Who and How will Benefit from the Project FURTHER INFORMATION: • The project will assist the Georgian government and Vladimer Abashidze, Director, general public to implement jointly reforms in the [email protected] forestry sector. Kate Metreveli, Technical Manager, [email protected] • The project will assist the Georgian government to Nana Nabakhteveli, Financial Manager, elaborate and implement rational national policy to [email protected] Georgia- ensure protection and sustainable use of forest sector. Nino Ramisvili, Procurement Specialist, [email protected] Forests • The Project will assist increase of public awareness on 9, Mindeli Street, Tbilisi, Georgia protection and sustainable use of forest resources and Tel./Fax: (995 32) 53-72-36/237/238 will strengthen public support and participation in forest Development management. Please leave your information on the existing environment and violations in the forests on the Project • The project will facilitate creation of better environment telephone “hot line”: 32 05 49 and conditions for development of private business and attraction of investments in the forestry sector. • The project will bring economical benefits for the country. The State revenues will increase due to efficient and sustainable exploitation of forest resources and stricter control on illegal logging. • The project will create new job opportunities and will increase income of the local population in the laboratory zone of the central Caucasus, which will facilitate locals’ easier access to firewood and pastures and grazing areas. • The local population, affected by the Project, will benefit from soil remediation and activities against erosion due to reforestation and forest rehabilitation processes planned in the framework of the project. • The project will have a positive impact on the region’s environment since it will introduce principles of sustainable forestry, which will subsequently improve forests’ regulating functions. • The project will develop the tourism potential via preventing negative impacts on biodiversity and landscapes. Forest Georgia’s National Asset.The forests play a • Education system improvement; • The pilot project of the forest planning and major role in the region’s environment. Forests Build Public Support for Sustainable Forest management (II Component) will be elaborated represent key living source and vital part of cultural Management. and tested in the Central Caucasus Pilot Area – traditions for the local populations. Forest resources Ambrolauri, Lentekhi, Oni, Tsageri and Mestia account for the significant segment of the country’s II. Improve Forest Planning and Management in regions with the aim to demonstrate benefits and economy. Central Caucasus Pilot Area introduce the modern forest methodologies on the whole Georgia’s territory. • Develop Ecosystems-Based Landscape Planning and Last ten years reveled that Georgia faces an urgent need Forest Inventory using sustainable forest management in improvement of forest sector management to provide principles; appropriate forest protection and maintenance as well as • Develop a Forest Management Information System to benefit from sustainable management of forest (FMIS) resources. • Demonstrate Environmental Forest Harvesting and Road Operations; The State Department of Forest Management with the • Develop and Implement PilotCommunity Forestry support of the World Bank and Japanese Government TBILISI Programs; and assistance of international consultants developed the Forest Sector Development Project. During the Project III. Forest Protection and preparation period, a number of consultations were held Reforestation in Selected Priority Areas Afforestation and Reforestation (III Component) with the Ministry of Environment, the relevant • Strengthen Forest Protection and Inspection services. targets an area of approximately 8,700 ha of Parliamentary committees, scientific circles, NGOs and • Development of Seed and Nursery Facilities sloping and degraded land in nine districts around Local populations to determine the Project’s aims and • Afforestation and Reforestation inPriority Areas. Tbilisi (Bolnisi, Dusheti, Dmanisi, Kaspi, ways of implementation. The Investment Committee Marneuli, Mtskheta, Sagarejo, Tetritskaro and under the President’s supervision made the final decision Gardabani) IV. Project Management and Monitoring on the Forest Sector Development Project. The Forest Sector Development Center (FSDC), which The duration of the project is 7 years (2002-2008). The is responsible for the project management and monitor- total cost of the project is around 21 million USD. The FOFORESTS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (FDP) ing, reports to SFD on technical matters and is account- World Bank plans to allocate a preferential loan in OBJECTIVE AND COMPONENTS able to the Ministry of Finance. In order to ensure effi- amount of 16 million USD. The rest 5 million USD The objective of the project is to establish sound forest ciency and transparency of the project implementation, represents the contribution of the Georgian Government. an interagency Supervisory Board, involving represen- management systems that maximize the contribution of Who is going to implement the project? tatives of the governmental and non-governmental or- Georgia’s forests to economic development and rural The project will be implemented by qualified specialists ganizations, was established . poverty reduction on an environmentally sustainable and organizations selected based on tenders meeting the basis. World Bank requirements and guidelines. I. Improve Forest Sector Governance through director Legislative and How the project implementation National Regulatory, Financial and Institutional executive technical Reforms authorities manager is going to be monitored? • Project progress and outputs will be monitored through Improve Legal, Regulatory and Policy Framework; financial • Developing a methodology for total economic manager simple project reports produced every 6 months. Funds Supervisory Forest Sector would be provided for independent review of particular valuation (TEV) of forest resources; Development procurement Board officer activities if required. In addition, the World Bank would • Developing a new system of forest auctions; Center • accountant carry out a mid-term review at the end of year 3, to review Develop National Forest Program, Standards and project progress and allow for adjustment in project operational Certification; Scientific-research assistant design, if necessary. The project monitoring will be • and non-governmen- Strengthen Institutions and Human Resources for secretary / implemented together with implementation of regular tal organizations Improved Forest Management and Monitoring. interpreter social assessments and public consultation..