Integrated Natural Resources Management in Watersheds (INRMW) of Georgia Program Technical Report 2. Rapid Assessment of the Rioni and Alazani-Iori River Basins of Georgia June, 2011 Prepared by: Mariam Shotadze & Eliso Barnovi INRMW Country Program Director & Deputy Director in Cooperation with Program Consortium Members: CENN, Care International, Winrock International and its Sub-contractor Sustainable Development and Policy Center Telephone: +99532 2 157 156 Email: [email protected] This study is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Agreement No.CA # AID-114-LA-10-00004. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. 1 CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................ 4 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 16 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................ 16 1.2 Objectives and Scope ................................................................................................................. 16 1.3 Methodology, Limitations ......................................................................................................... 18 2.0 GEOGRAPHIC, ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT .............................................................. 19 2.1 Physical-Geographic and Environmental Context ..................................................................... 19 2.1.1 General Characteristics of the Basins ............................................................................................... 19 2.1.2 Climate of the Pilot Basins ................................................................................................................ 19 2.1.3 Geo-morphology, Geology ................................................................................................................ 21 2.1.4 Landscapes, Biodiveristy ................................................................................................................... 30 2.1.5. Forest Resources .............................................................................................................................. 53 2.1.6 Land Resources ................................................................................................................................. 71 2.1.7 Mineral Resources ............................................................................................................................ 81 2.1.8 Energy Resources .............................................................................................................................. 91 2.1.9 Hydrology, Hydrogeology ................................................................................................................. 96 2.2 Socio-economic Context .......................................................................................................... 110 2.2.1 Demographic Situation ................................................................................................................... 110 2.2.2 Economic Activities ......................................................................................................................... 111 2.2.3 Culture ............................................................................................................................................. 127 2.2.4 Local Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................... 130 3.0 INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT .......................................................................................................................... 147 3.1 Regional Governments ............................................................................................................ 147 3.1.1 Regional Governments Located in the Alazani Basin ...................................................................... 147 3.1.2 Regional Governments Located in the Iori Basin ............................................................................ 149 3.1.3 Regional Governments Located in the Rioni Basin ......................................................................... 150 3.2 Municipal Authorities .............................................................................................................. 151 2 3.2.1 Municipalities Located in the Alazani Basin .................................................................................... 151 3.2.2 Municipalities Located in the Iori Basin .......................................................................................... 156 3.2.3 Municipalities Located in the Rioni Basin ....................................................................................... 157 3.3 Local Territorial Units of Municipalities ................................................................................. 172 3.3.2 Local Territorial Units in the Iori River Basin ................................................................................... 174 3.3.3 Territorial Units of Municipalities in the Rioni River Basin ............................................................. 175 4.0 PRESSURES AND IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES ....................................................................... 181 4.1 Water Resources ...................................................................................................................... 181 4.1.1 Pressures on Water Quantity .......................................................................................................... 181 4.1.2 Pressures on Water Quality ............................................................................................................ 185 4.1.3 Impacts on Water Quantity............................................................................................................. 192 4.1.4 Impacts on Water Quality ............................................................................................................... 199 4.2 Land Resources ........................................................................................................................ 204 4.2.1 Pressures on Land Resources .......................................................................................................... 204 4.2.2 Impacts on Land Resources ............................................................................................................. 212 4.3 Landscapes and Biological Resources ..................................................................................... 224 4.3.1 Pressures on Landscapes and Biodiversity ..................................................................................... 224 4.3.2 Environmental Impacts on Ecosystems and Biodiversity ............................................................... 240 4.4 Utilization of Local Energy Resources .................................................................................... 243 4.5 Linkages between Resources Uses and Ecosystem Functions ................................................ 245 5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................ 250 5.1 Conclusions .............................................................................................................................. 250 5.2 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 253 ANNEXES .......................................................................................................................................................... 255 SOURCES OF INFORMATION: ........................................................................................................................... 256 3 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABREVIATIONS 1. INRMW – Integrated Natural Resources Management in Watersheds 2. USAID – United States Agency for International Development 3. AD - after death 4. ADB – Asian Development Bank 5. Al – Aluminum 6. As2S3 - Auripigment 7. a.s.l. – above sea level 8. As4S4 - Realgar 9. As2O3 – Arsenic Trioxide 10. BC - before Christ 11. Bi - Bismuth 12. BPO - Business Process Outsourcing 13. C – Temperature degree by Celsius scale 14. c – century 15. Cd – Cadmium 16. CO – Connecticut 17. Co – cobalt 18. cpu/100 ml - count per 100 ml 19. Cr - Chromium 20. Cu – Copper (Cuprum) 21. DDT - dichloro biphenyl trichloroethane 22. EVDO - Evolution-Data Optimized 23. EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment 24. EBRD – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 25. ESCO – Electricity Sector Commercial Operation 26. ESIA – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 27. et al - et alii (and others) 28. EURO – EU currency 29. FDI – Foreign Direct Investment 30. Fe – Iron (Ferrum) 31. FIZ – Free Industrial Zone 32. FSL – Full Supply Level 33. GDP – Gross Domestic Product 34. GEF – Global Environment Facility 35. GEL – Georgian