Capacity Development for climate policy in the countries of South East, Eastern , the South and , Phase III

Tusheti Biosphere Reserve establishment in the climate-vulnerable region of in Eastern – working towards the nomination

So far, there is no biosphere reserve in Georgia. However, the rich natural and cultural heritage as well as preserved Main Facts traditional land use forms provide a good base for the establishment of Biosphere Reserves (BR). In particular, the Biosphere Reserve establishment in Eastern Georgian province, Kakheti contains several the climate-vulnerable region of Kakheti in Title protected areas and is most relevant for the still existing Eastern Georgia – working towards the nomadic pastoralism with sheep. A biosphere reserve could nomination help to maintain and reconcile both. With the project "Biosphere Reserves as model regions for climate protection and adaptation - capacity development for the establishment Focus/ Protection of carbon sink capacities of of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve", which is part of the Topic prevalent vegetative forms International Climate Initiative, the Michael Succow Foundation contributes to its preparation. Duration 01.12.2018 – 31.03.2021 Biosphere Reserves (within the framework of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program, MaB) support a socially, Implementer Michael Succow Foundation (MSF) economically and ecologically sustainable regional development. Biosphere Reserves serve as a promising tool Country of to encounter climate change through developing and testing Georgia climate protection and adaptation measures, thus Implementation strengthening the resilience of climate vulnerable regions such as Eastern Georgia. Within the framework of the Overall Budget 199.999,80 € project "Study on the potential and feasibility of the expulsion of Biosphere Reserves in Georgia", Kakheti was selected by a national working group for a feasibility study on can most effectively support the traditional land use of the development of a BR. mobile sheep husbandry in Kakheti and help solve various The feasibility study has identified numerous positive problems connected to it. preconditions for a BR in Kakheti. Some UNESCO criteria The project “Tusheti Biosphere Reserve establishment in are already fulfilled. Together with regional and national the climate-vulnerable region of Kakheti in Eastern Georgia stakeholders and decision-makers, scenarios for a Biosphere – working towards the nomination” was launched to Reserve were drafted and discussed. The scenario that continue working on the creation of UNESCO Biosphere envisages the establishment of two Biosphere Reserves in Reserves in Georgia. The project represents the follow-up of Tusheti and Vashlovani was selected as the long-term two preliminary one-year projects. In the projects the objective. This scenario strengthens the connecting corridor potential for Biosphere Reserves in Georgia was studied, the covering the (transhumance) sheep migration route and thus feasibility of the region Kakheti was analysed, capacities of

relevant actors were strengthened and an implementation • Conducting trainings on the sustainable management of plan for a Kakheti BR was developed. the planned BR for local administrations and protected areas (PA) administration representatives, as well as other Project Objective local stakeholders • Design of coordination and cooperation mechanisms and The proposed project aims at the establishment of a BR in establishment of strategic partnerships the Kakheti Region. This will be done through: • Detailed assessment of existing and historical land uses, i.) Finalizing the concept of the planned BR that meets the main users, rules, access to land, including a land cover nomination requirements of the UNESCO. map ii.) Raising capacities, acceptance and awareness for the • Supporting the compilation of the UNESCO nomination planned BR among the local, regional and national file, including necessary maps and supporting documents stakeholders. iii.) Conceptual preparation of a BR management structure allowing multi-stakeholder participation to be ready for Expected Results establishment upon formal designation of the BR. The planned Tusheti Biosphere Reserve in Kakheti is ready iv.) Ensuring that relevant Georgian authorities have all the to be nominated to UNESCO by the Georgian government. necessary information and documents to complete and The respective nomination form is finalised and signed by submit the Biosphere Reserve nomination form to the relevant organisations (municipality, protected areas, UNESCO. government, etc.). Acceptance and awareness for the planned BR among the local, regional and national stakeholders of the Thematic priorities and activities planned BR is raised. BR Management structure considering multi-stakeholder participation is developed. In order to achieve the project objectives, the following ac- tivities will be implemented: Partner organizations involved/Implemen- • Compilation of national expert proposals for zonation (incl. maps) and demarcation of planned BR, in ting Partners consultation with key stakeholders, including suggestions Implementing Partner: and assessments of potential additional protected areas • Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus for core or buffer zones (RECC) • Conduction of workshops for consultation with relevant Other partner institutions: stakeholders, especially in the and • Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of municipalities Georgia

• Compilation of BR management outline, monitoring and • Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of

research plan Georgia • Development of concepts for mechanisms and • Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of approaches to address sustainable land use issues in Georgia buffer zone(s) • Agency of Protected Areas • Development of a communication guideline and • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNESCO commission corporate identity for the BR, including name and logo • Administration of the State Attorney • Information of different target groups via different • Governor of Kakheti region channels (such as print and TV media, website, newsletter, printed materials, informational meetings and • Municipalities of Akhmeta and Telavi in Kakheti region presentations) • Telavi University • Conduction of awareness raising events and/or small- • Integrated Biodiversity Management, South Caucasus scale demonstration measures (IBiS), commissioned by German Federal Ministry for • Cooperation with the Telavi University, which supports Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the organization of a conference on “Biosphere Reserve implemented by GIZ development and governance” • Organizing trainings for local tourism service providers in eco-tourism, hospitality management, etc. and raising their awareness regarding the planned BR • Development of a participatory management scheme for sustainable regional development in the planned BR,

including draft charter/statute for NGOs © GIZ/Markus © Kirchgessner/Ursula Meissner/Dirk Ostermeier

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1-5 Ilka Starrost This project is part of the International Climate 65760 Eschborn/Deutschland Capacity Development for Climate Policy in the Initiative (IKI). The German Federal Ministry for T +49 61 96 79-0 countries of South East, Eastern Europe, the the Environment, Nature Conservation and F +49 61 96 79-11 15 South Caucasus and Central Asia, Phase III Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40 Köthener Straße 2-3 Bundestag. 53113 Bonn/Deutschland 10963 Berlin, T +19 228 44 60-0 T +49 30 - 338424-197 Project period: F +49 228 4460-17 66 F +49 30 - 338424-22197 June 2017 to March 2021 E [email protected] E [email protected] I www.giz.de