Recreational Forest Replaces Dumpsite

Beshumi resort’s illegal dumpsite, located in Khulo Municipality and operated between 2002–2012, was officially closed on October 23. The landfill, covering an area of 780 sq. meters, was cleared of a total of 453 tonnes of waste during the closing period.

The dumpsite was closed according to international standards and the closure plan prepared by a USAID-funded program Waste Management Technologies in Regions (WMTR), which is implemented by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) together with CENN. Closure of the dumpsite was carried out in close collaboration with the municipality and Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) funded the Sustainable Forest Governance in Georgia (SFG) program implemented by CENN.

In 2012, the wooden fence that surrounded the dumpsite collapsed and the monitoring of the site ceased. The land was covered by a waste layer of 1 to 1.2 meters of waste; in some areas the depth was even 2.5 meters.

Additionally, since the waste was placed in an open field for 10 years, constant rain and thick snow cover resulted in soil contamination. The removed waste was disposed of at the Akhaltsikhe landfill.

At this stage, waste bins have been placed in Beshumi and waste collection and disposal at the landfill material is carried out seasonally.

A recreational forest development project was prepared for the cleared area which aims to develop the resort’s infrastructure and services. The document will be presented to the Government of Adjara for implementation. Besides preventing new pollution of the unique forest surrounding the Beshumi resort, the project will create a successful example of sustainable management of recreational forests, which is important not only for Adjara, but for the whole country’s forestry sector.

Baia Dzagnidze