From August 13 – 20, 2017, by the initiative of the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (RECC) and Michael Succow Foundation (MSF) and the support of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia and Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF), the Study Tour was conducted in Germany and Czech Republic. The main objective of the Study Tour was to share the experience of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves based on the example of Moravia (Czech Republic) and Rhon (Germany) Biosphere Reserves.
The participants of the Study Tour were: Chairman of the Agency of Protected Areas of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia – Mr. David Markozashvili, the Head Specialist of the Biodiversity and Forest Policy Department of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia – Mr. Papuna Kapanadze, the Head of the Sectoral Development Division of Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia – Mr. Nodar Khokhashvili, the Deputy Head of Department for Relations with Regions and local Self-government agencies of Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia – Mr. Otar Konjaria, Visitors Service Specialist of Vashlovani Protected Areas – Ms. Nino Seturidze, the Head of department of relations with administrative units and coordination of Dedoplistskaro Municipality – Mr. Malkhaz Merabishvili, the Director of Tusheti Protected Landscape – Mr. Eristo (Zaza) Lagazidze, the representative of Akhmeta Municipality Governor in Tusheti – Mr. Lado Kakhoidze, the Director of Friends of Tusheti Protected Areas – Ms. Eka Telauridze, the representative of Village Laliskuri Administrative Unit in Telavi Municipality – Mr. Guram Germanishvili, the Head of the Regional Project Coordinations Department Administration of the State Attorney – Governor in Kakheti – Mr. Malkhaz Chrelashvili, the Head of the Project – National Coordinator from Caucasus Nature Fund – Ms. Tea Barbakadze, the Head of the Project from the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus – Mr. George Arabuli and Project Coordinator – Ms. Evgenia Mekhtieva, the Head of the Project from Michael Succow Foundation – Ms. Sophie Hirschelmann and Ms. Kirsten Meuer.
The Study Tour was conducted within the frames of the project – “Biosphere Reserves as model regions for climate change mitigation and adaptation – capacity development for the establishment of a biosphere reserve in Kakheti”.
Within the frames of the mentioned project, on October 12, 2017, in Tbilisi, in the office of the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus was held wrap up meeting where based on experiences gained from the Study Tour, by the joint efforts the participants and the project implementation parties the overall vision and main principles for the future project implementation has been developed.
