New "Eco-Awards" program announces first five winners
New "Eco-Awards" program announces first five winners
February 26, 2009
Today, BP, on behalf of its Oil and Gas Co-venturers, announced its new environmental initiative, the three-year "Eco-Awards" Program and awarded the first year's winners of this program. The award ceremony was attended by representatives of all relevant institutions, non-governmental organizations, international community and the media.
The "Eco-Awards" has been developed to promote and reward active involvement of local non-governmental organizations in solving local environmental issues in a practical way. It encourages wider stakeholder engagement and partnerships between central and regional NGOs, community based organizations, government and businesses. The program is administered by Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), a local foundation working in Georgia since 1994.
"The 'Eco-Awards' is BP's new environmental initiative in Georgia, and we have been delighted with the response. Our main priority is to continue managing our core business in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, but we also want to go beyond this and promote environmental protection more widely in Georgia." said Neil Dunn, General Manager for BP in Georgia.
"This new Awards programme will help us and all interested parties to stimulate interest in preserving Georgia's environment and increase funding either for the 'Eco-Awards' program itself or other projects", he continued.
Minister of the Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia, Mr. Goga Khachidze, expressed his support for the program, "I support BP's new environmental initiative in Georgia and we will cooperate with the Eco-Awards Program winners. I hope the projects implemented under the program will bring long-term sustainable benefits to Georgia".
Five winners of the Eco-Awards Ceremony were awarded the certificates.
Elkana
"Revival of Meskhetian wheat "Tsiteli doli" and its sustainable use through establishment of effective marketing net"
Georgian Tourism Association (GTA)
"Market-oriented sustainable tourism development in protected areas of Georgia"
Wild Plant Conservation Association
Ex-situ conservation and commercial use of some economically important species of Georgian flora protected by CITES convention"
Association for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development "Mta-Bari"
"Amelioration and realization support for economically important species of Adjara wild flora in the buffer zone of Mtirala National Park"
International Union for Conservation of Nature Program Office for the Southern Caucasus (IUCN)
Facilitating stakeholder participation in protected areas of Georgia
Notes to Editors
Background information on the application process:
The RFP was announced in December 2008 through detailed advertisements in the press, environmental networks and BP Georgia and EPF's website. Standard application forms for project submissions were distributed via EPF office and website to various organizations. Three boards were set up to review and evaluate the submitted proposals. The boards evaluated the submitted materials through a multi-stage process:
1. Screening submissions for compliance with RFP requirements - this was carried out by a jury consisting of members of the competition's organizational committee comprised of representatives of EPF
2. Technical appraisal - this was done by the Scientific Advisory Panel comprised of well-known specialists from reputable institutions and international organisations.
3. Final decision of awarding winners - this was carried out by a judging panel consisting of BP's and EPF's relevant experts
Some 49 applications were submitted to the EPF by the deadline of January 19, 2009.
BP and our co-venturers have also contributed in many ways to the enhancement of the local biodiversity here in Georgia:
A total of six projects have been implemented under the USD 3 million Environmental Investment Program:
Management of Small Grants Programme for NGO Capacity Building along the SCP and BTC Pipeline Routes
Management Plan for Ktsia-Tabatskuri Managed Reserve
Caucasian Black Grouse Research, Monitoring and Conservation Management Project
Ecosystems and Species Conservation in Georgia: Brown Bear Project
Environmentally Sound Livestock Farming
Enhancement of Environmental Education
Conflict Prevention through Environmental Awareness in Youth
A total of 14 biodiversity projects have been implemented under the Biodiversity Competition during the six years:
- Conservation of the Javakheti Lakes
- Inventory and Conservation of the Orchid Diversity in Georgia
- .Nature Conservancy in Context of Sustainable Development of Local Communities in Bakuriani Area
- .Birds of Samtskhe-Javakheti
- Study of Bats Diversity in South Georgia
- Conservation of Economically Valuable Relict Plants of Georgian Flora
- Study of Biodiversity of Butterflies (lepidoptera) of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
- Study and conservation of Eurasian Otter in Georgia
- Inventory and Sustainable Utilization of the Endangered Edible Trees and Shrubs in Georgia.
- Biodiversity, sustainable use and conservation of economic plants of Kvemo Kartli region in Georgia
- Database for the Development of the Red List of Georgia
- Ex-situ conservation of plants of commercial value included in the Red Data Book of Georgia
- Eco trail and green gate of Mt. Mkinvartsveri
- Assessment of conservation statues of endemic species of Georgia's flora threatened with extinction/serious genetic erosion (according to IUCN Categories and Criteria)
We additionally have a rare species conservation project along the Western Route Export pipeline project.
For further information please contact Tamila Chantladze at BP
Mobile: (+995 99) 96 33 01
Telephone: (+995 32) 59 34 00; Telefax: (+995 32) 59 34 80
www.bpgeorgia.ge
