Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing coastal municipalities like Kobuleti. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and risks to public health, agriculture, and biodiversity require timely action. The LAP BLACK project aims to strengthen local capacities in the Black Sea Region, enabling municipalities to both prevent and respond effectively to climate-related problems.
As part of the project, Kobuleti has established a Local Adaptation Team (LAP Team) that will prepare a comprehensive Local Adaptation Plan (LAP). This plan will provide concrete measures across key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, rural development, water management, biodiversity, and public health.
Partners and Expertise
To support the plan’s preparation, the Municipality announced two tenders:
- NGO “Wildlife Conservation Society Chaobi”, led by Ph.D. Izolda Machutadze, is coordinating the LAP working group, organizing six workshops, and drafting the plan. Their team brings multidisciplinary expertise on adaptation regulations and regional strategies.
- NGO “Green Regions”, led by Rusudan Simonidze, is providing scientific expertise, mentoring the process, and preparing three digital bulletins to inform stakeholders and the public. This ensures that the plan is based on reliable scientific evidence.
On August 15, 2018, the first meeting of the LAP Team was held. The 25-member group includes 7 municipal representatives and 18 professionals, local residents, and other stakeholders. At the meeting, members signed cooperation agreements and discussed the roadmap for preparing the plan.
Presentations covered important topics such as climate impact assessment, public health and environmental challenges, phytosanitary risks, and Colchis – A Biodiversity Hotspot: Past, Present, Future.
The draft Local Adaptation Plan is under development. Priority areas identified so far include public health, tourism, water resources, biodiversity, waste management, social issues, and agriculture. Once completed, the LAP will guide Kobuleti in protecting its people, economy, and environment from the impacts of climate change, while contributing to stronger regional cooperation across the Black Sea Basin.
