BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24
By Tamilla Mammadova - Trend:
The Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF) will allocate 4.16 million lari ($1.36 million) to finance protected areas of Georgia, Trend reports with reference to CNF.
A corresponding agreement was reached between Georgian Agency of Protected Areas and CNF on June 24.
The grant will finance the operating costs of the agency, costs to protect Georgia's natural heritage and cover salaries of rangers and expenditures for equipment.
"Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the number of international visitors to protected areas of Georgia decreased, so the financial support from CNF is timely and important. In addition, we received a grant from the German government, which also will help the agency cover operating costs this year," said Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili.
CNF’s Executive Director Geof Giacomini noted that as a result of the pandemic, income received from tourists significantly decreased in Georgia.
He added that CNF decided to increase financing to attract tourists, develop the infrastructure and improve services in the protected areas of Georgia.
Meanwhile, protected areas of Georgia started hosting visitors from June 15.
By providing long-term support and management assistance for the protected areas of Caucasian region, CNF seeks to preserve unique flora, fauna and ecosystems of the region while improving the living conditions of local residents.
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