Within the Framework of the UNESCO Project, 20 Local Youth will Work in the Management Structure of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands

With the intention of promoting the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands and ecotourism development, UNESCO, in strong cooperation with the Agency of Protected Areas and the Protected Areas Development Fund, has launched a new project. It should be pointed out that the youths will be involved in the process of managing the world's natural heritage.

Within the scope of the project, 20 local youths were directly involved in the management process of the UNESCO site. Young people will work in the management structure of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands to learn the specifics of protected area management, and to help rangers in their daily duties, including trail maintenance, infrastructure maintenance, nature conservation, and monitoring.

Chairman of the Agency of Protected Areas - Davit Iosebashvili, Deputy Chairpersons - Tamar Khakhishvili and Toma Dekanoidze met the participants of the project in Kolkheti National Park, heard their opinions about the project and gave symbolic gifts.
As volunteers note, the UNESCO project helps them learn more about protected areas; In the framework of eco-educational activities, providing more information about the unique biodiversity of Georgia to the population living in the vicinity of the territories.

It should be noted that for the first time in the history of Georgia, in 2021, four protected areas of Georgia - Kolkheti and Mtirala National Parks and Kobuleti and Kitrishi Protected Areas - were added to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List as “Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands”.

The project is implemented by UNESCO, the Agency of Protected Areas, and the Protected Areas Development Fund, with the financial support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).