Support Protected Area (PA) and community cooperation through the Protected areas Friends Association (FA)

At the project inception, neither Mtirala or Machakhela National Parks were supported by any locally-based NGO’s or support groups. However, such an organization could play an important role in: promoting the PAs, building local community and PA collaboration, and addressing their development priorities.

 

Based on an assessment of the international and national experience and particularly the existing experience of other PA’s in Georgia, the project supported the establishment and functional capacity building of the Mtirala and Machakhela PAs Friends Association (FA).

 

The major risk identified was that many such organizations are heavily supported by donors and once such support ceases, they face problems to remain financially viable. Thus, a major focus of support was on building capacity of the FA to be financially sustainable in the long run via a strategy that ensures long-term core funding from reliable sources.

 

The Mtirala and Machakhela FA was established in 2016 and has been undertaking a variety of activities to build PA/Local Community relationships and collaboration, ranging from Junior and Community Ranger Programs, organization of ecological visits by schools, tourism promotion and application/implementation of local development projects with donor funds.

  • Existing national experience of establishing a similar NGO to support a Protected Area (Tusheti National Park) and an active, relatively established civil society in the country
  • A focus from the outset on building the NGO financial sustainability and ensuring of bringing in the existing in-country capacity and experience to support the initial establishment process.
  • The existence of national “summer camp” programme and tradition for schools and thus an existing opportunity of the NGO to tap into demand for services.
  • Support to the establishment of conservation/rural development NGOs is a popular mechanism for donor projects to implement activities. However, they face significant challenges in terms of maintaining ongoing financial viability and maintenance of their original mandates and objectives.
  • There is demand for environmental ed­u­cation and awareness services in Georgia, particularly in the context of youth summer camps and similar youth related experience bu­ilding events. This provides a potential source of core financing for PA related NGOs while remaining true to their intended aims.
  • There is limited experience and capacity within Georgia on the sustainable organization and management of NGOs/CBOs, particularly regarding sustainable financial planning. This is an aspect that needs support and focus by donors.
  • The Junior Ranger approach to involve local communities and the education of local future generations, is a popular, highly viable, and cost effective approach. The application of the Community Ranger approach is more challenging and requires the right circumstances and approach.