The document presents Georgia's National Forest Concept. The concept aims to establish a system of sustainable forest management that improves forest quality and quantity, protects biodiversity, and makes effective use of forests' economic potential. It applies to all Georgian forests regardless of ownership. Key issues addressed include unsustainable practices, legislative gaps, conflicts of interest, and limited resources. The concept outlines priority directions such as strengthening legal frameworks, developing management plans, improving institutions, supporting education and research, and increasing public awareness and involvement. The overall goal is for Georgian forests to be used in a way that maintains their ecological wealth and socio-economic benefits.

1. National Forest Concept for Georgia
 Defines the relation of the State with forests taking into account main
services provided by forests and their values.
 National Forest Concept shall apply to all forests of Georgia
irrespective of their ownership and form of management.
This document will serve as a basis for the development and
improvement of the forestry sector related legislation, institutional
set-up and other policy documents.

2. The goal of the National Forest Concept
Establishing a system of sustainable forest management ensuring:
improvement of
quantitative and
qualitative
characteristics of
forests
protection of
biological
diversity
effective use of
the economic
potential of
forests
To achieve this goal the Georgian forests shall be used in a way, and at a rate, that
ensures maintenance of ecological wealth and use of their socio-economic potential.
Known Problems
Causing Factors:
 Economic
 Social
 Environmental
•Unsustainable forest management practices;
•Legislative shortcoming;
• Conflict of interests;
• Restricted human and financial resources;
• Forests have not been transferred to local self-
governance units due to the weak municipal
governance, etc.
Aspects:

3. Forest mgmt
planning
Restoration
& reforestation
Multipurpose
forest use
Rational use of
forest resources
Inventory
Base
Continuous
monitoring
Forest ownership,
mgmt and use
rights
Strong legal
framework and
administration
Distribution of
management
responsibilities
Adaption to the
impacts of climate
change
Environmental
assessment
Reforestation
Research programs
Adaption plans due to
climate change
Priority Directions of the Forest Concept
up-to-date mgmt plans
with legal framework
Certification systems
Evaluation of potential
benefits
Development plans
Legislation
The National Forest Code and secondary legal acts need
to be developed and put in compliance both with the
international standards and national legislation ensuring
the protection and sustainable use of forest recourses.
Preparing the secondary legislation, including
regulations that define forest management standards,
and regulations governing relations between the forest
owner and bodies responsible for managing forests
(communities, private sector, the State, etc.)

4. Forestry sector administration
Establishment of organizations for
proper administration/long-term
development of the forestry sector.
Forestry needs to be integrated with the
development of connected
sectors/considered as an intersectoral field.
Development of standards,
regulations an other instruments.
Developing mechanisms to involve
stakeholders in the development of the
concept policy instruments.
Forest management institutions
* Creating infrastructure;
*Hunting farms;
*harvesting timber &
other forest products;
*Selling resources;
*Providing other forest
services
New forest management bodies being
responsible for all protection and physical
management functions
• Creating a plan for the development,
including budget and technical assistance
(business plan).
• Developing a scheme for staffing and providing all
institutions according to the requirements of the tasks.
Securing sustainable funding from budget and non-budget
sources (sales of products and services, compensations, etc.)

5. Education and science
professional education
and short-term
training of the existent
employees provided by
universities, state
forestry agency, or in
cooperation between
both.
Tight cooperation
among educational
institutions and
governmental
bodies in charge of
forest management
is necessary.
Supporting research projects in the field of
forest science by:
1) Supporting university-based researches in
forestry science involving students as
researchers;
2)Supporting implementation of newest
research outcomes in forest practices;
Awareness and involvement of the society
Designing and implementing a strategy and action plan for communicating key messages to the
general public and selected target groups.
Development and implementation of firewood supply program for rural populations.
Increase rural communities’ sense of responsibility for their local forest resources;
Involving rural communities in the management of their local forests at the stage of
management planning
Integrating programes aimed at reducing rural poverty and creating new job opportunities
considering the interest of different groups of the population

6. THANK YOU!