Project Title: Developing alternatives for cow grazing in Ispani II.

Grant Agreement Nr. WGP2-24 GPI 72

Agreement holder:
   Society for Conservation of Wild Nature "Tchaobi"
   President of Society: I. Matchutadze
   e-mail: izo.muho@gmx.net
   tel. mobile: +99593303957

Country/region: Georgia

Activity period: 11/2002-11/2003

Documentation and products available:


Background:

The Ispani II mire is situated in Georgia, close to the Black Sea coast and the settlement Kobuleti in the Kolkheti lowland. It is a percolation bog and represents the only known example of this type of mire globally. Whereas the similar adjacent peatland Ispani I was largely destroyed by peat extraction during the 1920s/30s and 1960s, the Ispani II mire remained largely untouched. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, unemployment and poverty spread. This was followed by an increase in subsistence agriculture involving increasing numbers of cattle. This resulted in overgrazing and degradation of adjacent pastures. Cattle were now also entering the marginal area of the Ispani II mire to graze on Purple Moorgras (Molinia litoralis). Trampling by cattle causes most damage to the peatland, including irreversible changes in micro relief, hydrological conditions (e.g. artificial drainage paths) and vegetation, as well as compression and subsidence of the peat soil. It also induces the immigration of exotic species. By the start of the project, the margin of this unique mire was already strongly impacted, but it is noted that in drier summers cattle can also enter deeper into the mire. The project aimed at identifying and promoting joint solutions with the local stakeholders to protect the Ispani II mire for the future.

Partners:
Local government:

  • ICZM Georgia
  • Kobuleti Nature Reserve Administration

Scientific institutions:

  • Batumi Botanical Garden
  • Batumi Agricultural Institute
  • Batumi State University

Local communities:

  • Local community of Kobuleti
  • Local stakeholders, especially cow owners

Brief project description:
The project included an inventory of cattle grazing in the secondary meadows and in the Ispani II mire. Local cow owners were identified. Several meetings were organised with the local communities and stakeholders, as well as the administration of the protected reserves and local government. In parallel with this project another one (GPI 73) with the focus ?Information values and functions of Kolkheti mires? was carried out. This resulted in flyers as well as drawings, maps and pictures which were used to create awareness about importance of the Ispani II mire, its threats and its protection. The uniqueness of the Ispani II mire was stressed and the damaging effect of cow grazing was explained. Subsequently the problems and possible solutions were discussed with the local people. A list with concrete solutions and options was developed.

A working group of experts and local stakeholders was established. The local cow owners suggested continuing the successful public awareness campaign. The local people were excited about rehabilitation of the Colchic forest and the improved arrangement of pastures. They started to think about improvement of the surroundings and ecotourism development, in conjunction with strengthening of environmental protection of the unique ecosystem.

Results:

Expected
Outputs and Results achieved

Objectives and results:

Direct actions:

  • To inform the local bog users on the international values of the Ispani II mire and on the damaging effect of cow grazing.
  • To develop with the local stakeholders practical solutions to avert the negative impact of cow grazing, while simultaneously maintaining or improving the carrying capacity of grazing lands in the surroundings of Kobuleti.
  • Meetings with the schools and stakeholders were covered on TV, radio both in Georgian and Russian language. Awards were received in the republican competition of schools.
  • Meetings held with the local community demonstrated the uniqueness of the Ispani II mire; brochures and flyers were distributed to the people explaining the negative impact of the grazing on the ecosystem.
  • The meetings also revealed that many cattle drowned in the mire, particularly during floods; farmers actually prefer to keep them out.
  • Together with the local community an inventory of the fields and pastures, agricultural land use surrounding the Ispani II mire was carried out.
  • Analysis of the economic and social conditions of the local people, involving all households of cattle owners were done.
  • By discussions with the local stakeholders the key problems were identified, e.g. (a) Use of the alder forest (Alnus barbata) at the margin of the mire creates possibilities for the cattle to enter the mire, while the owners actually do not want the cows to graze in the mire, (b) Huge parts of the meadows are frequently flooded and can periodical not be used for grazing, (c) the vegetation in these parts is less productive for grazing, (d) the other meadow parts are heavily overgrazed, (e) there is a high dependency on cows and local stakeholders may require subsidy to compensate for reducing cow herds.
  • The local cow owners were involved in the planning of grazing management and reforestation, including issues such as (a) Closing of the entrances to the mire, (b)Selection of the areas for the plantation of the forest, (c) Research needs regarding grazing, including the analysis of the carrying capacity of the area in terms of number of cattle that can be sustained, (d) Improvement of the meadow properties for grazing, (e) Development of a rotational grazing system with changing fenced areas for all cows, and allocating responsibility for managing this to particular persons, (f) Regulation of the number of cows
  • In order to eliminate flooding problems the following measure should be taken:
    • Restoration of the relict Colchic forest (with the dominant species Quercus imeretina, Quercus hartwissiana, Buxus colchica, Pterocarya pterocarpa);
      Planting fast-growing forest for local construction and heating; Simultaneously for the interests of the local community, pastures should be created surrounded by Colchic forest to avoid impacts on the mire.
  • Interviews with local people revealed the reasons for flooding, including:
    • Drainage - a system of drainage channels established in 1936 for agricultural development in the north of the area, disconnecting it also from the Togona river.
    • Land-reclamation processes - (former rice plantations)
    • Deforestation of the impassable Colchic forest bordering Ispani II.
  • Local stakeholders also identified remedial measures, including:
    • Establishment of a forest plantation of such fast-growing trees for fire wood production, and plant Alder along the canals
    • To rehabilitate hydrology and block the small drainage channels.
Evaluation
The project achieved its objectives and was very successful in implementing its activities in a way that optimally involved the local stakeholders. Numerous meetings with the local stakeholders, including cow-owners, have significantly raised the public awareness in the local community. The uniqueness of Ispani II and its environmental values have become clear. This was covered in the local press and TV. As a result, the local people are motivated to find solutions to the problems caused by their land-use, taking into account their difficult social-economic situation.
The project was successful in identifying and agreeing solutions that will be of mutual benefit, and in turning this into a plan of action. Considering the difficult local socio-economic situation, further external financial assistance will be required to effectively deal with all the issues.

The project sets a good example for stakeholder based planning in poverty situations, and how a small project can create significant results.
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last update: 20/07/04