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Georgia
Georgia is a low-income and food deficit country (LIFDC) mountainous country that lies mostly in the Caucasus Mountains. Earthquakes and landslides in the mountainous areas present a significant threat to life and property in the country.
Georgia's northern mountainous region Upper Svaneti, in particular, is characterized by high mountain relief (1 000-3 000 meters) and glaciers (3 000 m). Inhabitants are highly dependent on mountain animal husbandry (mostly cattle) and potato production for their livelihoods. Forestry also plays an important role in income generation as natural forests cover 46 percent of the district. Deforestation has recently grown over the last years increasing the threat of erosion. The district is also categorized as a high-risk area in terms of natural disasters, and is prone to avalanches and landslides. Due to extreme weather conditions and poor infrastructure the population is cut off from the rest of the country in winter.
Georgia establishes new national park in the Caucasus Mountains (7/06)
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has approved the creation of a new national park in the Caucasus Mountains. The new Mtirala National Park, covering 15,806 ha, will protect a unique ecosystem of forests and wildlife in Georgia’s eastern part of the Black Sea Basin in the west Lesser Caucasus mountain range. These ecosystems are a rich storehouse of biodiversity with numerous important species, incuding lynx and brown bear, as well as the golden eagle, black vulture and falcon. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who provided technical assistance in drafting the government bill that established the Mtirala National Park, is also working with local and regional authorities to develop a management plan that will include sustainable conservation measures that are compatible with other land uses. As well as its conservation importance, the Mtirala National Park offers good opportunities for ecotourism and environmental education and a wide range of recreational opportunities in some of the zoned areas.
Read how Georgia promoted the International Year of Mountains (2002)
Did you know?
The Caucasus include most of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and small portions of Russia, Iran and Turkey. The mountain system contains deserts, savannas, swamp forests and arid woodlands with more than twice the animal diversity found in adjacent areas.
