Hundreds plant trees to celebrate United Nations Day in Georgia

In order to do our part to make the air around us cleaner and healthier, the United Nations Office in Georgia teamed up with Tbilisi and Kutaisi municipalities, NGOs and young volunteers to plant trees in the Kutaisi Botanic Garden and near the Tbilisi Sea.

In the last weekend of October, volunteers showed up in droves to help plant the trees, which included the eldarica pine (Pinus eldarica) and several red list trees of Georgia: Celtis Caucasica, Sophora Colchis, bladdernut, etc.

The 570 trees planted will soon be enduring additions to the Kutaisi and Tbilisi landscapes.

“Georgia has experienced the destructive impact of climate-driven disasters over the past two decades. And the impacts of climate change are certainly going to get more than twice as bad if no preventive measures are taken now,” said Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator. “It is our hope that eco-friendly activities will further motivate young people and public institutions to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Around 300 students and UN staff volunteered to plant trees in Kutaisi and Tbilisi in celebration of United Nations Day.

“It is the first time I have taken part in a tree-planting campaign. No matter how young or old, you can contribute to making our environment healthier,” said the young volunteer Tako Antadze.

As climate change intensifies, cities like Tbilisi are particularly vulnerable to impacts such as heat-trapping emissions. Emissions from industry, construction sites, and vehicles are the main sources of air pollution in Georgia, says a 2019 report from the country’s parliamentary committee on environmental protection and natural resources.

The report also notes that Tbilisi significantly lags behind most of its counterparts in Europe in the coverage of green spaces that are critical for keeping the ecologic balance of the city.

One of the report’s recommendations was to plant trees in the eastern parts of the city to prevent dusty winds from blowing through.

The municipality services of Tbilisi and Kutaisi will ensure the long-term survival of the trees.