Georgia: Pilot Programme to Deliver a Carbon Neutral and Sustainable Hydropower Project Project number: C30272/AUS1-2014-08-04 Interim Report FS Consult Envi Consulting LLC 21.12.2015 Content 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Project cornerstones ............................................................................................................... 1 1.2. General characteristics of the Kazbegi district area ................................................................ 2 1.2.1. Kazbegi district .................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.2. Geomorphology ................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.3. Geology ................................................................................................................................ 2 1.2.4. Soils ...................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.5. Mineral resources ................................................................................................................ 3 1.2.6. Climate ................................................................................................................................. 3 1.2.7. Glaciers ................................................................................................................................ 4 1.2.8. Rivers ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.9. Lakes .................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.10. Landscapes .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.11. Fauna ................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.12. Flora and Vegetation ........................................................................................................... 6 2. Review of legal and institutional framework of forested areas and land-use/ownership in Georgia .................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1. Laws and codes applicable to a reforestation programme ..................................................... 8 2.2. Requirements to obtain approvals to implement a reforestation programme .................... 10 2.3. Roles of the ministries and other state bodies involved in reforestation activities ............. 11 2.4. Registration of land plots in the ownership of Self Government units ................................ 12 2.5. EBRD Environmental and Social Policy 2014 and Performance Requirements .................... 13 2.6. Existing Georgian and international reforestation initiatives and outputs/lessons learned 17 2.7. Forest rehabilitation/reforestation and cultivation/afforestation in Georgia - History, practice, experience .......................................................................................................................... 24 3. Identification of the local players/users of the forest sector and Land-use and natural resources maps ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 4. Ecological characterisation of the tree and shrub species and overview of flora and vegetation (habitat assessment according to Natura 2000) ................................................................................... 37 4.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 37 4.2. Tree and shrub species for planting in the forest ................................................................. 39 4.2.1. Pinus kochiana Klotzsch ex K. Koch, , Caucasian pine, Pinaceae ..... 42 4.2.2. Fagus orientalis Lipsky, , Beech, Fagaceae ......................................................... 45 I 4.2.3. Quercus macranthera Fisch. & C.A.Mey. ex Hohen., , Caucasian oak, Fagaceae 47 4.2.4. Sorbus aucuparia L. (=Sorbus caucasigena Kom. ex Gatsch.) ცც, Mountain ash, Rosaceae 49 4.2.5. Acer trautvetteri Medwed., , Trautvetter's Maple, Aceraceae ........ 51 4.2.6. Betula litwinowii Doluch., B. raddeana Trautv., , Birch, Betulaceae ........................ 53 4.2.7. Populus tremula L., , Aspen, Salicaceae ....................................... 56 4.2.8. 1) Salix caprea L.; 2) S. kazbekensis A.K. Skvortsov 3) S. kusnetzowii Laksch. ex Goerz., , Willow, Salicaceae .......................................................................................................... 58 4.2.9. Pyrus caucasica Fed., , Caucasian wild pear, Rosaceae .......................................... 62 4.2.10. Malus orientalis Uglitzk., , Wild apple, Rosaceae ................................................ 64 4.2.11. Berberis vulgaris L. , Common barberry, Berberidaceae ................................ 67 4.2.12. Hippophaё rhaoides L., ც, Sea buckthorn, Elaeagnaceae ..................................... 69 4.2.13. Juniperus communis var. depressa Pursh, , Juniper, J. Sabina L., , Savin Juniper, Cupressaceae ............................................................................................................. 72 4.2.14. Ribes biebersteinii Berl., ც, Stone gooseberry, Grossulariaceae ........... 75 4.2.15. Rosa canina L., , Common briar, Rosaceae .......................................................... 77 4.2.16. Spiraea hypericifolia L., , Spiraea, Rosaceae ........................................................ 80 5. Suitability of sites for the defined land use interest ..................................................................... 82 5.1. Method .................................................................................................................................. 82 5.2. Field survey areas .................................................................................................................. 95 5.2.1. Overview of the field survey results and general afforestation recommendations: ........ 95 5.2.2. Survey Area I: Stepantsminda East .................................................................................. 102 5.2.3. Survey Area II: Stepantsminda North, Power Plant Line – Khuro Range ........................ 110 5.2.4. Survey Area III: Gergeti .................................................................................................... 117 5.2.5. Survey Area IV: Stepantsminda North, Transit road ....................................................... 125 5.2.6. Survey Area V: Tsdo – Sites above the village – Mkinvartsveri-Range ............................ 136 5.2.7. Survey Area VI: Tsdo, sites close to the transit road – Mount Mkinvartsveri - Range .... 143 5.2.8. Survey Area VII: Arsha ..................................................................................................... 150 5.2.9. Survey Area VIII: Sno ....................................................................................................... 156 5.2.10. Survey Area IX: Break-Off Edge of the scree cone of the village Kanobi ......................... 162 5.3. Forest situation .................................................................................................................... 166 6. Development, analysis and evaluation of different land-use management strategies/options 172 6.1. Afforestation suitability ....................................................................................................... 172 II 6.2. Ecological afforestation facilitation/limitation .................................................................... 174 6.3. Management options and issues ........................................................................................ 175 6.4. Cost planning ....................................................................................................................... 180 7. Greenhouse gas compensation ................................................................................................... 181 7.1. Greenhouse gas emissions of Dariali Energy Hydropower plant ........................................ 181 7.2. Greenhouse gas compensation by the proposed afforestation measures ......................... 181 7.3. Potential of carbon credits .................................................................................................. 183 8. Job descriptions ........................................................................................................................... 184 9. Risk and feasibility assessment ................................................................................................... 185 10. References ............................................................................................................................... 188 11. Appendix .................................................................................................................................. 190 11.1. Afforestation activities 2003-2014 .................................................................................