Estonian innovative forestry start-up company Timbeter and the government of Georgia started cooperation to strengthen the sustainable forestry practices in Georgia. Goal is to support the digitization of forest management, and increase efficiency and the transparency of the local forestry sector.

Goal of the Project:

Applying Timbeter for the current process (roundwood measurements and data management) in Georgia; optimizing and digitalizing the process

Project activities:

• Formation of Technical Working Group (MEPA, NFA, DES);
• Work with identified regions/municipalities (including Adjara region);
• Adapting Timbeter to Georgian requirements; 
• Researching the processes throught the supply chain;  consulting on future innovations planned by NFA and other responsible parties
• Piloting solution in Georgian National Forest Agency (NFA) and Environmental Supervision Department (DES);
• Analysis of integrations with the existing solutions (e.g. Electronic Timber Management System and FIMS);

Project news:

The project was launched with an official inception seminar on the  22nd of April, in Tbilisi. A high-level event brought together a wide range of Georgian, and international environmental stakeholders who were introduced to the functionalities of the Timbeter solutions, and it’s potential to contribute into Georgian ongoing forestry reform.  During the next steps of the project Timbeter solutions will be adapted for Georgian users and piloted by them – the results of the pilot will be used to further improve Timbeter for Georgian needs.

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is funding the project to bring Timbeter’s technology to Georgia, and integrate the technology with the digital solutions developed by the government to oversight the forestry sector, facilitate sustainable forest management, and fight illegal logging in the country.

The government of Georgia, through their Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, will explore opportunities to integrate Timbeter’s Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and cloud technology to support their efforts and investments in monitoring and controlling the forestry sector. Timbeter as a digital solution will be used to simplify the data exchange between the government and companies. The target is to bring more efficiency and transparency to the process to ensure sustainable forest management and improve accountability of timber flow.

“We strongly believe that Estonian experiences and technological solutions in the field of sustainable forest management could make a valuable contribution into Georgian efforts to make the forestry and timber production more sustainable, effective and safe”, noted Ambassador of Estonia to Georgia, H.E. Riina Kaljurand, highlighting that “Georgia has been the priority country of the Estonian Development cooperation for many years and this particular project constitutes a very first Estonian Public Private Partnership initiative in Georgia“

“Timbeter will help our efforts in the improvement of the data on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forests, protection of biological diversity and effective use of the economic potential of forests”, said Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Iuri Nozadze.

It is important for us to introduce and use modern technologies in the forestry sector. The Estonian AI-based timber measurement solution should be in line with the existing Forest Information and Monitoring System (FIMS), which will help improve timber movement and volume accountability, as well as to assist forest management and supervision bodies in conducting effective state control over forest use and forest protection, stated by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Nino Tandilashvili.

“Our goal is to make sure that forests are managed sustainably.”, Anna-Greta Tsahkna, CEO of Timbeter said. “Digital solutions like Timbeter help companies to increase safety and efficiency and also easily provide needed data for the government that will help to fight the illegal logging. We hope to provide reliable data for sustainable management of Georgian Forests”.

Gigia Aleksidze, local counterpart of the project in Georgia, highlighted that “with this cooperation we aim to strengthen the forest use license control mechanism, as well as to support the effective development of new “forestry business yards” concept that is being developed after the new forest code was adopted. For effective protection of forests against illegal activities, it is essential to supply relevant law enforcement authorities with accurate data and monitoring possibilities”. The planned actions will strongly support the implementation of Article 233 of the DCFTA under the Association Agreement of Georgia with the EU.