THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT ON PROTECTED AREAS Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, Georgia

The Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, together with Global Conservation, co-hosted the 1st International Summit on Protected Areas.

Congratulations on a successful Summit in Borjomi! We did this together.

The Summit is a critical platform for the discussion of important issues on park and wildlife protection, including protected areas management, biodiversity conservation, working with communities and sustainable tourism. The Borjomi Summit aims to raise awareness, share experiences, and explore common policy issues focusing on nature protection and sustainable development of National Parks.

Designed for National Park Leaders and their managers, the 3-day program will featured international experts and government authorities from the United States Park Service and European national parks with the primary goal of sharing the best international practices. The Summit hosted all invited guests from the USA, Germany, Romania, Albania, Turkey, Iran, Croatia, Armenia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Korea to the 1st International Summit on Protected Areas in Georgia. We believe that this Summit will bring together the most experienced people worldwide to learn and share the best practices in the protection of National Parks and wildlife.

Declaration of the Borjomi Summit

We, the participants of the first international conference of protected areas in Georgia, hosted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the Agency of Protected Areas, convened in Borjomi on November 7-9, 2023, declare our commitments and aspirations to advance the management, conservation, and sustainable development of protected areas worldwide. Based on the analysis and participatory dialogues conducted during the Borjomi Summit, we call on government authorities, societal leaders, the business sector, international cooperation agencies (public and private), and all citizens to support, defend, strengthen, and expand the national systems of protected areas in our countries, and to support the following recommendations:

1.     It is crucial to provide immediate assistance in promoting the professional development, respect, and acknowledgment of managers, technicians, park rangers, and community brigades who safeguard protected areas. This entails guaranteeing them secure employment, fair salaries, and benefits, as well as access to education, training, equipment, infrastructure, and legal assistance essential for carrying out their essential tasks. Moreover, it is essential to endorse and secure a smooth transition between generations by implementing succession plans that integrate the younger generation and capitalize on the expertise and wisdom of seasoned professionals.

2.     It is crucial to prioritize the safeguarding, well-being, support, and legal representation of the natural guardians. These individuals play a vital role as the first line of defense for our nation’s natural treasures and confront numerous risks posed by intruders in protected areas, as well as transnational criminal networks engaged in illegal wildlife and timber trafficking networks.

3.     Our goal is to protect at least 30% of our lands and territorial waters through the establishment of protected areas. By doing so, we aim to ensure the sustainable well-being of both terrestrial and coastal communities, while also preserving the long-term biological productivity of our continental ecosystems.

4.     It is of utmost urgency for our people to embrace the best technologies to enhance the protection, monitoring, and administration of our protected areas. The utilization and integration of advanced tools such as remote sensing technologies, geo-positioning, telemetry, cameras, remote sensors, and artificial intelligence are vital in strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of park rangers and nature defenders. Additionally, these technologies can expedite law enforcement efforts against those who exploit the environment. The assistance of international cooperation in facilitating the transfer and adoption of state-of-the-art technologies will enable us to more effectively safeguard our natural heritage.

5.     Promoting and supporting scientific research and the monitoring of environmental and socioeconomic indicators are ascendant for conservation efforts. It is important that we take urgent steps to secure dependable and sustainable funding for biodiversity research and ecosystem service monitoring. Additionally, it is vital to efficiently harness knowledge through organization and widespread sharing, with the aim of enhancing the management of protected areas, as well as natural and cultural resources.

6.     We should encourage participatory and equitable conservation approaches that engage all stakeholders, and in particular rural communities. It is crucial to fully incorporate these figures into the design and expansion of national protected area systems, involving systems, such as private enterprises, municipal and regional governments, NGOs, and the business sector. The full participation of local actors in service provision, sustainable production initiatives, and biodiversity monitoring will be vital to effectively safeguard our natural ecosystems in the coming decades.

7.     To achieve the goals of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in our countries, it is vital to involve women, young people, girls, and boys, who form the majority of the population. Integrating empowerment programs, educational opportunities, scholarships, and vocational training into the management of protected areas is necessary. Additionally, it is crucial to guarantee access to healthcare services and provide comprehensive health coverage and insurance for our park rangers, since they are exposed to a lot of risks while working in all kinds of locations and conditions.

8.     It is essential to encourage the implementation of efficient conservation efforts in both public and private domains beyond protected areas, specifically focusing on ecological corridors and other crucial locations for conservation.

9.     During our meeting at Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, a highly valued tourist destination in Georgia, we would like to remind our authorities and citizens about the vital role that protected areas play as a fundament of both local and national economic development. It is crucial to prioritize sufficient investments in safeguarding and preserving the distinctive natural and cultural heritage found within these protected areas. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure that a significant portion of the generated income is reinvested in their management. We emphasize the need to fulfill visitor limits and minimize negative impacts while also ensuring active involvement and benefits for local communities. Additionally, it is essential to endorse minimum environmental management standards for all individuals involved in the tourism sector's value chain.

10.     We also mention the importance of enhancing public outreach and environmental education initiatives, along with the establishment of programs and infrastructure that further promote the well-being of our communities through protected areas. This includes implementing inclusive measures to ensure that these areas can be accessed and enjoyed by everyone so that they can fully appreciate their value.

11.     We acknowledge the need for the international community to collectively take responsibility while acknowledging varying levels of accountability to fulfill the obligations for biodiversity conservation. With a focus on environmental fairness and addressing the ecological harm caused by climate change, we urge global solidarity and collaboration from both the public and private sectors. In alignment with international agreements concerning biodiversity conservation, cultural preservation, and the battle against climate change, we advocate for international assistance to safeguard, strengthen, and enlarge our protected areas, considering the financial constraints faced by our nations. 

12.     Georgia, being strategically located in one of the most flexible areas in the region, offers significant advantages for transnational corporations seeking to expand their operations since its location along the historic Silk Road and at the crossroads of various transportation routes makes it an ideal hub for transnational trade and investment. Hence it gives Georgia the perfect use for transnational cooperation as the favorable business environment, low taxation, free trade agreements, infrastructure development, skilled workforce, supportive government policies, emerging sectors, and access to regional markets make it an attractive destination for transnational corporations seeking to expand their operations and capitalize on the numerous opportunities available in the region.

Attendees saw an excellent example of world-class work set by Borjomi National Park and received great photos of the picnic on the third day of the Summit.

"We thank the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and the Agency of Protected Areas (APA), the donors and cooperators who made this meeting possible; Global Conservation (GC), and the co-sponsors: the Caucasus Nature Fund, Bank of Georgia, the Global Environment Facility (gef), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Succow Stiftung, the USAID Economic Security Program, and SABUKO."

Likewise, we thank our colleagues and hosts for their hospitality. We thank all the participants who contributed all their knowledge, experiences, and love for nature with their roles in organizing this meeting.

Georgia's Agency for Protected Areas (APA) did an incredible job hosting over 150 people, which provided a wonderful week of learning, hospitality, and forming genuine friendships. As a result, we have acquired three new GC Projects from this Summit.

Additionally, very capable National Parks leaders in Montenegro are now seeing opportunities for Global Park Defense and Community Protection.

Already, Montenegro experts are helping GC Shar Mountains National Park in Macedonia with wildlife biodiversity assessment for key species using wildlife cameras—a direct new connection from the Borjomi Summit.

Similarly, all National Parks, even in California or Colorado, are under threat.

As Mike Sutton noted, there are only 3 Fish and Wildlife boats for all of California's coast—128 MPAs across 840 miles (or 1500 kilometers). 50 Marine Wardens cover 35 ports and industrial harvests of rockfish, grouper, lobster, abalone, salmon, and crab, as well as deal with illegal fishing.

Bark beetles, climate change, fires, human destruction, dams, mining, illegal logging, wildlife poaching, illegal fishing, roads, unregulated or corrupt development, garbage, river pollution—meanwhile, park authorities are often left with scarce operational funds, transport, or rangers to patrol.

We are here to help these Park Leaders. If we want to achieve 30x30, we need to show we can well protect the 10% we already have as National Parks.

At Borjomi, everyone helped each other. This spirit rang loud and clear last week.

Global Conservation is focused 100% on park and wildlife protection in the forms of Global Park Defense and Community Protection. 

Thanks to the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF), World Bank, GEF, GTZ, Germany, UNDP, USAID, DOI, CSU, Bank of Georgia, Succow Foundation, and all others for making this all possible.

It was our entire group that shared their power, their experiences, and deep understandings; sharing and supporting each other is so valuable.

Borjomi Summit Day 1: Video 1

Borjomi Summit Day 1: Video 2

Borjomi Summit Day 1: Video 3

www.borjomisummit.ge