The activities of the Bakhvi Hydropower Plant (HPP) project on forest fund lands are regulated by the Georgian Government's Resolution No. 221, "On the Approval of Forest Use Rules," which establishes and regulates the types and processes of resource accounting, utilization, compensation values, and operational procedures.
All activities planned within the Bakhvi HPP project are carried out in coordination with local forestry agency representatives and under their supervision. In addition to the monetary compensation required by Georgian legislation, the company, in line with international practice, plans to implement a reforestation program based on the "1-to-2" principle. According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), if 30 hectares are impacted during the construction process, the company will reforest 60 hectares.
The Ozurgeti Municipality covers 68,166 hectares, of which the forest fund occupies 22,164 hectares. The construction perimeter of Bakhvi 1 and Bakhvi 2 HPPs spans 20 hectares, which constitutes 0.09% of the total forest cover.
Chokhatauri Municipality spans 82,338 hectares, with the forest fund covering 54,260 hectares. The construction perimeter of Bakhvi 1 HPP covers 0.0571 hectares, which constitutes 0.05% of the total forest cover.
It is noteworthy that the company has adopted a conservation-oriented approach in utilizing the construction perimeter, resulting in a smaller area being impacted than initially anticipated in the EIA. However, the reforestation plan will be carried out as declared in the EIA, based on the planned quantity.
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