History

APLR timeline describes some of the most important benchmarks of the organization’s development that led to transformation of the Association into one of the biggest NGOs in Georgia and a sustainable, modern and effective institution.

APLR Timeline

2012, August - APLR General Meeting took decision to rename the Association for Protection of Landowners Rights. To reflect fully APLR activities and purposes, the organization was named as the Association of Professionals on Land and Realty.

2010, July - Irakli Songulia, Deputy Director and Projects' Manager elected APLR Director by the General Meeting. Former director David Giorgadze appointed Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.

2008, October - APLR Professional Certification Body is created and accredited in full compliance with international standard ISO/IEC 17024:2008 – General Requirements to the Bodies Operating Certification of Persons. Professional Certification Body undertakes professional certification of real property surveyors and valuators and users of web program for title registration.

2008, September – APLR becomes involved in post-conflict rehabilitation and development assistance services for August 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict affected populations with regard to public registry data recovery, field survey and map preparation for houses and land parcels transfered to IDPs by Government of Georgia.

2006, August – APLR starts its first project related to Refugees/IDPs as another direct grant is awarded by USAID to support the Georgian government in property restitution for the victims of Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

2006, August – APLR starts its first forest-related activity in partnership with the Sustainable Development Project Implementation Agency. APLR receives contract to carry out inventarization of large part of Georgian forests.

2005, October – David Giorgadze, APLR projects manager, elected as APLR director. Former director, Jaba Ebanoidze, appointed as a Chairman of the National Agency of Public Registry shortly after.

2005, August – USAID awards direct contract to APLR for the implementation of the following stage of land market development project. APLR becomes one of the first Georgian NGOs to be directly contracted by USAID.

2005, June – Law on State-owned Agricultural Land Privatization passed by the Parliament with active support of APLR. Another stage of agricultural land privatization begins.

2005, March – APLR starts its first regional economic development activity together with the Urban Institute in Adjara.

2003, February – APLR organizes South Caucasus Regional Land Policy Conference in Tbilisi attended by over 100 land experts from the three South Caucasus countries and other international delegates.

2002, April – APLR starts cooperation with BP to provide professional assistance to land acquisition for the major oil and gas pipelines.

2002, February– APLR starts the publication of a monthly Landowner newspaper, covering issues of interest to farmers and rural residents.

2001, May – APLR and US-based organization Terra Institute start joint administration of USAID Land Market Development Project I to complete the registration of privatized agricultural land.

1999, August – Jaba Ebanoidze, one of the founders of the Association, elected as APLR director as former director, Vano Merabishvili becomes a member of the Parliament of Georgia.

1999, May – Agricultural land reform launched, envisaging registration of 2.5 million land parcels in private ownership. APLR takes a vital part in preparation of key legislative acts and monitors the registration process.

1998, February – The first regional office opens in Kutaisi, covering APLR operations in western part of the country. Another regional office is established in Akhaltsikhe shortly after.

1997, October – APLR starts monitoring of field cadastral works within the frame of USAID Land Market Development Activities implemented by Booz-Allen & Hamilton and takes an active part in the development of regulatory framework for transfer of land into private ownership.

1997, May – APLR completes its first project and publishes Land Legislation Manual, with the support of the Eurasia Foundation.

1996, November – Land experts, economists, lawyers and journalists establish the Association for Protection of Landowners’ Rights with the goal to protect landowners’ rights, implement land reform and create appropriate legislative environment. Vano Merabishvili, topographist by profession, elected as APLR director.