Project description

Title: Climate-tolerant rehabilitation of degraded landscapes in Georgia
Commissioned by: German Federal Environment Ministry (BMU)
Country: Georgia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection in Georgia
Overall term: 2008 to 2011

Context

The species-rich, ecologically sensitive landscapes of East Georgia with their predominantly semi-arid climatic conditions are among those areas of the world most threatened by the effects of climate change.

Traditional pressure on natural and near-natural habitats has drastically increased since Georgia became independent in 1991. Over-exploitation of forests and protective plantations owing to shortages of alternative energy sources, coupled with overgrazing, has led to extensive degradation in large parts of the country. Expected changes in the regional climate will further exacerbate the situation. The rehabilitation of the landscapes through species-rich and climate-tolerant reforestation and the adaptation of existing methods of land use to suit natural potential and expected climate changes are urgently needed in order to preserve productivity in the habitats.

A contribution is therefore being made to Georgia's commitment to develop projects for climate protection and climate change adaptation under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Action Plan, Georgia 2006.

Objective

Degraded arid and semi-arid steppe landscapes are rehabilitated in the context of climate change.

Approach

The project develops potential analyses and prepares concepts. Relevant authorities and partner organisations are supported in the development of competencies and capacity. Individual measures are implemented as models. The concept of rehabilitation includes new methods of land use based on traditional know-how. As a matter of priority, regional authorities are empowered to use available means and resources to halt landscape degradation and to rehabilitate degraded surfaces. In the long term, institutions should be in a position to implement and further develop rehabilitation models on a large scale.

Model replacement of windbreaks, recultivation of destroyed forest areas linked to adapted grazing models, the design and presentation of sustainable management models for energy forests, as well as the drafting of a landscape plan for Dedoplistskaro District are to be implemented.

Results achieved so far

At government level, support is given for the creation of political and legal frameworks required to implement the models. Regional authorities use the model plantations and the technical-organisational experience for further reforestation, forms of land use such as land, pasture and forest management, and windbreak and soil conservation measures. The rural population benefit directly from the sustainable safeguarding of their habitat and economy, and from new land use possibilities. Successfully implemented concepts increase willingness for further state investment and allow for extensive rehabilitation of degraded areas.