Meeting with the Residents of Machakhela Valley

On May 14, 2014, Deputy Chairman of the Agency of Protected Areas Bakur Kvaratskhelia and Head of the Planning and Development Unit Toma Dekanoidze met with the residents of Machakhela Valley. The Agency of Protected Areas organized the meetings, which were held in the villages of Kedkedi and Zemo Chkhutuneti. Representatives from other nearby villages also attended the meetings.

The purpose of the meetings was to disseminate information about the national park, to discuss current issues and to field questions from the local population. 

The Agency of Protected Areas will ensure the active inclusion of local residents in national park management processes and will always take their thoughts, comments and suggestions into consideration when making managerial decisions.

Varying socio-economic projects are planned to be implemented within the framework of the project “Expansion and Improved Management Effectiveness of the Adjara Region’s Protected Areas”. The representatives from relevant local communities will participate in these projects and they will be designed based off of their input.

The residents of Machakhela Valley positively assessed the information session and requested to hold similar sessions more frequently in the future. The Agency of Protected Areas plans to hold several similar information sessions in order to better inform and involve the local population in the Agency’s activities.