In Strasbourg, France, during a working group meeting of the Council of Europe, the issue of awarding the European Diploma to the Lagodekhi Protected Areas was discussed. The event was attended by the Deputy Chairperson of the Agency of Protected Areas, Tamar Khakhishvili.
It is noteworthy that the Agency of Protected Areas nominated the Lagodekhi Protected Areas for the European Diploma in 2025, and the nomination received a positive evaluation at the first stage. The next stage will include an expert field visit to the Lagodekhi Protected Areas.
The European Diploma is the highest recognition awarded by the Council of Europe to protected areas of outstanding ecological and landscape value.
“The Lagodekhi Protected Areas are the first protected area in Georgia and have a history spanning more than a century. Granting the European Diploma to this area would represent international recognition both of its effective management and of its pristine nature,” noted the Deputy Chairperson of the Agency of Protected Areas, Tamar Khakhishvili.
It is also worth noting that, to date, the Vashlovani Protected Areas remain the only protected area in Georgia that holds the European Diploma, highlighting their exceptional ecological importance.
The European Diploma for Protected Areas is a prestigious international award established in 1965 on the initiative of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.