News from Georgia >>

Georgia Becomes a Member of the UN Climate Change Fund
On December 22, 2011 the Minister of the Environment of Georgia, Mr. Goga Khachidze, during a special briefing, summarized the results achieved at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change  More>>

NGO Round Table on Environmental Issues Held
On December 13, 2011, non-governmental organizations “new Generation – new Initiative” (nGnI) and the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) conducted a round table on environmental issues, such as energy efficiency, waste management  More>>

Minister Participated in the Open Seminar on the Topic of “Green Economy”
After the changes made by the Government of Georgia in 2010, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia is working on raising public awareness on the topic of Green Business and Sustainable Development  More>>

Installation of a Hydrological Station on Mtkvari Commenced
The installation of an automatic hydrological station on the River Mtkvari has been initiated. The station will be used to determine the water level in the river and submit the information to the specialists of the National Environmental Agency,  More>>

The Quarry Life Award Project Launched to Promote Biodiversity
On December 14, at the “Holiday Inn” hotel in Tbilisi, HeidelbergCement conducted a conference, where it announced an international scientific and educational competition “The Quarry Life Award”, implemented simultaneously in 17 countries,  More>>

Alternative Livelihoods for Forest Dependent Populations
Pilot projects on the establishment of the Wood Art Workshop and Training Centre as well as on Charcoal Production will benefit local population in Sagarejo district, Georgia.  More>>

INRMW Inception Workshop Held
On December 14, 2011 INRMW/GLOWS program organized an Inception Workshop of the USAID program: “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Watersheds of Georgia” – INRMW.  More>>

News from Azerbaijan >>

Azerbaijan Takes Measures on Prevention of the Caspian Sea’s Pollution
Azerbaijan’s national water operator, OJSC Azersu has begun the implementation of the project on prevention of Caspian Sea’s pollution with runoff waters.  More>>

First Solar Panel Plant in the Caucasus Equipped by 80%
Plans on the opening of the first South Caucasian plant for the manufacture of panels of Azgentech solar batteries remain in force.  More>>

Stronger Relations with Leading Media Outlets in Azerbaijan
The ENPI FLEG Communications Team together with the Program Coordinator has recently carried out meetings with the editors-in-chief of the leading Azerbaijani online media outlets.  More>>

Azerbaijan and Islamic Development Bank Sign Agreement on Flood Protection
Azerbaijani government and the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB) are finalizing the process of preparation for the implementation of the project approved in May 2011 on flood protection, modernization and expansion of the irrigated area  More>>

ENPI FLEG Showcase in Baku
On November 2-4, 2011 the exhibition “Khazar: technologies for the environment” was displayed in the newly-constructed grand Expo Center in Baku, Azerbaijan.  More>>

"Clean City" Becomes Member of International Association on Solid Consumer Waste
OJSC "Clean City" (Tamiz Shahar) has become a member of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), thus receiving the right for use of the Association’s rights and privileges.  More>>

Aquatic Bio-Resources Commission Bans Sturgeon Fishing
“The Commission on Aquatic Bio-resources of the Caspian Sea did not determine the sturgeon fishing quota during its 32nd meeting in Baku. The Commission has decided to impose a moratorium on sturgeon fishing in the Caspian Sea”,  More>>

Switzerland to Deal with Azerbaijan’s Garbage
“The Protocol of the 5th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Switzerland Intergovernmental Trade & Economic Cooperation Commission held in Baku on December 8 emphasizes the enhancing relationships between the two countries in the real sector.  More>>

News from Armenia >>

Demand for Wood Exceeds Supply – Study Reveals
Demand for wood far exceeds the official supply according to the "Understanding the Forestry Sector of Armenia: Current Conditions and Choices" study (full report is available here: http://enpi-fleg.org/index.php?id=research) conducted by international  More>>

Armenia Preparing for 2012 Rio +20 World Summit
Chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, on December 16, the Armenian government held an expanded sitting of the National Council for Sustainable Development. According to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Armenia is undergoing preparation  More>>

Armenia's Forest Area Calculated
Armenia's forest area has finally been calculated. The calculations have been made following the discrepancy between NASA's satellite images saying that woods make up 11% of Armenia's territory and the data provided by local environmentalists - 7%.  More>>

Fighting Back: Residents of Small Village Fight Large Industry
A new environmental movement, called “SOS Qajaran” has been launched in Armenia, whose members are currently fighting against transferring agricultural land areas belonging to the administrative territory of the small village of Qajaran  More>>

Armenian Government Removes Draft Decision to Allocate Section of National Park to Revenue Committee
The matter of allocating a section of Armenia’s Dilijan National Park to the State Revenue Committee (SRC) was removed from the agenda of the Government’s session on Thursday, December 15.  More>>

Yerevan to Host Recycled Christmas Tree Contest
On the sidelines of the Winter Festival 2011, Yerevan's Lovers Park will host a contest of recycled Christmas trees, made from processed materials.  More>>

International News >>

Global Climate Change Deal Reached in Durban
As dawn broke over Durban on the morning of December 11, climate negotiators agreed to launch a new legally-binding treaty limiting greenhouse gas emissions that would apply to all 194 member governments of the UN Framework Convention on  More>>

Canada Abandons Kyoto Protocol
Canada is to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol, its government announced on December 12. It will become the first signatory to pull out in a move that will undermine the world's most significant climate change treaty.  More>>

Shock as Retreat of Arctic Sea Ice Releases Deadly Greenhouse Gas
Dramatic and unprecedented plumes of methane – a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide – have been seen bubbling to the surface of the Arctic Ocean by scientists undertaking an extensive survey of the region.  More>>

Chilean Researchers Present Time-Lapse Photos of Rapidly Melting Glacier in Patagonia
Researchers in Chile released a series of time-lapse photos December 7 showing the dramatic retreat of a glacier in Patagonia.  More>>

Tokelau Plans an All-Renewables Future
A tiny nation you may well have never heard of fears it may become an early casualty of climate change - and will almost be the first to make its entire energy supply carbon-free.  More>>

Radioactive Water Leaks at Japan's Kyushu Nuclear Plant
Water containing radioactive materials leaked inside a nuclear power plant in southwestern Japan, but was contained and did not escape into the environment, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said on Saturday, December 10.  More>>

Over 400 Rhinos Poached in South Africa This Year
The number of rhinos poached in South Africa has risen sharply this year with more than 400 killed, the South African National Parks said on December 6.  More>>

Amazon Forest Loss at Lowest in 23 Years: Brazil
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon region fell to its lowest in 23 years in the year through July, the government said on December 5, attributing the drop to its tougher stance against illegal logging.  More>>

New Species Discovered Every Two Days in the Mekong
A new monkey, a self-cloning skink, five carnivorous plants, and a unique leaf warbler are among the 208 species newly described by science in the Greater Mekong region in 2010 and highlighted in a new WWF report, Wild Mekong.  More>>

News From CENN >>

CENN Conducts a National PRTR Implementation Workshop for the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Model Development Initiative
On December 20, 2011, at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, CENN organized a National PRTR Implementation Workshop for the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) model development initiative.  More>>

Trainings on PCM and Human Rights
In December of the current year, the Rural Women Councils (RWCs) of Ratevani and Pshaveli villages established within the framework of the CENN’s regional initiative “Strengthening and Engagement of Rural Women in Natural Resources Management  More>>

Workshop on Ecomigration Issues
On December 21, 2011, at „Betsy’s Hotel“ the UK charity organization, Oxfam, in cooperation with CENN, organized a workshop within the framework of the disaster risk reduction project.  More>>

News from the GEF >>

Mechanism for Voluntary Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Colombia
An innovative market-based project is about to start implementation in Colombia financed with a $2,700,000 grant from the GEF. Executed by Fundacion Natura, and with the Inter American Development Bank as GEF implementing agency,  More>>

GEF CEO Monique Barbut Hosts Panel Discussion on Africa Land, Water and Forests
Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), hosted a discussion of African leaders and international development organizations on the combined efforts to protect and enhance the key natural resources of sub-Saharan  More>>

Demonstrations of Integrated Ecosystem and Watershed Management in the Caatinga
The unique Caatinga Biome is located in the semi-arid region of Brazil, which has a hot and dry climate with recurrent droughts. This tropical dry forest is characterized by xerophytic and deciduous low to medium sized trees, thorny bushes,  More>>

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