Georgian ministries, US Interior Department sign deal for Georgia’s protected areas

Protected natural areas across Georgia will benefit from a new 10-year deal between the country’s ministries of environment, culture and economy on the one side, and the United States Department of the Interior on the other, with the cooperation aimed at protecting the environment, safeguarding cultural and natural heritage and developing tourism.

Signed at the US body on Thursday, the agreement involves technical support, employee training and study visits between the countries in a bid to enhance management of protected areas.

Georgia’s Environment Ministry cited Minister Otar Shamugia, who signed the agreement alongside the US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, as saying his office was working to “strengthen international support for protected areas” in the country.

He added the agreements being worked on involved both experience-sharing and financial support, and pointed out the Ministry was putting an effort into promoting the managed natural locations across the country and developing ecotourism infrastructure for attracting more visitors.