Bill Approved to Extend Kazbegi National Park

5 November, the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee approved a Bill that plans to significantly extend the Kazbegi National Park from 69 518 to 78 201 hectors.  

The bill will be carried out in cooperation with the German Government as well as experts. “The Government of Germany expresses commitment to allocate the grants for development of the management plans of the extended territory, infrastructural and touristic recreational projects with maximum involvement of the local population,” one reporter noted.

The allocations from the state budget will be used to extend Kazbegi National Park, recruit new employees and buy new equipment.

The committee also approved the Bill on Status of Protected Areas and the Bill on Creation and Management of the Protected Areas of Tusheti, Batsara-Babaneuri, Lagodekhi and Vashlovani, introduced by the Deputy Environment Minister, Nino Tadilashvili.

In addition, the bill hopes to create Kintrishi National Park and Kintrishi State Reserved Area after Kintrishi was reclassified as protected landscape.

The committee also approved Bills on Forest Code, Forest Fund Management, Wildlife, and Code of Administrative Offenses. Deputy Foreign Minister, Khatuna Totladze, also introduced a discussion on ‘agreement on preferences and immunity of international atomic energy agency’.

By Amy Jones 

Image source: Rooms Hotel