The National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) has completed the implementation of environmental patrolling on land and water within the framework of the project “EcoYOU: Clean and Green Minds for Environmental Friendly Behavior.”
During the project implementation period, a total of 20 environmental patrols were conducted, covering lakes, reservoirs, and their surrounding areas in various regions of Georgia — Kvemo Kartli, Shida Kartli, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The patrolling took place at the Tsalka, Zhinvali, Bazaleti, Bareti, and Sioni reservoirs, as well as at Choporti and Jandari lakes, the Algeti reservoir, and Tbilisi Sea. The activities encompassed both the water surface and the shoreline zones and adjacent areas — including the territories of Samepo village, Tsikhisdziri village (Dusheti Municipality), and Jandari village (Gardabani Municipality), as well as the recreational zone of Jandari Lake.
The project team members participated in the patrolling process — Tatiana Bokuchava, Deputy Executive Director of NALAG and Project Manager; Lasha Archvadze, Deputy Executive Director of NALAG and Head of Communications for the project; Mariam Jincharadze, International Projects Development Manager of NALAG; and Irakli Andghuladze, NALAG representative. Together with youth, they ensured the coordination of activities, collection of environmental data, and documentation.
During the implementation of the activities, a special boat and kayaks acquired within the project framework were used, which enabled effective movement both on land and on water bodies. As a result of the patrolling, identified polluted sites — in the form of plastic and household waste — were uploaded to the BeECO portal along with GPS coordinates and photo materials, while relevant municipalities were provided with information for further response.
Patrolling represented one of the important components of the EcoYOU project, which significantly contributed to increasing youth engagement, encouraging eco-friendly behaviors, and raising environmental awareness.
The project is implemented with co-financing from the European Union within the framework of the Black Sea Basin Programme (Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme) and covers three countries — Georgia, Moldova, and Romania.