OSCE supports a study tour to Georgia for Tajik state officials on administration of protected areas

A study tour to Georgia for five representatives of Tajikistan’s Committee on Environmental Protection was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe from 17 to 22 March 2024. The aim of the study tour was to provide the Tajik state officials with the opportunity to learn about the local practices of administering national parks and nature monuments and identify areas of possible co-operation.

During the visit, the Tajik delegation had meetings with high-level government officials overseeing six different protected areas countrywide. In addition, the delegation got familiarized with nature conservation and ecotourism promotion practices and learned about Georgia’s efforts to mobilize donor funds for infrastructure improvements.

The study tour concluded with a meeting at Georgia’s Agency of Protected Areas where its top-ranking official made a presentation on the functioning of the country’s protected areas as well as shared information on implementing the SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) patrolling system. It is expected that Tajikistan will introduce the SMART patrolling system in its protected areas and the Georgian side expressed its readiness to share its experience.