Georgia lies at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and is part of two globally recognized biodiversity hotspots—the Caucasus and the Irano-Anatolian region. Its forests, wetlands, mountains, grasslands and coastal ecosystems support exceptional biodiversity, including more than 4,100 plant species, thousands of animal species, and a high number of endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Healthy ecosystems are essential for Georgia's economy, providing clean water, fertile soils, climate regulation, sustainable forestry, agriculture, tourism and other ecosystem services that support local livelihoods and national development.
Despite this rich natural capital, biodiversity continues to face growing pressures from unsustainable land use, infrastructure development, climate change and limited financial resources for conservation. Addressing these challenges requires stronger public investment, more effective biodiversity budgeting and innovative financing mechanisms that engage both the public and private sectors.
UNDP BIOFIN was launched in Georgia in 2018 to strengthen the country's biodiversity finance framework and mobilize additional resources for nature. Working closely with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, the National Forestry Agency and other partners, UNDP BIOFIN supports results-based biodiversity budgeting, sustainable forest management, ecotourism, biodiversity safeguards in development planning, and innovative finance solutions that help secure long-term investment in Georgia's unique natural heritage.
Finance Solution 1: Results-Based Biodiversity Budgeting
UNDP BIOFIN strengthened the capacity of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) to prepare results-based biodiversity budgets supported by strong economic and environmental evidence. The finance solution has improved biodiversity budget planning and contributed to increased government allocations for biodiversity conservation, helping mainstream biodiversity into national public finance.
Finance Solution 2: Biodiversity in Environmental Impact Assessments
UNDP BIOFIN strengthened biodiversity safeguards by integrating biodiversity considerations into Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). The programme developed Georgia's first biodiversity-specific EIA guidelines and an online monitoring tool, helping ensure that infrastructure and development projects better avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts on biodiversity.
Finance Solution 3: Fundraising for Nature Conservation
UNDP BIOFIN is expanding financing opportunities for biodiversity by strengthening fundraising capacity across government institutions, civil society organizations and conservation agencies. The programme promotes innovative fundraising mechanisms—including corporate partnerships, crowdfunding and donor engagement—to mobilize additional resources for biodiversity conservation.
Finance Solution 4: Sustainable Forest Ecotourism
UNDP BIOFIN is helping transform Georgia's state forests into sustainable ecotourism destinations that generate long-term financing for biodiversity conservation. Working with the National Forestry Agency, the programme supports tourism planning, revenue generation and reinvestment mechanisms that improve forest management while creating new economic opportunities for local communities.
Finance Solution 5: Sustainable Financing for Non-Timber Forest Products
UNDP BIOFIN supported the development of new methodologies for setting user fees and regulatory charges for commercially valuable non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The finance solution promotes sustainable harvesting, improves monitoring and traceability, and creates new revenue streams for biodiversity conservation and local governments.
Finance Solution 6: Repurposing Harmful Agricultural Subsidies
UNDP BIOFIN is helping Georgia identify and assess agricultural subsidies that may unintentionally harm biodiversity. The programme supports policy reforms that reduce environmentally harmful incentives while promoting biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices and integrating biodiversity into public investment and recovery programmes.
Finance Solution 7: Sustainable Timber Finance
UNDP BIOFIN is supporting the National Forestry Agency in developing a more efficient and financially sustainable timber management system. The finance solution promotes transparent timber markets, improved cooperation with the private sector and sustainable forest management practices that increase revenues while protecting forest biodiversity.
Finance Solution 8: Sustainable Use of Non-Timber Forest Products
UNDP BIOFIN is promoting sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products to improve rural livelihoods while conserving biodiversity. The programme supports local communities through training, awareness raising and improved market opportunities, helping create biodiversity-positive income sources while reducing pressure on forest ecosystems.
Finance Solution 9: Updating Georgia's Biodiversity Finance Plan
UNDP BIOFIN is supporting the update of Georgia's Financial Needs Assessment (FNA) and Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) to align with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the country's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The updated finance plan identifies priority investments and innovative finance solutions to strengthen long-term biodiversity financing.
Mobilizing New Finance for Biodiversity
Since the adoption of Georgia's Biodiversity Finance Plan, UNDP BIOFIN has helped mobilize approximately US$1.5 million for biodiversity conservation through public investment, private-sector engagement, sustainable tourism and innovative financing mechanisms. The programme continues to support implementation of finance solutions that strengthen long-term financing for nature.
Strengthening Biodiversity Finance through Public Budgeting
UNDP BIOFIN helped strengthen results-based budgeting for biodiversity, contributing to a fourfold increase in the annual budget of the Forest and Biodiversity Department—from GEL 100,000 to GEL 400,000. Overall, annual state budget allocations for biodiversity increased by GEL 620,000 (approximately US$240,000), improving the country's capacity to finance biodiversity conservation.
Integrating Biodiversity into Development Planning
UNDP BIOFIN supported the preparation of Georgia's first biodiversity-specific guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and developed an online checklist tool for environmental monitoring and inspections. These tools help ensure that biodiversity risks are systematically considered in development projects and infrastructure planning.
Expanding Sustainable Forest Tourism
UNDP BIOFIN developed a five-year ecotourism development plan for the Borjomi Municipality State Forest, creating new opportunities for sustainable tourism and biodiversity financing. Following its success, the National Forestry Agency is replicating the approach across larger forest landscapes throughout Georgia.
Developing Innovative Finance Solutions for Nature
UNDP BIOFIN designed several innovative finance solutions to diversify funding for biodiversity conservation. These include a donation platform supporting conservation activities at Tbilisi Zoo, a fundraising strategy for the recovery of endangered endemic species, including the Tur, Bezoar goat and Red deer, and new methodologies for establishing sustainable user and regulatory fees for commercially important non-timber forest products (NTFPs).
