Policy Change
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Recommendations adopted by decision-makers
Improving
Iori River Valley
Georgia
Problem: shepherds and farmers currently over-exploit the grasslands in this landscape, which leads to overgrazing, loss of grassland vegetation, desertification and erosion.
Action: SABUKO is working to advocate for and educate stakeholders on more sustainable grazing practices. This includes supporting farmers and shepherds to adopt sustainable grazing regimes with their flocks, as well as working with multiple governmental organisations to eventually require sustainable grazing practices by law.
Indicator: by keeping track of the number of recommendations SABUKO makes for more sustainable habitat management, and how many of them are adopted by relevant policy-makers, they can measure their political influence, which is a key component to creating lasting change towards sustainable grazing within this landscape.
A meeting on pasture legislation at the Parliament of Georgia in August 2021, where representatives from SABUKO (Alexander Mikeladze and Tinatin Arveladze) advocated for the proper monitoring system for sustainable use of pastures. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
A meeting on National Pasture Policy at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia in December 2022. SABUKO’s Giorgi Chikorashvili attended to advocate for the importance of sustainable use of pastures and involvement of different stakeholders in the pasture policy drafting process. Photo: Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia
Methods
SABUKO developed and presented around 20 policy positions related to sustainable land use, water resource management, and biodiversity protection to relevant decision-making bodies. Next, they tracked the level of acceptance of their recommendations by identifying its uptake in public meeting minutes, written responses to SABUKO’s formal requests, and by registered budgetary or legal changes adopted by the Georgian Government around these topics.
Results
SABUKO’s advocacy efforts have led to legislative changes across several domains in Georgia from 2019 – 2022. Notably, their advocacy was instrumental in the formulation of draft laws focused on Iori River Basin Management Plans and River Basin Councils, designed to ensure the sustainable management of vital water resources.
Their work also influenced a draft law on Biodiversity, emphasizing the importance of preserving Georgia’s diverse and abundant biodiversity. They have shaped legislation concerning the leasing and sustainable management of state pastureland and Protected Areas land, contributing to the conservation of critical grasslands and natural habitats in Iori Valley.
This work has garnered international recognition for several Georgian sites, including Samukhi and Kotsakhura, by securing their inclusion in the newly formed Emerald Network. This global acknowledgment highlights the significance of these ecosystems and reinforces their safeguarding through tailored management plans. SABUKO is continuing to share vital information, participating in working groups, and advocating for a sustainable approach to grassland conservation in this area.
This map depicts four sites within southeast Georgia that have each been granted their own protection status. Chachuna and Vashlovani were given Emerald Network site status in 2017, while Samukhi and Kotsahkura were given Emerald Network site status in 2022. Site designations of Samukhi and Kotsakhura are a direct result of SABUKO’s advocacy efforts for more sustainable grassland use.
Partners
