1 October 2013: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-based research consortium, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), together with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection, Government of Georgia, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Caucasus, have released a scoping study titled, ‘TEEB Scoping Study for Georgia; Main Findings and Way Forward.’

The study identifies five core sectors of the Georgian economy applicable for the TEEB initiative, namely: energy, tourism, agriculture, mining and forestry. It also recommends the development of a TEEB for Agriculture.

According to the study, Georgia’s agriculture sector employs 53% of the workforce and is a key vehicle for rural development. However, the sector’s long-term sustainability is threatened by the reduction of genetic diversity, as well as land degradation due to salinization and soil erosion. The study underscores the need for incentives to promote limited pesticide and chemical fertilizer use, biological pest control, soil conservation techniques, water use efficiency, food safety, crop rotation and farm diversification.

The report recommends the development of a TEEB for Agriculture study that would employ a sectoral examination addressing Georgian agricultural policies with the aim of ensuring food security, improving agricultural biodiversity, reducing the extent of land degradation and ultimately, maintaining agriculture as a strong sector for the country and its workforce. [TEEB Website] [UNEP Press Release] [TEEB Scoping Study for Georgia] [Publication: TEEB Scoping Study for Georgia; Main Findings and Way Forward]