Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

ecosystems. Climate adaptation is also addressed under the chapter on biodiversity of Black Sea. The strategy’s action plan covers a number of concrete climate change adaptation related measures starting from awareness-raising to development and adoption of relevant forest regulations and standards, through a participatory approach, that promote the sustainable use of non-wood products, the restoration of natural forest landscapes and adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. High mountain regions are earmarked as priorities for further study and action. Climate change impacts are also highlighted under other chapters of the strategy as a factor which should be taken into account in biodiversity protection and conservation measures. Under the most recent national report to CBD, climate change impact was presented as a key threat to biodiversity in mountain ecosystems; with a particular emphasis on the mountain regions of Adjara, Zemo-Svaneti and Borjomi. Water management A number of different national laws regulate water management in the three countries of the South Caucasus. Armenian legislation has recognised the principle of river basin management since 2002. Azerbaijan and Georgia still keep their former legislative frameworks. So far, only Armenia has developed Integrated River Management Plans (IRMPs) under its national legal framework. Armenia’s legal framework provides a list of issues to be covered by IRMPs which, among others, covers climate change adaptation. In the other two countries, climate change adaptation in the water sector is not covered by a legal framework, however, recent/ ongoing EU and USAID pilot projects implemented in the South Caucasus countries address climate change aspects through water management plans.

Georgia The second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Georgia 2014 – 2020 is structured according to sectoral chapters, which include strategic approaches and actions related to species, habitats and protected areas (MoENRP 2014). Climate change adaptation is addressed in two of those chapters: • forest ecosystems and • agricultural biodiversity and natural grasslands. The strategy stresses a need for development of a separate legally binding document addressing the impact of climate change on the national forests – as climate change is likely to significantly affect Georgia’s forests in future. According to the strategy, an overall understanding of the impact of climate change on Georgia’s biodiversity is extremely limited and no credible assessments have been conducted todetermine the influence of stress factors caused by climate change on high mountain areas, wetlands and semi-arid

forest degradation (MoENR 2014). The section on biodiversity threats, impacts and trends (under the section on climate change) indicates adaptation as a main priority and states: “agriculture, optimal management of water resources, restoration of forests, afforestation, conservation and efficient use of agricultural biodiversity in arid and semi- arid zones, struggle against desertification are the main adaptation areas”. Climate adaptation is also addressed in the section on agriculture (Chapter: Effectiveness of the mainstreaming of biodiversity into relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies, plans and programmes). Azerbaijan’s most recent national report to the CBD takes into account recent CBD targets, including those related to climate change. The report states that development of the new Strategy on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity will present climate change adaptation more conspicuously.

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