Business yard in Zestaphoni
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Levan Davitashvili, together with the Head of the National Forestry Agency Archil Nikoleishvili, met with the foresters in the newly arranged "Business Yard” in Zestaphoni.
After the adoption of the "New Forest Code", forest reform is being intensively implemented, within the framework of which the so-called "Business yards" will be organized in all municipalities of Georgia.
"Forest reform is being actively implemented in the country, which envisages the development of forestry. The new practice of timber production will allow us, in the future, to gradually replace social logging with a type of service that will be more comfortable for our population, business and will enable us to supply all those who wish with alternative energy. We are talking about alternative biomass, including briquettes, which is an environmentally friendly, modern fuel. Business yards will allow us to remove the numerous biological wastes that are in the forest and, on the one hand, significantly improve the sanitary condition of the forest and, on the other hand, offer the population an alternative firewood product. Strengthening the capacity of the National Forestry Agency, modernizing it and equipping it with modern equipment is especially important for the effective implementation of its activities,-” said Levan Davitashvili.
As Archil Nikoleishvili, the Head of the National Forestry Agency, noted, the goal of the agency is to replace the social logging with comfortable services. The newly created "business yard" in Zestaponi will serve about 30 villages and will greatly facilitate the population to buy wood.
The National Forestry Agency is changing the timber practice. Social logging will be phased out, the agency will organize timber production, sorting, and warehousing "In business yards". This change will make it easier for the population and the private sector to purchase and transport timber at the desired time.
It should be noted that the new Forest Code is an important part of the reform of the forestry sector, the main purpose of which is to establish multi-purpose forest use, preserve and protect forest ecosystems, and rational use of social and economic benefits. Arranging the so-called "business yard", along with other innovations provided by the Code, is one of the main tools for the introduction of sustainable forest management.
Arrangement of "business yard" is underway in almost all regions of Georgia. "Business Yard" has already been organized in Sagarejo, Gurjaani, Telavi, and the village of Lisi. By the end of the year, 26 "business yards" will be arranged across the country. As a result, forest use for timber production will be much more efficient, illegal logging and negative impacts on the forest will be reduced. The event was attended by representatives of local self-government.
