Global Peatland Initiative

Project Title: Information on the values and functions of Kolkheti mires.

Grant Agreement Nr. WGP2- 25 GPI 73

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: 01/01/2002 - 30/11/2003

Documentation and products available:

Final report with Finance Report
Technical outputs:

Booklet
three different flyer
maps
newspaper articles

Web-site: www.ibip.by.ru

Background:

The former socialist agricultural development in Kolkheti was accompanied by massive deforestation.

Partners:
Government:

Batumi Botanical Garden
Kolkheti National Park
Kobuleti Nature Reserve

Science agencies:

Batumi State University
Botanical Institute University
of Greifswald (Germany)

Local communities:

Local stakeholders
Local schools

Virgin forests were replaced by plantations of tea, citrus, and tung tree. Canals were dug to drain the wetlands. In Imnati and Ispani I peat was extracted to be used as a soil improver in the plantations. The degraded peatland ecosystems were invaded by alien plant species.
Current socio-economic hardships, high population pressure and increasing demand for timber are the root-causes of even more damage to the forests. Over-exploitation of the dense and valuable Kolkhic forests is still continuing. Oak, beech, hornbeam, and wing-nut have become rare forest elements and survive only in places that are difficult accessible. Deforested places are used for agriculture. The fast-growing Alder (Alnus barbata) has become dominant.
In the outskirts of Anaklia-Churia, virgin Kolchic forest is being felled and drainage canals are dug to drain the area for the construction of the large Kulevi oil terminal. As a result, the groundwater is no longer replenished and the community does not have access to suitable drinking water.

Brief project description:

Eco-education in Kolhetti mires

The Kolkheti area is well-known for its unique sphagnum bogs and Kolchic forests that are considered ecological relicts of former periods. The people of Kolkheti lowlands have always lived alongside the peatlands and there is a permanent and indissoluble link between the communities, their cultural heritage and the peatlands. The peatlands play a strong role in the many ancient traditions. The public awareness among the local communities of the global importance of the peatlands in terms of their environmental values in relation to climate, water management and biodiversity is still low. The Kolkheti mires and forests are lend themselves very well to eco-education, and raising environmental awareness by field lessons, lectures, and meetings for the community.

Results:

Expected

Outputs and Results achieved

Objectives and results:

Direct actions:

Analysis (by interview inquiries) of the perception of mires by the local population and on their values for local stakeholders
On the basis of this analysis: production of a full-colour information booklet on the (local and international) importance of the Kolkheti mires, their history (including human use), and their current conservation, regulation, and production functions
Creation of three ecological education trails that will provide specific information on the Kolkhetti mires
Organisation of local information meetings and excursions in and around four villages/cities accompanied by TV and radio coverage
A final interview inquiry to test the increased awareness.

Meetings were held along the Black Sea coast with a large number of communities and stakeholder groups from Batumi to Kulevi, highlighting the environmental values of mires and the current threats and human impacts on them
On basis of the information gained during the meetings a coloured awareness booklet was produced featuring the functions and values of the Koklkheti mires. Over 2000 copies were distributed to the local communities and stakeholder groups.
In addition, various flyers and calendars with information on the values and characteristic features of the mires of Anaklia-Churia, Imnati, Ispani were produced and widely disseminated
Schools indicated an interest and need for more publications and documentaries.

Evaluation

The project was successful in raising the awareness that the unique ecosystems of Kolkhetti should be protected and sustainably used, not only for their own sake, but also because of the important functions they perform for man. Furthermore, community meetings helped to point out that processes which cause ecosystem damage and destruction (drainage, deforestation, etc.) work very rapidly, whereas ecosystem rehabilitation takes many years. The project team concluded that there is a need to create an integrated, holistic vision on the future development of the Kolkheti region.
Meetings with communities and stakeholder groups identified the possibility to rehabilitate the degraded forests surrounding the mires, with their typical species combination that includes wing-nut, beech, chestnut, “Khartvisi and Imereti oak”. In this way forestry can contribute to sustainable income generation, while at the same time improving the environmental and ecological conditions.
Domestic and industrial waste was identified as a great problem for the Kolkheti coastal area and the densely populated areas adjacent to the wetlands. The secondary meadows on the degraded peatlands could perhaps be used for construction of waste treatment facilities and thus contribute to environmental improvement.
In addition, the meetings helped to enhance the local awareness on the potential of the area for the development of eco-tourism: The mires have a significant aesthetic function, and can be used for environmental education and research. They are attractive as important habitats for many migratory bird species and some rare species and ecosystems. The mires and lakes (Paliastomi, Imnati) with their relict Colchic forests, mixed alder forests, sphagnum peat bogs, rare and endangered turtles and roe deer evoke esthetical enjoyment. The area is accessible by boat (canals and rivers can be used for recreation, e.g. for sailing with motor and rowing boats) and on horse back. Horse riding is a traditional sport in Kolkheti for which the secondary meadows are used. All this is located just two hundred meters from some existing tourism resorts of Kobuleti, Poti, and Soupsa. In addition, there are options to enhance income from tourism by rehabilitation of ancient traditional trades such as weaving, timbering, bee-keeping, metal casting, and tin-ware work.

last update: 20/07/04

Expected	Outputs and Results achieved
Objectives and results: Direct actions: Analysis (by interview inquiries) of the perception of mires by the local population and on their values for local stakeholders On the basis of this analysis: production of a full-colour information booklet on the (local and international) importance of the Kolkheti mires, their history (including human use), and their current conservation, regulation, and production functions Creation of three ecological education trails that will provide specific information on the Kolkhetti mires Organisation of local information meetings and excursions in and around four villages/cities accompanied by TV and radio coverage A final interview inquiry to test the increased awareness.	Meetings were held along the Black Sea coast with a large number of communities and stakeholder groups from Batumi to Kulevi, highlighting the environmental values of mires and the current threats and human impacts on them On basis of the information gained during the meetings a coloured awareness booklet was produced featuring the functions and values of the Koklkheti mires. Over 2000 copies were distributed to the local communities and stakeholder groups. In addition, various flyers and calendars with information on the values and characteristic features of the mires of Anaklia-Churia, Imnati, Ispani were produced and widely disseminated Schools indicated an interest and need for more publications and documentaries.
Evaluation
The project was successful in raising the awareness that the unique ecosystems of Kolkhetti should be protected and sustainably used, not only for their own sake, but also because of the important functions they perform for man. Furthermore, community meetings helped to point out that processes which cause ecosystem damage and destruction (drainage, deforestation, etc.) work very rapidly, whereas ecosystem rehabilitation takes many years. The project team concluded that there is a need to create an integrated, holistic vision on the future development of the Kolkheti region. Meetings with communities and stakeholder groups identified the possibility to rehabilitate the degraded forests surrounding the mires, with their typical species combination that includes wing-nut, beech, chestnut, “Khartvisi and Imereti oak”. In this way forestry can contribute to sustainable income generation, while at the same time improving the environmental and ecological conditions. Domestic and industrial waste was identified as a great problem for the Kolkheti coastal area and the densely populated areas adjacent to the wetlands. The secondary meadows on the degraded peatlands could perhaps be used for construction of waste treatment facilities and thus contribute to environmental improvement. In addition, the meetings helped to enhance the local awareness on the potential of the area for the development of eco-tourism: The mires have a significant aesthetic function, and can be used for environmental education and research. They are attractive as important habitats for many migratory bird species and some rare species and ecosystems. The mires and lakes (Paliastomi, Imnati) with their relict Colchic forests, mixed alder forests, sphagnum peat bogs, rare and endangered turtles and roe deer evoke esthetical enjoyment. The area is accessible by boat (canals and rivers can be used for recreation, e.g. for sailing with motor and rowing boats) and on horse back. Horse riding is a traditional sport in Kolkheti for which the secondary meadows are used. All this is located just two hundred meters from some existing tourism resorts of Kobuleti, Poti, and Soupsa. In addition, there are options to enhance income from tourism by rehabilitation of ancient traditional trades such as weaving, timbering, bee-keeping, metal casting, and tin-ware work.