CNF Signs Grant Agreement for Lagodekhi Protected Areas

The Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF) has allocated EUR 240,000 to the Protected Areas of Georgia. A grant agreement was signed at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia confirming this commitment on behalf of CNF.

The agreement covers the period 2017-2019, and was signed by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia, Gigla Agulashvili, acting Chairperson of the Agency of Protected Areas, Tamar Kvantaliani, and the Executive Director of Caucasus Nature Fund, George Giacomini.

According to the agreement, the Caucasus Nature Fund will cover a number of operational expenses relating to the functions and activities of Lagodekhi Protected Areas from 2017 to 2019. More specifically, the grant will cover salary top-ups for Protected Areas Staff (including rangers), infrastructure development, arrangement of parking place, renovation of a car park and much-needed biodiversity monitoring activities carried out in the Protected Area.

The Caucasus Nature Fund has been cooperating with the Agency of Protected Areas for several years, and has made a significant contribution to infrastructure development and the motivation of key staff in the ten protected areas that it supports. CNF’s support for Lagodekhi started in 2011, and since then Lagodekhi has made significant progress in a number of operational areas, including patrolling and monitoring capabilities and tourist infrastructure development.

“CNF is proud to continue our support to the Lagodheki Protected Area,” said George Giacomini. “Since 2011, we have partnered with the Agency for Protected Areas and provide necessary funding to improve infrastructure and protection in the park so that Georgians and citizens of the world can enjoy the unique beauty in Lagodheki. Our new three-year grant, totaling EUR 240,000 will ensure that continues."

CNF is a conservation trust fund created to safeguard the Caucasus eco-region, one of the most biologically rich and diverse areas on Earth. It provides grants to the protected areas of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and builds the government’s capacity to sustain the parks for future generations. Initially established in 2007 by the German Government (BMZ), Conservation International and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and with only one staff member, today it is a committed team of 10 working in the Caucasus and Europe.

In Georgia, CNF gave its first grant to Borjomi Kharagauli National Park in 2009. This emergency grant supported fire equipment and vehicles, with the first three-year grant agreement for Borjomi in 2010. Since then CNF has provided nearly EUR 2 million in funding to nine parks in Georgia.

Katie Ruth Davies

Photo: GeorgianTour