MOGILEV, 4 March (BelTA) - About 80% of the resources of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program in Belarus during the Sixth Operational Phase (OP6) in 2015-2018 will be used to address environmental problems in the south-eastern districts of Mogilev Oblast, GEF SGP National Coordinator in Belarus Alexander Levchenko said at a seminar in Mogilev, BelTA has learned.
According to him, earlier the GEF SGP activities were concentrated on the Pripyat region bordering on the EU countries. The new phase of the project, as agreed with the government of the country, will focus on the south-eastern districts of Mogilev Oblast. About 80% of the resources of the Global Environment Facility will be spent on the development of these territories through the solution of some environmental problems. All in all, Belarus will receive $1.5 million as part of the Small Grants Program.
Priority will be given to projects aiming at the conservation of biodiversity, development of smart agroecology and low-carbon energy sources, management of chemicals. “During this period, the Small Grants Program may initiate the projects in these districts that might eventually grow into serious initiatives. They will help local authorities to tackle major environmental problems, promote the socio-economic development of certain territories. I urge to take the initiative and participate most actively in the preparation of projects for the GEF SGP,” Belarus Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Igor Kachanovsky said.
The seminar involving representatives of seven districts of Mogilev Oblast discussed environmental priorities and next steps to elaborate a strategy for the implementation of the GEF Small Grants Program. Priorities are climate change, conservation and restoration of watercourses, green tourism.
A total of 132 projects have been implemented in Belarus since 2006 when the GEF Small Grants Program was launched in the country. Taking into account the co-financing, they used about $2 million, of which $6 millions were GEF funds.
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