GAZELLE Transforming Policy and Investment through Improving Ecosystem Management and Restoration of Degraded Drylands of Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve in Georgia to Generate Multiple environmental and Social -Economic Benefits.

Location - Georgia, Dedoplistskaro
 

Donor: GEF
Dates:  2025-2029

Objectives:
The project aims to improve biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems and restoration of degraded drylands in Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve (BR), located in the south-eastern part of Georgia, in Kakheti Region. The project area is part of the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot and harbours many endemic, rare and threatened species of flora and fauna. The project area is also vulnerable to climate change and damaging human activities, such as deforestation, overgrazing and unsustainable land use and agricultural practices, which result in soil erosion, loss of soil nutrients, changes to the water cycle, and disruptions to the carbon and nitrogen cycles.  

The specific objectives of the project are:

Component 1: Enhanced national legislation, policies, and capacities for sustainable use of biodiversity in Georgia’s Biosphere Reserves.

Component 1 aims to create an enabling environment for integrated and collaborative planning and management of Dedoplistskaro BR, contributing to sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation. It will seek to improve the regulatory and institutional framework for biosphere reserves in Georgia, improve alignment of the national legislation with the international frameworks and commitments related to biosphere reserves, and provide technical guidance and support for sustainable management of the biosphere reserves, based on scientific data and knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned from previous or similar projects.

Component 2: Practical application and demonstration of collaborative management of Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve.

Component 2 aims to improve ecosystem management and restoration of degraded drylands, enhance ecotourism opportunities, and provide alternative livelihood options for local communities. It seeks to develop an integrated approach to developing ecotourism, identify and implement, sustainable forest management ecotourism options in the DBR, mainstream ecotourism in the DBR as part of the national tourism network, local capacity building for tourism, agricultural biodiversity in forest management, implementation of a pasture management system.

Component 3. Knowledge Management 

Component 3 will promote public awareness, knowledge and learning and continuous improvement, generate documents for upscaling of lessons learned and will aid with strong collaboration among all project actors. The lessons learned will be communicated to the direct and indirect beneficiaries in various ways, mainly: training activities, technical publications, educational material, awareness campaigns, and hands-on management in restoration, and sustainable forest management practices. The project will help to develop the tools needed to systematize, extract, and organize the acquired knowledge, and disseminate the results, lessons, and good practices. Information will be tailored to different groups so that it is accessible, through online toolkits, webinars and seminars, workshops and trainings, and other awareness and communication strategies.

Implementing Agencies United Nations Environment Programme
Implementing Organization - (REC Caucasus) 

Executing Agencies
The Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus)
Technical Monitor - UNEP