Georgia

Georgia - some of the environmental issues this country faces are air pollution, inadequate supplies of potable water, and soil pollution from toxic chemicals. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to a substantial decline in Georgia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Legislative action in the late 1990s made it clear that Georgia understood the need to develop its renewable resources, but development has been slow, due to economic conditions. Georgia attempts to be environmentally active and holds an event known as the Georgia Environmental Conference.

The Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity was inspired by the world community's growing commitment to sustainable development. It represents a dramatic step forward in the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

The following discusses Georgia's plans for biodiversity nationwide:

Georgia, as part of the Caucasus Ecoregion, is considered one of the 25 globally significant ‘biodiversity hotspots’, based on the species richness and the significant level of endemism recorded. The Caucasus Region is registered as one of the WWF Global 200 Ecoregions. Georgia is located on the southern slopes of the Great Caucasus Mountain Range. Georgia covers a total land area of 69,500km2. From sea level at the coast of the Black Sea, the land reaches to approximately 5,184m above sea level in the Caucasus region (Mount Shkhara).

Two thirds of the country is mountainous with an average height of 1,200m above sea level. Georgia has a diverse landscape with the following major biomes identified: forest, flood plane forest, semi-desert, steppe, arid light woodland and hemi-xerophytes scrub, sub-alpine, alpine zone, subnival, wetlands. Within these biomes, the diversity of habitat types is also remarkable.

The Kolkheti forest refugium, as well as the limestone and high mountain vegetation complexes, are all ecologically and biogeographically distinct and especially noteworthy in terms of species composition. 4,100 species of vascular plants have been recorded in Georgia, among which 300 species are endemic to the country, and 600 species are endemic to the Caucus region. Georgia’s flora also includes 16 genera endemic or sub-endemic to the country. The diversity of faunal species is as follows: over 11,100 species of invertebrates, 84 species of freshwater fish, 12 species of amphibians, 52 species of reptiles, 300 species of birds, and 109 species of mammals. According to IUCN categories and criteria, Georgia has 135 animal species and 4 animal subspecies included on their Red List. Only 56 woody plant species are listed on the Red List. Grassy plants are being assessed according to the IUCN categories and criteria.

Since 1990, with the support of the international donor community, Georgia has begun to develop a more modern protected areas system. A legal base has been established that continues upgrading day-by-day. Steps have been taken to increase management efficiency in the protected areas system and to ensure financial sustainability. During the last two years the state substantially increased financing for protected areas; however, there still remains much to be done. New protected areas need to be created in regions where there are none, and corridors need to be created between existing protected areas. Several new protected areas are in the process of establishment including: areas in the Central Caucasus, Javakheti National Park in Southern Georgia and Tbilisi National Park (24 024 ha), close to the country’s capital. An important achievement was the establishment of the Caucasian Protected Areas Foundation at the Ministerial Conference in Berlin (9-11 March 2006). This trust foundation ensures long-term support to prioritized protected areas. Of special note is the development of the “Protected Areas Programme 2012” prepared by the World Wildlife Foundation – International. The aim of this programme is to facilitate the implementation of the CBD’s Programme of Work on Protected Areas in five model eco-regions, including the Caucasus. The programme will greatly contribute to further development of the Georgian protected areas.

Source: Convention on Biodiversity