The WWF-Caucasus Programme Office (WWF-CauPO) has just completed a campaign to promote beekeeping in Machakhela Gorge, Adjara Autonomous Republic, south western Georgia. The activity was held from March to June as part of the EU-funded forestry project ENPI FLEG.

 

According to a press release from ENPI FLEG (the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) Programme), the activity aims to address the socio-economic needs of the local population, and to contribute to easing the pressure on local wood resources, especially fuelwood. The idea is that the successful promotion of the beekeeping business will significantly increase the income of local households, and that this will eventually reduce pressure on wood resources.

 

The pilot sites were located in the villages of Zeda Chkhutuneti, Kokoleti and Chikuneti in Mahcakhela Gorge, bordering with Turkey. In all, about 20 representatives of households were selected and subsequently trained in beekeeping. After the training, they received, free of charge, beehives with bee families (five beehives per household) as well as other equipment and medicines, necessary to start a beekeeping business. The condition for acquiring the equipment was that, after two years, each beneficiary would transfer one bee family to another household representative from Machakhela Gorge free of charge.

 

The €6 million European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument (ENPI) Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) Programme supports governments, civil society and the private sector in the development of sound and sustainable forest management practices, including the prevention of illegal forestry activities. (EU Neighbourhood Info)

 

 

ENPI-FLEG – website

 

Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) – fiche and news