Carl Amirgulashvili Elected as the Chair of the Bern Convention of the Council of Europe

From December 8 to 12, Strasbourg, France, hosted the 45th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Council of Europe’s Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

The participants elected Mr. Amirgulashvili, Head of the Forestry Department at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, as Chair of both the Bureau and the Committee. Notably, Mr. Amirgulashvili has served as Vice-Chair of the Bureau since 2021. 

The Bern Convention is one of the most significant international agreements in the field of environmental protection. Accordingly, the appointment of a Georgian representative to this position will enhance Georgia’s active engagement within European Union structures, support the effective implementation of obligations under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, advance the Convention’s adoption in Georgia, and promote the effective implementation of environmental policy in the country.

It is also noteworthy that, to facilitate the implementation of the Convention, the Emerald Network has been established in Georgia. As of 2023, the Emerald Network in Georgia covers an area of 1,307,501 hectares and includes 66 designated sites. Currently, management plans are being developed for the territories included in the network.