Interview with national focal points from Georgia
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© Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia --- Maia Javakhishvili ----NFP from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia |
© National Statistics Office of Georgia --- Georgi Sanadze ----NFP from the National Statistics Office of Georgia — GeoStat
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'It is impossible for one country to solve existing challenges on its own; that requires implementing complex actions through the national, regional and international levels.' |
'We have a close cooperation with our colleagues from Eastern Partnership countries and as we all know, one of the best way to deepen our knowledge is to share it.' |
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Why are you passionate about the environment: My 20 year's experience in environmental protection clearly shows that environmental pollution is increasing more and more. Air, water and soil pollution and unsustainable use of natural resources, waste management and an increasing number of natural disasters require more efforts with regard to current climate change. It is impossible for one country to solve existing challenges on its own; that requires implementing complex actions through the national, regional and international levels. Through joint efforts, it is possible to reduce environmental degradation and ensure sustainable development. Favourite place: My favourite place is my home with my family. I am passionate about visiting the mountain areas and the Georgian Black Sea coast — the beautiful beaches of my picturesque country, Georgia. Background: Masters Degree in Agro chemistry and Soil Science. Surprising part about the project: For me, the surprising part of the project is its inclusiveness and flexibility. The first characteristic is essential, as the project’s main goal — improvement of the access to and availability of environmental data and information — involves a number of environmental fields and the project also aims to promote the establishment of an integrated environmental information system in Georgia. In the Georgian case, the project provides support in the following areas: water, land, biodiversity, air and regular environmental assessment and accounting — state of environment reporting. The element of flexibility enables participant countries to apply and reapply the project work plan in line with their needs. For instance, in the Georgian case, we found additional needs on air quality monitoring and reporting issues, hence a new component was added to the project work plan in 2018. One of the most remarkable things is that, during the project implementation phase, I have acquired new friends from the EEA as well as partner countries, which is very valuable to me. Key learning from the project: During the project, in 2018, I and employees of relevant sectoral units from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia participated in several training sessions and seminars. They received valuable information on contemporary policy and methodological approaches in the field of environmental statistics and assessment including:
Project's added value: Georgia is a party to the Aarhus Convention and is on track towards legal and policy harmonisation with the EU environmental acquis. Also Georgia, together with other pan-European countries, took responsibility to establish the SEIS by 2021. The project contributes to achieving these targets through enhancing the assessment capacity of Georgian environmental experts, developing environmental indicators and statistics and in close cooperation with these experts considering mechanisms for the improvement of public access to environmental information. Implemented actions: Participation in the project's activities acquainted Georgian experts with new skills and widened their knowledge, which ultimately affects their work. For example, Georgian experts who participated in training on the development of state of environment reports are working now to elaborate a new state of environment report based on the indicator and are applying certain new approaches to the process that were discussed during the training. Also Georgian experts, who received a valuable experience from the pilot Corine Land Cover study of implementing the project and became familiar with the relevant methodology, are now considering preparing corresponding data layers for the whole territory of the country. |
Why are you passionate about the environment: Georgia is well known for its range of habitats and biodiversity spreading from the coast of the Black sea, to the mountains, including the summit of mount “Shkhara”, which is the second-highest in Europe after mount “Elbrus”. It brings me joy to travel around Georgia and see the “output” of the environment with my own eyes. Nature provides us all with many wonderful and useful gifts. From beautiful sights, food and shelter, to the delicate balance necessary to sustain life on our planet. Nature works hard to ensure that life can exist (and coexist) in the driest deserts, and the lushest rainforests. Environment is an important issue even when society is faced with economic crises, wars, and unending social problems. It matters because Earth is the only home that we have, and it generously provides air, food and water. Favourite place: Actually my favourite place is my home, yet Iove to travel. Background: Bachelor in Social Science (Sociology); Master in Social Science (Sociology), PhD researcher in Economics. Surprising part about the project: I am new in the project and my first expression is richness of experiences with different countries. The project provides opportunities to meet with international experts, enlarge networking, that contributes to sharing and gaining knowledge within project's scope. One important issue that I have noticed is project flexibility. It allows to add some additional components in the project work plan by the Steering Committee and this approach is wonderful! Key learning from the project: I became familiar with the project from my GEOSTAT colleagues and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. I was introduced to the indicators, achievements, challenges, which are fruitful for the environmental statistics. Project's added value: Due to this project we met international experts who will be know, one of the best way to deepen our knowledge is to share it.able to assist us in the environmental statistics in the future. We have a close cooperation with our colleagues from Eastern Partnership countries and as we all know, one of the best way to deepen our knowledge is to share it. Therefore, exchanging knowledge and experience with other countries at the regional and international level and working together for common goals is very important for me and my team. Implemented actions: As a result of the project activities on improvement of the existing data on water quantity and water quality, introduction of international principles in water statistics will significantly improve the quality of water statistics in Georgia. Water information system which will be managed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, is vital for the effective management of water resources. GEOSTAT actively cooperates with the Ministry and relevant experts of the European Environment Agency in this area. As a result of this close cooperation, the quantitative water indicators are already prepared for the system by our agency. In addition, we are working actively to improve issues related to the material flow accounts based on the knowledge gained within the project in the near future. |
