News

Key findings of the regional analysis of the outcomes of the national-level TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) scoping studies for the forestry sectors of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia were presented at a regional stakeholder meeting under FLEG II in Tbilisi, Georgia on 29 April 2015. The authors of the scoping studies, representatives of the Governmental and NGO sectors and academia from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia attended the meeting.

The participants of the meeting confirmed that the governance of forests is being improved by the launch of the National Forestry Consultancy Office (NFCO), which aims at providing guidance and assistance to all forest owners and properties in order to improve forest management and promote sustainable development of natural resources.

The impacts of climate change on Azerbaijan’s forests and forest communities could be severe, and the country has much to do to prepare for it, according to a new study released this spring by the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Program (FLEG II). While the results might seem daunting, just having them in hand puts Azerbaijan ahead of many other countries in efforts to combat climate change and prepare its forests and communities to adapt to its impacts.

The Central and Eastern European countries have similar history of economic and political development as well as good reformation experience accumulated in hunting industry. Due to the political and economic impact of the Association Agreement signed by Ukraine and EU, such knowledge is essential to build a hunting industry model in Ukraine, which could be comparable to the EU and based on same values and approaches.

ARMENIA – In Armenia, old-fashioned community engagement and modern satellite technology are putting illegal forest activities on the map, quite literally, and since January 2015, a new website has been exposing these once secret operations to the world.

Growing demand in mid-level professionals in the Azerbaijani forest sector requires intensified efforts to improve forest education in the country. FLEG II facilitated discussions on the possibility of launching new forest-related study programs and increasing school-based young foresters regionally.

FLEG II concluded that these ancient regions with rich cultural and natural heritage have a huge potential for the development of sustainable recreation and tourism. In both districts FLEG II Program consultants on sustainable recreation research, Zitta Hasanova and Liya Bayramova met with the state forestry enterprises, local businesses and talked to the local communities.

Russian fashion magazine Felt Fashion recently included a wool-working master class organized by FLEG II as part of its efforts to develop an ecotourism economy in Bezhanitsy municipality in Western Russia.

The Government of Moldova has launched a National Forestry Consultancy Office (NFCO) to provide necessary expertise and assistance (informational, technical, and financial) for improved forest management in the country.

March 21 is the International Day of Forests, the FLEG II Program is joining in the celebrations with the publication of a new gallery of photographs from the seven countries that are the beneficiaries.