G. GEORGIADIS Mr. Dieter HESSE Germany Chapter 5 Ms. Marion DUSCHL Germany Chapter 6 Mr. José de BETTENCOURT Portugal Chapter 7 Ms. Goulsara PULATOVA UNISDR Chapter 8 Mr. Yaroslav BULYCH ECE Chapter 9 The mission for the project took place from 28 September 2009 to 7 October 2009. The peer review was held in Geneva on 16 March 2010. The ECE Committee on Environmental Policy adopted the recommendations set out in this document. Information cut-off date: 1 May 2010 UNECE Information Unit Phone: +41 (0)22 917 44 44 Palais des Nations Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 05 CH-1211 Geneva 10 E-mail: [email protected] Switzerland Website: http://www.unece.org viii LIST OF NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources Mr. George Khachidze, Minister Mr. George Zedginidze, Deputy Minister Department of Environmental Policy and International Relations Ms. Nino Tkhilava, Head, Ms. Nino Sharashidze, Deputy Head, national EPR coordinator Ms. Maka Tsereteli Chapter 1 Mr. Tornike Phulariani Ms. Khatuna Chikviladze Chapter 2 Ms. Maia Javakhishvili Chapter 3 Ms. Nino Gokhelashvili Chapter 4 Mr. Zaal Lomtadze Chapter 5 Ms. Nino Chikovani Ms. Eliso Barnovi Chapter 6 Mr. Irakli Legashvili Chapter 7 Ms. Irma Gurguliani Chapter 8 Ms. Maya Vashakidze Chapter 9 Ms. Natia Iordanishvili LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS National contributors Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources (MEPNR) Mr. Archil Adamia Ms. Christine Asatiani Mr. Beka Barbakadze Ms. Ekaterine Bendeliani Mr. Nikoloz Chakhnakia Mr. Merab Chalatashvili Mr. Alverd Chankseliani Mr. Paata Chipashvili Ms. Melano Tkabladze Mr. Giorgi Datunaishvili Mr. Dimitri Glonti Ms. Teona Gobejishvili Mr. Koba Gogiberidze Ms. Medea Inashvili ix Ms. Nana Janjgava Mr. Joseb Kartsivadze Ms. Nona Khelaia Ms. Mariam Makarova Mr. Jumber Mamasakhlisi Mr. Noe Megrelishvili Mr. Besik Nibladze Mr. Sergo Pareishvili Mr. Giorgi Putkaradze Mr. Djanri Qarchava Ms. Anna Rukhadze Mr. Ivane Shvelidze Ms. Marina Sudzhashvili Ms. Khatuna Tsiklauri Mr. Badri Tsatava Ms. Nino Tskhadadze Mr. Davit Tsotadze Mr. Grigol Lazriev National Environment Agency, MEPNR Ms. Marine Arabidze Mr. Murtaz Bakhsoliani Ms. Helen Bakradze Mr. Ramaz Chitanava Ms. Gulchina Kuchava Ms. Tamar Maglakelidze Environmental Inspectorate, MEPNR Ms. Nelly