AGP Executive Report

Wildlife: More than one million raptors pass Georgia’s Black Sea coast each autumn, but gunshots still ring out along the Batumi migration route. Researchers estimate around 9,000 birds are shot each year, including rare species. Air Quality: Monitoring stations reported poor air in Tbilisi and Rustavi and very poor air in Gardabani, with elevated fine-particle pollution recorded across the cities. River Research: A study of midges collected beside the Paravani River has produced the first DNA sequences for Chironomus bonus, a species first described from Georgia’s Paravani Lake. EU Support: The EU plans €38 million in new projects for Georgia, including environmental protection, climate adaptation and disaster preparedness. Biodiversity Summit: Georgia’s prime minister joined leaders at the UN biodiversity summit in Yerevan, where nature protection was high on the agenda.

EU Support: The EU says it plans to direct €38 million to projects for Georgia, including environmental protection, climate adaptation and disaster preparedness, while withholding funding from the authorities. Air Quality: Monitoring stations reported poor or very poor particulate pollution in Tbilisi, Rustavi and Gardabani on Oct. 18, with the worst reading in Gardabani. Wildlife: More than a million raptors pass Georgia’s Black Sea coast each autumn, but gunfire threatens the migration. A study’s latest available estimate suggests around 9,000 birds are shot there each season. Biodiversity: Georgia’s prime minister joined leaders in Yerevan for the COP17 biodiversity summit, focused on accelerating action to halt nature loss by 2030.

Air Pollution: Monitoring stations reported poor air quality in Tbilisi and Rustavi and very poor air quality in Gardabani on October 18, with elevated PM10 and PM2.5 levels. Wildlife: More than a million raptors pass Georgia’s Black Sea coast each autumn, but gunfire threatens the migration. A 2013 study estimated about 9,000 birds are shot each season; volunteers continue to count the birds at the Batumi bottleneck. Biodiversity: Georgia’s prime minister joined leaders in Yerevan for the COP17 summit, which called for stronger action to protect nature and halt biodiversity loss by 2030.

Air Quality: Pollution levels rose in Tbilisi, Rustavi and Gardabani on October 18, with monitoring stations reporting “poor” or “very poor” air as PM10 and PM2.5 increased. Raptor Migration: More than a million birds of prey pass Georgia’s Black Sea coast each autumn, but gunshots threaten them: an estimate from a 2013 study puts annual killings at about 9,000. Biodiversity: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze joined leaders in Yerevan for the COP17 summit, which called for action to meet global targets to halt biodiversity loss by 2030.

Raptor Migration: More than a million birds of prey funnel past Georgia’s Black Sea coast each autumn, but gunshots puncture the spectacle. A 2013 study estimated around 9,000 are shot each season, including rare species; volunteers say enforcement remains a challenge. Biodiversity Summit: Georgia’s prime minister joined leaders in Yerevan for the COP17 summit, which opened with calls to turn existing nature-protection promises into action. The conference is expected to focus on halting biodiversity loss by 2030. Middle Corridor: A report warns that the Caspian Sea’s record-low level in 2025 threatens the ports crucial to the growing trade route linking Asia and Europe—a reminder that infrastructure plans face mounting environmental pressures.

Biodiversity Summit: Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze joined leaders at the COP17 summit in Yerevan, where countries reviewed progress on the global goal of halting biodiversity loss by 2030. He said Georgia is focusing on protected areas, forest restoration and sustainable tourism to support rural communities. Climate and Communities: The EU says €38 million in new projects for Georgia will include climate adaptation and disaster preparedness, alongside rural development and environmental protection. Caspian Sea: A report warns that the sea’s record-low level is threatening ports essential to the Middle Corridor, a trade route linking Georgia with Central Asia and Europe.

Biodiversity Summit: Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze joined leaders at the COP17 biodiversity summit in Yerevan, where UN officials called for countries to deliver existing nature-protection commitments by 2030. Kobakhidze said Georgia aims to link protected areas, forest restoration and sustainable tourism with jobs in rural and mountainous communities. Climate Support: The EU plans €38 million in new projects for Georgia in 2026, including climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, rural development and support for family farms. Farm Resilience: The Asian Development Bank’s venture fund has invested in Tbilisi-based TelAgri, which uses satellite data and AI to assess agricultural risks and help lenders serve farmers. It is the fund’s first investment in Georgia and Central Asia.

COP17 and Georgia: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze joined leaders at the biodiversity summit in Yerevan, where Armenia’s Nikol Pashinyan urged countries to deliver on existing nature-protection commitments. Kobakhidze said Georgia wants protected areas, forest restoration and sustainable tourism to support rural livelihoods, and called for cooperation across shared South Caucasus ecosystems. Climate Resilience: The EU plans €38 million in new projects for Georgia in 2026, including support for climate adaptation and disaster preparedness, alongside rural development and environmental protection. Smarter Farming: ADB Ventures has invested in Tbilisi-based TelAgri, which uses satellite imagery and AI to assess farm risks and help lenders reach underserved farmers. The investment will support the company’s expansion.

Biodiversity: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze joined the COP17 leaders’ summit in Yerevan, saying protected areas, forest restoration and sustainable tourism can support rural livelihoods while protecting nature. EU Support: The EU plans €38 million in 2026 projects for Georgian communities, including climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, family farms and economic opportunities in villages and small towns. Farm Innovation: ADB Ventures has invested in Tbilisi-based TelAgri, whose satellite data and AI tools help lenders assess farm risks and could improve access to finance for underserved farmers. Regional Food Security: Geospatial tools are also helping farmers monitor weather, soil moisture and crop health, offering ways to use water and other resources more efficiently as climate pressures grow.

Biodiversity Diplomacy: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze travelled to Yerevan for the UN biodiversity conference on October 15–16, accompanied by Environment Minister Davit Songulashvili. Kobakhidze was scheduled to address the leaders’ summit. Regional Water Security: At the CICA summit in Baku, Kazakhstan’s president warned that water scarcity and ecosystem degradation are serious challenges across Asia. He proposed a CICA Water Partnership and called for joint efforts to protect the Caspian Sea.

Mining Watch: Krakatoa Resources has added a second drill rig at Georgia’s Zopkhito antimony-gold project in Racha, aiming to speed exploration and define a mineral resource. Black Sea Pollution: Reports of oil-contaminated birds on shore after a drone strike on a Russian tanker raise fresh concern about spill risks in the Black Sea. Regional Water Stress: Falling Caspian Sea levels are posing growing challenges across the region.

Mining in Racha: Krakatoa Resources has added a second drill rig at Georgia’s Zopkhito antimony-gold project to speed exploration. The expanded work puts the project’s environmental oversight in focus. Black Sea Pollution: Oil-contaminated birds have been found on shore after a tanker struck by drones, while another damaged tanker threatens a spill off Russia’s Black Sea coast. Caspian Sea: Falling water levels are raising ecological and economic concerns across the region. Built Heritage: Tbilisi Architecture Biennial explored how restoration can preserve buildings yet leave communities and their everyday life behind.

Black Sea Pollution: Oil-covered seabirds and diesel washed ashore along Russia’s Black Sea coast after a tanker was hit by drones, raising concerns about damage to marine life across the shared sea. Carbon Rules: Georgia is building carbon-control laws and reporting systems as EU climate rules tighten. The changes could affect exporters in sectors including fertilizer, cement and steel. Environmental Education: October 14 marks World Environmental Education Day, formalized at a UNESCO-UNEP conference in Tbilisi in 1977 to promote environmental awareness and care for natural resources.

Black Sea Pollution: Oil-covered seabirds have been found along Russia’s Black Sea coast, including more than 200 kilometres from a drone-hit tanker near Sochi. The discoveries challenge official claims that little oil escaped and raise concerns for the wider sea. Georgia’s Carbon Transition: Georgia is developing carbon rules and reporting systems as EU climate requirements tighten. The changes could affect exporters of cement, steel and fertilizer, and shape their access to the European market.

Green Finance: Georgia and Kyrgyzstan discussed green finance and biodiversity conservation, though details of the proposals were not reported. Renewables and Water: Azerbaijan’s development bank is assessing a proposed 200-megawatt wind project and has approved financing for the country’s first large-scale Caspian desalination plant. Caspian Sea: Declining water levels are raising wider regional concerns, with potential consequences for ecosystems and communities. Black Sea Spill Risk: A shadow tanker hit by Ukrainian drones was reported to threaten an oil spill off Russia’s Black Sea coast. Regional Investment: Georgian and Vietnamese businesses explored cooperation in renewable energy alongside trade and infrastructure at a forum in Georgia.

Renewables and Water: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank says it is assessing a proposed 200-megawatt wind farm in Azerbaijan and has approved $45 million for the country’s first large-scale Caspian desalination plant. Black Sea Spill Risk: A tanker damaged by Ukrainian drones off Russia’s Black Sea coast raised concerns about a possible oil spill. Caspian Water Stress: Declining water levels are posing growing challenges across the region. Green Finance and Biodiversity: Georgia and Kyrgyzstan discussed cooperation on green finance and biodiversity conservation.