Agriculture Minister - studies underway to create protected area in western Racha region

Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Monday revealed studies were ongoing for creating a new protected natural area in western Georgia’s Racha region, following a citizen protest on Saturday over an alleged sale of a forest area in the locality.

The public protest was held outside the Environmental Protection Ministry, before the body explained it had given out a licence for establishment of a hunting farm in the forest, with more than ₾5 million (about $1.8) allocated for its development and employment of locals within the project.

In his comments, the Minister said it had requested a management plan for the area from the company HG Capra Caucasica in May but the submission of the document had been failed, leading to the new plans for establishing a protected area in the forested zone in question.

He added the project would be “most adapted” to the needs of locals and aimed at protecting the “distinctive nature” of the locality with the involvement of the local government, citizens and relevant experts.

The Ministry on Saturday said reselling or gifting of licences was not possible without an agreement with the National Environment Agency and added there had been no such request made to the body.