Flag COUNTRY Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources (MEPNR) Agency for Protected Areas (APA) Ecoregional Programme III (Georgia), Kazbegi Project Cooperation Partner Logo Draft Report Feasibility Study for the Ecoregional Programme III (Georgia), Kazbegi Project Project Report Nr. 000 20th of December 2009 Logo Logo Consulting X Deutsche Forstservice GmbH Consulting Y EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Introduction During the intergovernmental consultation in May 2008 it was agreed to assist Georgia in the de- velopment of a biosphere reserve with a grant of up to € 4 millions under German Financial Coop- eration. This feasibility study is conducted in support of the proposed project to be developed un- der this agreement. The Project Executing Agency (PEA) is the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia (MEPNR). The Ministry has assigned the Agency for Protected Areas (APA) as project implementation agency (PIA). The consulting services of the Consortium “Deutsche Forst Service GmbH (DFS)” and “AGEG Consultants AG” were retained for the imple- mentation of the Feasibility Study to be finalized between the 2nd of October and the 15th of De- cember 2009. 1.1 Goal and Objectives of the Proposed Project The overall Goal of the bilateral aid agreement and the proposed project is the consolidation of sustainable economic development and biodiversity conservation in the Kazbegi District. Key ob- jective of the feasibility study is to identify the most suitable option for reaching the overall goal. In accordance with the terms of reference emphasis in the feasibility study is to be placed on the in- vestigation of the biosphere reserve concept as a preferred option by KfW. 1.2 Constraints and Limitations to the Feasibility Study The most serious constraint to the potential establishment of a biosphere reserve in the Kazbegi region proved to be the strong opposition by local people and any Government interference with local land use issues. Grandfathered traditional land rights and communal land use are fiercely defended with little tolerance to any outside interference. This also is seen as one reason for the low interest shown by local families in obtaining land titles as proof of land ownership, promoted through Georgia‟s land reforms from 1998 and 2007. The past and continuing top-down approach to the planning, establishment and management of protected areas in the Kazbegi Region is considered one of the key root causes for the local oppo- sition and anger. Against this background any attempt for the establishment of a biosphere reserve would meet strong local resistance. The trust-building measures elaborated and implemented as part of the feasibility study proved to be a serious time constraint to the team consuming too much time to better be spent on the project preparation. 1.3 Methods and Approach The feasibility study commenced with a comprehensive stakeholder analysis, followed by the definition of the planning area, and a review of the concept of a biosphere reserve compared to a national park and support zone as two potential options meeting the overall goals and objectives of the proposed project. Local stakeholder participation, information exchange and awareness raising were mainstreamed into all components and activities of the following feasibility study. Field work focused on the elaboration of village profiles and the participatory mapping of actual land use providing the basis for the design of proposed quick-start measures and interventions with focus on livelihood stabilization, community enhancement and regional development. In parallel, background information was collected on high biodiversity areas guiding the tentative zoning plan for the target area and the definition of the proposed conservation areas and best governance structure. Preliminary results of the feasibility study and the consultant Votum were pesented to APA and local authorities on the 27th of November 2008 in Tblissi. 2. Situation Analysis The situation analysis focused on an assessment and description of the (a) biophysical-, (b) socio- cultural-economic-, (c) legal- and policy-, and (c) administrative framework related to the defined planning area. The assessment of existing framework conditions was used for the identification of data gaps and as background for the design of the project components. Key findings are summarized as follows. 2.1 Biophysical Framework The target area covers the entire water catchment area of the Tergi River with its two main tributaries Baidara and Snostskali. The Tergi River floodplain and rather narrow side valleys are flanked by steep slopes which are prone to geological erosion, land slides and frequent avalanches in winter causing extra hardship to already isolated communities characterized by frequent road closures and power outages. The flora is typified by high mountain grassland communities of the High Caucasus, interspersed with highly fragmented birch-ash forests patches along lower slopes, sidehills and micro- watersheds and a juniper-rhododendron belt forming the treeline above 2000 m elevation. Prominent fauna of the region includes Caucasian goat, chamoix, brown bear and wolf. The avifauna is richly represented with several species endemic to the area. Numerous plant and animal species reported from the region are listed in Georgia‟s Red Data Book. 2.3 Socio-cultural Economic Framework The total population of the target area is 2962 persons (1366 permanent and 114 seasonal families). Of the 2962 registered residents living in the 25 target area 1096 persons are older than 60 years. The population has decreased by more than 50% since 2005 as a result of lack of job- and economic opportunities with poor prospects of improvement. Subsistence agriculture and livestock (mostly dairy cows) have become the main stay of the local economy after the break- down of the thriving sheep industry and the lucrative produce production using commercial green- house operations following Georgia‟s independence in 1991. With the majority of younger people abandoning the predominantly rural lifestyle of the target area, the aging population will soon lack the work force needed to expand the rural market economy although the framework conditions for substantially improving the dairy industry are excellent. The potential for the development of the tourism industry in the target area is considered high, pending improved and high quality infrastructure and services and a thorough environmental clean. The mostly nature-based tourism as prime attraction, however, is expected to remain a seasonal activity confined to the summer months. 2.4 Policy and Legal Framework The legal framework related to the country‟s protected area system is currently under review. Georgia has adopted IUCN‟s protected area system including six protected area categories of decreasing protection status. The current interest in the establishment of biosphere reserves in Georgia lacks legal backing, commitment by key stakeholders and sound information on potentially added values of an untested instrument which attempts to harmonize people and their economic development with nature conservation, compared to the well established system of a national park and support zone providing the same economic and development opportunities. 2.5 Stakeholder Analysis The national stakeholder analysis focused on APA, the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, other Ministries and State Institutions. It also covered national and international NGOs, donors, implementing organizations, academic institutions and the private sector. Low interest in biosphere reserves and indifference to the Kazbegi biosphere proposal proved to be common to all 50 stakeholders interviewed, although all stakeholders were supportive of the proposed biodiversity conservation initiative and the sustainable economic regional development in the target area. None of the stakeholders has on-going or planned projects in the Kazbegi District, except for the Asian Development Bank expressing specific interest in assistance to organized sewage disposal in the Kazbegi Region in tandem with the proposed KfW interventions. 2.6 Problem Analysis The most visible environmental problems related to the target area are uncontrolled waste disposal and the sheet- and channel erosion marking the steep slopes lining the Tergi River watershed and feeder-streams, caused by excessive livestock activity in the past. The Kazbegi National Park, originally established to protect the remaining forest fragments scat- tered throughout the lower Tergi River watershed and side valleys, is in urgent need of re-definition and effective management. Frequent landslides and avalanches in the target area pose a perma- nent threat to communities, especially in the Sno Valley. Recognized economic problems relate to the lack of job opportunities and economic alternatives in the target area, and most significantly to a rapidly dwindling and aging population with young peo- ple leaving their communities in search for a better life elsewhere. Grandfathered land use rights, traditional land tenure pattern, and the pronounced anti- authoritarian and anti-government sentiments of the local population are recognized barriers to the establishment of protected areas in state ownership. 3. Proposed Project 3.1 Options for Meeting Overall Goals and Objectives i) Option Biosphere Reserve. The concept of a biosphere reserve fosters biodiversity conservation to be mainstreamed into the sustainable