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NEWS
GEORGIA TODAY
FEBRUARY 24 - 27, 2017
CNF Signs Grant Agreement for Lagodekhi Protected Areas
The Lagodekhi Protected Areas. Source: GeorgianTour
BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES
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he Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF) has allocated EUR 240,000 to the Protected Areas of Georgia. A grant agreement was signed at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia confirming this commitment on behalf of CNF. The agreement covers the period 20172019, and was signed by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia, Gigla Agulashvili, acting Chairperson of the Agency of Protected Areas, Tamar Kvantaliani, and the Executive Director of Caucasus Nature Fund, George Giacomini. According to the agreement, the Caucasus Nature Fund will cover a number of operational expenses relating to the functions and activities of Lagodekhi Protected Areas from 2017 to 2019. More specifically, the grant will cover salary top-ups for Protected Areas Staff (including rangers), infrastructure development, arrangement of parking place, renovation of a car park and much-needed biodiversity monitoring activities carried out in the Protected Area. The Caucasus Nature Fund has been cooperating with the Agency of Protected Areas for several years, and has made a significant contribution to infrastructure development and the motivation of key staff in the ten protected areas that it
supports. CNF’s support for Lagodekhi started in 2011, and since then Lagodekhi has made significant progress in a number of operational areas, including patrolling and monitoring capabilities and tourist infrastructure development. “CNF is proud to continue our support to the Lagodheki Protected Area,” said George Giacomini. “Since 2011, we have partnered with the Agency for Protected Areas and provide necessary funding to improve infrastructure and protection in the park so that Georgians and citizens of the world can enjoy the unique beauty in Lagodheki. Our new three-year grant, totaling EUR 240,000 will ensure that continues." CNF is a conservation trust fund created to safeguard the Caucasus eco-region, one of the most biologically rich and diverse areas on Earth. It provides grants to the protected areas of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and builds the government’s capacity to sustain the parks for future generations. Initially established in 2007 by the German Government (BMZ), Conservation International and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and with only one staff member, today it is a committed team of 10 working in the Caucasus and Europe. In Georgia, CNF gave its first grant to Borjomi Kharagauli National Park in 2009. This emergency grant supported fire equipment and vehicles, with the first three-year grant agreement for Borjomi in 2010. Since then CNF has provided nearly EUR 2 million in funding to nine parks in Georgia.
Tbilisi to Join Travel Massive Community BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI
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aria Kholodilina, a Tbilisibased Ukrainian blogger and author of the project A Love Letter to Tbilisi, came up with yet another initiative to promote the country and its tourism sector: to connect Georgia with Travel Massive, the world’s largest free and open community and a major platform for travel insiders and professionals in the tourism industry. The discussion ‘Thematic Tours against Triviality’ held at the Impact Hub Tbilisi on Tuesday found local expats, journalists, travelers, and photographers exploring and sharing their experience of introducing Georgia through all its authenticity while avoiding a trivial approach to sightseeing. Daria, organizer of the event, says that the main aim, to bring together Georgian and expat travel insiders, was achieved. To Daria, it’s important to put Georgia on the Travel Massive map and raise country exposure through the community of travel and tourism professionals. “Travel Massive is a platform with a mission to discover and ultimately connect travellers in every city and every country around the world,” she says. Paul Rimple, journalist, founder of Culinary Backstreets Tbilisi; Maurice
Wolf, photographer, founder of “Brutal Tours;” Tatiana Remneva, writer, founder of Miracle Tbilisi; and Anna Koriphadze, a tour guide, spoke to guests at the event. Travel Massive was born in the US and then spread worldwide. According to the franchize, meetings in Tbilisi should be held at least once every 1.5 months, but active as she is, Daria wants to do them more often- every month. “If Georgians can find partners, bloggers, photographers, and travel agents; if they can network and promote their
businesses at Travel Massive, I will be happy,” she says. In March, Daria plans to organize an event on start-ups and innovations in the tourism sector, and in April there will be a meeting on voluntary tourism. Daria herself rented out space at the Impact Hub to organize the meeting on Tuesday. She got support from Spy Recipe and Marani Sanavardo. “I love young initiatives and it’s just great that we help each other,” she enthused.
Aerosmith Batumi Concert Tickets on Sale from February 25 BY THEA MORRISON
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he legendary rock group Aerosmith is coming to Georgia to perform at the country's hot new venue, the Black Sea Arena, near Batumi, on May 20. The five-member band will perform in Georgia as part of their 2017 European tour, AeroVederci, Baby! Tickets will be on sale from February 25 at the Black Sea Arena box office in Batumi, at the Tbilisi Philharmonic Hall, or online at www.tkt.ge or www.biletebi. ge. The full list of concert venues and dates for this tour can be found on the official band website www.aerosmith.com.