Georgia

The feasibility study by the Succow Foundation and the Georgian NGO NACRES, in cooperation with the Georgian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, identified numerous favourable conditions for the establishment of a biosphere reserve in Kakheti. Some UNESCO criteria have already been met. Together with stakeholders and decision-makers at regional and national level, several scenarios for such a biosphere reserve have been drafted and discussed - including one that includes the complex system of migrating pastures in Tusheti and Vashlovani, including a connecting corridor. In this way, the biosphere reserve could effectively support the traditional land use of mobile sheep farming in Kakheti and contribute to solving a number of related problems.

Based on the results of the implemented study, the Succow Foundation together with the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (RECC) implemented another project "Establishment of the Three Alazani Rivers Biosphere Reserve in the Climate Change Threatened Regions of Kakheti in Eastern Georgia - Next Steps towards Nomination". Within the framework of the project, numerous activities were carried out, such as development of the zoning concept, agreement on the management concept for the planned biosphere reserve, capacity building as well as awareness raising activities for the establishment of the first biosphere reserve in Georgia. In addition, a complete nomination document was developed with the participation of local stakeholders and the Georgian Ministry of Environment, which was approved by the Georgian Government and submitted to UNESCO for recognition.