Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

Dedoflistskaro – food pocket of Georgia CASE STUDY

The Dedoflistskaro Municipality is located in the easternmost part of Georgia, within an arid and semi-arid climate zone. Annual precipitation in the region fluctuates between 300–648 mm and the area is under high risk of desertification. It is recognized as one of the most sensitive regions to climate change in Georgia (MoEPNR and UNDP 2009; MoEPNR 2012; MoEPNR 2014). Agriculture accounts for about 70 per cent of the gross domestic product of the Dedoflistskaro Municipality (REC 2012). The main agricultural activities include wine and cereal production, vegetable and livestock farming, both of which are affected by extreme weather events such as droughts and high winds. Climate change scenarios developed in the last five years indicate that climate change will have clear and dramatic impacts on arid and semiarid ecosystems (Mavlyanova 2007). It is expected that precipitation will decrease and temperatures will rise and that this will be followed by an invasion of thermophilic species, which are more resistant to a lack of precipitation (Thuiller et al . 2008). There has been an increase in annual mean temperature in the municipality of 0.6°C in the past half-century (MoEPNR and UNDP 2009). The main climate-related impacts affecting development of the agricultural sector in the Dedoflistskaro Municipality, however, are strong winds and a lack of rainfall. According to Ministry of Agriculture data, 164,488 ha of Dedoflistskaro Municipality now suffer from wind and water erosion (REC-Caucasus 2012). To mitigate these processes, windbreaks have been systematically planted in the region since the 1930s. In the 1980s, they occupied 906 ha (60 m state-owned

windbreaks) and 865 ha (10 m “Kolmeurneoba”- owned windbreaks 14 ) of land. Windbreaks played a significant role in moderating the micro climate of fields and vineyards, and protecting the soil from wind erosion. Unfortunately, during the 1990s, these windbreaks were almost completely cut down for fuel and as a result, the productivity of the land has decreased. Studies show that the frequency of high winds (≥ 30 m/s) has increased five-fold since the beginning of 1980s (MoENRP 2009). The surveys also show an increase in the average duration of drought by 22 days (up to 60 days). More frequent and drawn- out periods of droughts in arid and semi-arid regions will inevitably degrade plant communities with reduced growth in vegetation cover. Along with anthropogenic loading (overgrazing, cutting down of windbreaks, salinization, fires, etc.), these factors result in soil erosion; starting a process of desertification which under most circumstances, is irreversible (GoG 2014). All this indicates a high level of vulnerability of the primary economic sector of this municipality to climate change. It calls for urgent adaptation measures to reduce relevant risks in agricultural production, such as damage from frequent strong winds causing land erosion and, consequently, exacerbating thedesertificationprocess.Windbreaks were always seen as a measure for protecting farm lands, pastures and, fauna of protected areas in the municipality. The main purpose of these belts was to protect arable lands and pastures from wind erosion. Because most of them were destroyed during the energy crisis of the 1990s, the impact

Dedoflistskaro, Georgia

of strong winds on the productivity of crops is becoming more evident. This is more pronounced at the early stage of cultivation, in winter and spring. There is a now critical need for the municipality to restore these windbreaks. The best way to restore natural landscapes and protect arable lands from the growing threat of climate change in the Dedoflistskaro Municipality would be to rehabilitate its windbreaks, which along with the protection of soil from erosion also would

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