The document provides information on forests and forest management in Georgia. It notes that all forest land is state-owned, comprising about 40% of the country's territory. The Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources manages the country's forests through the Forestry Agency and Agency of Protected Areas. The ENPI FLEG Program aims to establish sustainable forest management practices and strengthen governance. Activities include reviews of legislation and management, training programs, and public awareness campaigns. The program is implemented in Georgia by the World Bank, WWF and IUCN with guidance from a National Program Advisory Committee.

1. FOREST SECTOR AND ENPI FLEG PROGRAM IN GEORGIA Chisinau 2010

4. Lowlandforest– 2%

5. Total annual increment – 4,6-4,8 mln. m3

8. Agency of Protected AreasNatural Recourses Departments of Autonomous Republics of Adjara and Abkhazia Local Self Governing Authorities Church Forests

9. Territorial bodies: regional body divisions 1. Kakheti 2. Kvemo Kartli 3. Shida Kartli 4. Mtcketa-Mtianeti 5. Imereti 6. Samtkhe Javakheti 7. Guria 8. Racha-Lechkhumi 9. Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti

11. Various forest usage types

12. Formation of forest inventory system, creation of common information net and data base;

13. Definition of state forest territory borders

15. FLEG Principles have been incorporated in the National Forest Legislation;

16. ENPI FLEG Program started in Georgia;

18. National program advisory Committee (NPAC) NPAC was created for overall guiding the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Program activities in Georgia. NPAC consists of head of Forestry Department (focal point, chairman), Head of Environmental Inspectorate, Head of Environmental Investigation Department, Three representatives from different NGO’s, Representative of private wood processing company, Director of Forest Research Institute, and Representative of EC in Georgia.

20. Increasing national ownership and improving FLEG planning and monitoring by national institutions;

21. Training and capacity building of decision makers and specialists from stakeholder authorities for improved forest governance and law enforcement;

23. Training of forest inventory specialists was completed;

24. A study on the economic and social impact of unsustainable forest practices in Georgia will be completed next month;

25. An assessment of current practices of forest management will be completed in July;

28. Strengthening of capacity of the local communities for revenue collection from utilization of timber and non-timber forest products in a sustainable manner;

29. Development of indicators and methodology for assessment of illegal logging and forest crime;

31. Regional workshop on voluntary forest certification and capacity building activities for improved custom procedure, better traceability (wood tracking systems) and monitoring;

32. A regional workshop on transboundary timber flow is planned for the autumn 2010;

34. Comparative legal analyses and comparison of forestry practices

35. Joint study on the social and economical impacts of illegal logging on rural population

37. Regional website and information/knowledge sharing platforms