On 22 May, the Government of Georgia marked the International Day for Biological Diversity with a public event and a national photo contest, “Georgia’s Biodiversity Through My Lens,” designed to showcase the country’s natural heritage and bring the NBSAP process closer to the public. The event was organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) and the Environmental Information and Education Center (EIEC), with support from the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership. The public response was striking: a single Facebook post by the EIEC generated more than 300,000 views, reached 108,000 unique users, and received thousands of reactions, demonstrating that the appetite for biodiversity engagement in Georgia runs deep.

The ceremony brought together more than 70 participants, including representatives of government agencies, civil society organizations, and academia, alongside photo contest finalists and members of the general public. It was opened by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, followed by remarks from the Head of the Biodiversity Policy Department, the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, the Environmental Information and Education Center, and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.

Deputy Minister Zurab Ezugbaia framed the occasion within Georgia’s broader commitment to biodiversity protection:

The photo contest drew strong public participation, with 18 finalists selected across multiple jury categories. Three winners were ultimately recognized: one selected through public voting, one chosen by a jury of government representatives, and one selected by a jury of NGOs. All 18 finalists received symbolic gifts and certificates. The Biodiversity Policy Department also announced its own favorite among the submissions.

Tamta Devdariani, Director of the Environmental Information and Education Center, noted the significance of the response: the contest produced 18 finalist photos that best captured Georgia’s unique natural environment and biodiversity.

This year’s celebration reinforced Georgia’s commitment to revitalizing the International Day for Biological Diversity tradition and pointed to the potential for scaling these efforts over time. With the country actively revising its NBSAP, the breadth of engagement demonstrated by the public, civil society, and government alike is a meaningful signal: biodiversity in Georgia is not only a policy priority, it is a shared one.