From September 17 to 19, 2024, the third workshop of the Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) was held in Kvareli, Georgia. Government representatives from Azerbaijan and Georgia came together to strengthen regional cooperation on important environmental issues. The workshop focused on enhancing cross-border dialogue and collaboration, with particular emphasis on sustainable land management and the restoration of key natural resources, including soil, water, and forests.
Key objectives of the workshop included finalizing a regional vision document to guide sustainable land use and restoration efforts, developing a soil mapping platform for more effective management, establishing migratory species monitoring to support conservation, formulating an investment strategy to address drought, and fostering social cohesion through joint restoration programs.
These efforts were part of the broader Peace Forest Initiative, led by the UNCCD Global Mechanism and REC Caucasus, with financial support from the Korea Forest Service and the World Bank/Progreen. The initiative promoted transboundary cooperation, addressing conflict risks associated with land degradation and offering a platform for stakeholders to co-design strategies for the sustainable management of natural resources, ultimately fostering resilience and peacebuilding in the region.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Utchang Kang, Programme Management Officer of the UNCCD Global Mechanism, emphasized the role of cooperation in building resilient communities across the South Caucasus, noting, “the Peace Forest Initiative serves as a vital catalyst for promoting ecosystem restoration and sustainable peace, effectively linking Sustainable Development Goals 15 and 16.”
Ms. Nino Chikovani, Head of the Land Resources Protection Division at Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, reinforced the importance of an integrated approach, stating, “Our collective response must be integrated and comprehensive, addressing both the symptoms and root causes of land degradation.”
Mr. Wonyeong Song, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Division at the Korea Forest Service, highlighted the critical role of regional collaboration, stating, “Ecosystems as a common good may be restored solely by joint efforts of neighboring countries to effectively tackle climate crises and to achieve sustainable goals.”
Further emphasizing the global relevance of the PFI, Mr. Fisseha Abissa, Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist at the World Bank, remarked, “This could have been the model that should have been referenced and quoted at the European ecosystem restoration conference.”
Reflecting on the workshop’s outcomes, Mr. Rafig Verdiyev, Deputy Head of the Environmental Policy Department at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, said, “The shared commitment to develop a regional soil mapping platform, restore ecosystems through nature-based solutions, and monitor migratory species exemplifies the collaborative spirit that is essential for success.”
Launched in 2019, the Peace Forest Initiative aims to restore ecosystems and land-based resources in fragile, conflict-affected areas, linking environmental diplomacy with peace and security efforts. The outcomes from this workshop will be refined and presented at the UNCCD COP16 in December 2024, marking a critical step toward translating ambitious plans into concrete, on-the-ground actions.
