This study tour was organized by the National Water Partnership of Georgia in cooperation with the Ynanch-Vepa Agency (Turkmenistan), Batumi State University, and supported by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Environment Programme, and GWP CACENA.
The study tour aimed to introduce the Turkmen delegation to leading international
practices in establishing and managing national parks as an effective model of tripartite cooperation among government institutions, academia, and expert NGOs.
The primary goal of this exchange program was to promote long-term technical and scientific cooperation between Georgian experts (including representatives from NWP GE and Batumi State University) and their Turkmen counterparts. The focus lies in supporting Turkmenistan’s efforts to establish category II protected areas—national parks that conserve water-related ecosystems and biodiversity through sustainable use.
The five-day program included visits to nature reserves and botanical gardens, and 
working meetings with the management teams of three Georgian national parks: Machakhela, Mtirala, and Kolkheti. Participants explored ecosystem services, sustainable tourism, scientific research, environmental education, and self-financing strategies.
Key areas of focus:
- Georgian environmental legislation and its comparative analysis with Turkmen practice
- Collaboration with youth and universities
- Ecotourism and heritage marketing strategies
The final day’s round table discussion allowed experts from Georgia and Turkmenistan to identify promising directions for future cooperation, including the possible pilot
implementation of the national park model in Turkmenistan.
As follow-up activities, Turkmen participants will begin—starting July 20 through October 2025—to:
- Study Georgian legislation regulating national park activities
- Develop an analytical review comparing legal frameworks
- Draft a pilot project proposal for a national park in Turkmenistan
This knowledge exchange marks a meaningful step toward advancing sustainable management of water-related ecosystems and strengthening international environmental cooperation.
