Forestry Reform Review with Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Local Authorities
To discuss the main directions of the ongoing reform in the forestry sector, the Head of the National Forestry Agency, Besik Amiranashvili, met with the State Representative of Racha-Lechkhumi and kvemo Svaneti, Papuna Margvelidze, and representatives of local self-government.
The primary goal of the forestry reform developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture is to improve forest protection and forest management practices. At the working meeting, Karlo Amirgulashvili, Head of the Ministry's Forest Policy Department, spoke about the activities planned within the scope of the reform.
It was noted that as part of the reform, rangers' salaries doubled starting in January of this year. Additionally, the salaries of regional forestry services and central office employees have increased, which undoubtedly boosts employee motivation and, at the same time, interest in the profession.
One of the main goals of the planned reform in the forestry sector is to strengthen forest monitoring and control. Consequently, we plan to increase the number of rangers, which, along with the effective implementation of forest care and restoration measures, will create additional jobs in the region," noted Besik Amiranashvili.
According to the reform, the National Forestry Agency is reclaiming its function of physical forest protection. The plan includes adding 401 forest rangers, which will reduce the area protected by a single ranger from 10–15 thousand hectares to an average of 2,000 hectares. Furthermore, to increase the efficiency of protection and monitoring, the National Forestry Agency will be re-equipped with modern technological tools.
