Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

Cooperation as the ”Support of climate-adapted agriculture and rehabilitation of windbreaks in East Georgia” project within the framework of the Sustainable Management of Biodiversity programme. More than 66 km of windbreaks have been rehabilitated in the above-mentioned territory during 2012–2015 and an additional 40 km will be rehabilitated in fall 2015. In order to promote sustainable agricultural practices, the Sustainable Management of Biodiversity programme provided assistance to a group of farmers from the “Agrarian and Environmental Association” to gain knowledge about and application of modern environmental-friendly agricultural practices in Shiraki Valley, such as low/no till wheat cultivation in order to efficiently use the available moisture in the soil; planting of legumes (for example alfalfa or lespedeza) and/or rapeseed; and use of green manure to protect agrobiodiversity; etc. Unfortunately, fires in July 2015 destroyed newly rehabilitated windbreaks. These were the result of shepherds using the traditional method of burning grass to encourage fast growth in common pastures. The impact of using these traditional methods is the complete exhaustion of the soil and severe damage to the newly plantedwindbreaks.The fires demonstrated that the knowledge of farmers in the area has not yet reached sufficient levels, and that their ownership over assets provided through donor support is also insufficient. Therefore, some economic or social incentives for increasing ownership of farmers and establishment of sustainable practices of windbreak rehabilitation and further promotion of sustainable agricultural practices should be established.

promote the preservation of local biodiversity. At the same time, where appropriate, natural landscapes should be enriched by shelterbelts that can promote both preservation of biodiversity and provision of firewood to the local population, thus protecting windbreaks from illegal logging. To mitigate the impacts of climate change and reduce the risks of drought and land degradation (erosion) processes, the “Rehabilitation of windbreaks in Dedoflistskaro region” project was proposed. The project focused on identifying areas where rehabilitating windbreaks

could significantly contribute to the mitigation of climate change impacts. It also looked at rehabilitating selected windbreak areas that had deteriorated as a result of the energy crisis, as well as mobilizing local farmers to implement the project and take further steps to protect the rehabilitated windbreaks. The project identified by the Second National Communication to the UNFCCC is currently being implemented by GIZ, the German government development agency, and the Austrian Development

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