On June 27, 2014 Ilia State university hosted the next workshop from a series of Energy Policy and Sustainability Seminars organized by WEG in collaboration with Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD) of Ilia State university  on the topic –ResidentialEnergy Consumption and Forest Management Problems in Georgia.

Giorgi Chikovani (USAID/DeloitteHPEP project) presented the results of Household Energy Consumption Survey conducted by Association of Young Professionals in Energy of Georgia (AYPEG) supported by USAID under Hydro Power and Energy Planning Project (HPEP).Revaz Getiashvili from Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) made ​​a presentation – Wood Supply and Forest Management Problems in Georgia, Mechanisms for Short-term and long-term Solutions.

According to the survey, 97% of rural population and 27% of urban populationin Georgia consumes wood for heating. At the same time, wood consumption is extremely inefficient and wood cutting frequency exceeds its renovation potential. As a result of natural disasters caused by forest mismanagement, Georgian economy incurs200-250 million of damage each year.

The study by CENN shows, that, it is impossible to legally get enough wood for the winter of 2014-2015, since there is no sufficient resource in accessible forests. Forest management problems should be re solved by usage of alternative energy sources and improving energy efficiency.