US experts arrive to support Georgia restore land affected by Borjomi fire

American experts from the US Forest Service are already in Georgia. Photo by the US Embassy press office.
Agenda.ge, 15 Sep 2017 - 13:13, Tbilisi,Georgia

Experts from the US Forest Service have arrived in Georgia today to support the country restore land affected by a large-scale fire in eastern Borjomi Gorge in August. 

We are happy to welcome the US Forest Service team in Georgia. With USAID/Georgia funding this team will help the Georgian Ministry of Environment restore the land affected by the Borjomi fire,” the US Embassy wrote.  
Forest Service experts will assess the damage and implement a rehabilitation plan to prevent soil erosion and land and mudslides, and to keep the soil in place for further re-growth of the forest,” the Embassy added. 

US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly stressed that the visit could be considered a continuation of US support to Georgia which began in 2015 to help the country elaborate a forest fire management plan. 

We also managed to provide techniques worth 120,000 USD to Georgia,” Kelly stated.

Natia Iordanishvili, deputy head of Georgia’s National Forest Agency, says that the two American experts’ recommendations will be very important in planning future activities to restore the burnt area: about 200 hectares as officials have stated.