In Memory of Dr. Tengiz (Gizo) Urushadze

The Global Forest Coalition suffered a great loss on November 12, 2021, as Dr. Tengiz (Gizo) Urushadze passed away at the age of 81. A man of great integrity, he was the chairperson of Dzelkva, a GFC member group in Georgia, and an internationally renowned scientist, researcher, educator, and academic. The life and achievements of this honorable, benevolent, and generous person are an excellent example of service to one’s homeland, people, and future generations in order to further national progress and development.

A trusting and beloved person, Gizo was actively involved in public life and held a number of high-profile posts in various agencies and institutions, including the Institute of Forestry of Georgia; the Mikheil Sabashvili Institute of Soil Science, Agricultural Chemistry and Amelioration; and the Georgian Soil Science Society. He authored more than 500 scientific papers and publications, including more than 50 books, was on the editorial board of several international scientific journals in Germany, Chile, Hungary, Ukraine, Armenia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

Gizo was a longtime professor, serving as department head and rector of the Agricultural University of Georgia, and professor and department head at Tbilisi State University. He also lectured in Germany, Austria, and the United States. He served as an advisor to the president of Georgia and won the National Science and Technology award, as well as other national awards, and he was universally respected and loved.

Of particular note is Gizo’s international success and recognition. He was the first vice president of the 5^th Commission of the International Union of Soil Sciences, an honorary doctor of the State Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona (Spain) and of the Veterinary Academy of Sciences of Catalonia (Spain). He was also a full member of the International Academy of Environmental Safety (Russia), vice president of  the Georgian National Committee of the UNESCO Program “Man and Biosphere”, a member of the International Environmental Academy, an honorary professor at the Agricultural University of Armenia, and much more.

In 2018, Gizo was elected as an honorary member of the International Society of World Soil Sciences at the 21st World Congress of Soil Science in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, becoming the first Georgian scientist to receive this great distinction.

We appreciate Gizo’s invaluable contribution to civil society in Georgia. With heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, great friend, and outstanding mentor. He will always be remembered for his accomplishments, integrity, and honor, and his memory will be cherished by all who knew him.

18 Nov, 2021
Posted in News