Robin Dunnigan, the US Ambassador to Georgia, visited one of the oldest and most unique National Parks in Georgia - Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, where she learned about the specifics of the management of the protected areas of Georgia and the activities of the rangers. The First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Nino Tandilashvili, hosted the Ambassador.

The conversation touched upon the successful and close cooperation between Georgia and the US in environmental protection and protected areas.

The parties discussed future initiatives, including sharing the best international practices.

It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the Agency of Protected Areas have a long-standing successful cooperation with the US in several directions.

The American Agency for International Development (USAID) helped to lay the foundation for programs aiming to conserve distinctive species, promote ecotourism, and enhance the institutional framework of the protected area system.

Furthermore, the US Forest Service actively collaborates with the Agency of Protected Areas, providing significant assistance to protected areas concerning biodiversity conservation.

We should emphasize the cooperation towards strengthening the fire management system, particularly in Borjomi-Kharagauli Park, which is one of the most fire-prone areas. A draft version of the fire management plan for Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park was created with assistance from the US Forest Service, which serves as a roadmap for the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and Agency of Protected Areas while implementing fire safety measures.