Second National Action Program to Combat Desertification 2014-2022 1 National Action Programme (NAP) to Combat Desertification was elaborated by the initiative of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection (MOENRP) of Georgia. It was developed in the frames of the project “Alignment of National Action Program and reporting process under UNCCD”. The project was implemented Regional Environmental Centre for Caucasus (REC C). Governmental and Non-governmental Organizations, scientific institutions, international organizations and group of experts were participating in development of second National Action Program to Combat Desertification. In the planning of main concept, identification of thematic components and development of document structure were participating: Ms. Nino Chikovani, Ms. Sophiko Akhobadze, Ms. Ketevan Tsereteli, Mr. Malkhaz Dzneladze. On separate thematic components of the program were working: Advocacy, awareness and education _ Ms. Ekaterine Khvedelidze Policy framework and Capacity Building _ Mr. Malkhaz Dzneladze Science, Technology and Knowledge _ Ms. Nana Bolashvili Resource Mobilization _ Ms. Ketevan Tsereteli Program development process was based on the meetings of stakeholders, and the representatives of Governmental, Non-governmental Organizations, Scientific Institutions were expressing their opinions and proposals. They all were reflected in the main part of the Program and also in planned activities. The stakeholders participating in the meetings: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Ministry of Health and Social Insurance of Georgia Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia LEPL National Forestry Agency LEPL Agency of Protected Areas Municipality of Dedoplistskaro Municipality of Sagaredjo Municipality of Signagi Municipality of Gori Municipality of Kareli Municipality of Gardabani Institute of Geography Agricultural University GIZ UNDP NGO _ CENN NGO _ Georgian Green Movement/ Friends of Earth NGO _ NACRES NGO _ Innovative Education NGO _ Elkana Abbreviations 2 UNCCD _ United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification NAP – National Action Programme GEF - Global Environmental Foundation, GM- Global Mechanism, UNEP- United Nations Environmental Programme MOENRP -Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection REC Caucasus - Regional Environmental Centre of Caucasus NR – National Report NEAP – National Environmental Action programme SLM – Sustainable Land Management SLM – Sustainable Land Management UNCBD – United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity UNFCCC _ United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change SOE _ State of Environment EPR _ Environmental Performance Review UNECE _ United Nations Economic Commission for Europe MOA _ Ministry of Agriculture MOES _ Ministry of Education and Science MOESD _ Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development MRDI _ Ministry of Regional Development and Infrustructure NGO _ Non-governmental Organizations UNDP _ United Nations Development Programme NEA _ National Environmental Agency BSAP _ Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan TNC _ Third National Communication ADS _ Agriculture Development Strategy ADF _ Agricultural Development Fund NCSA _ National Capacity Self-Assessment MOH _ Ministry of Health GM _ Global Mechanism AAR's _ Adjarian Autonomious Republic EU _ European Union CAP _ Common Agricultural Policy DLDD _ Desertification/Land Degradation and Drpoght CSO _ Civil Society Organizations MOU _ Memorandum of Understanding CENN _ Caucasus Environmental NGO Network NACRES _ Biodiversity Conservation and Research Contents 3 1. National Action Programme to Combat Desertification.....5 1.1. Desertification/Land Degradation Processes in Georgia.................................................... 5 1.2. Georgia and UN Convention to Combat Desertification........................6 1.3. Alignment of Georgian National Action programme with the Strategy of the Convention ..................................................................................................................................7 1.4. Future Vision and National Objectives ......................................................................................8 2. Advocacy, Awareness Raising and Education ....................10 2.1. Situation analysis ...............................................................................................10 2.1.1. Identification of stakeholders and analyse ...........................................10 2.1.2 . Aims of Communication With the Public............................12 2.2. Strategic Approaches ......................................................................................................................13 3. Policy framework ...................................................................14 3.1. Situation analysis.............................................................................................14 3.1.1. Current Legislation.......................................................................................................14 3.1.2. Policy Documents...........................................................................33 3.1.3. Institutional Structure................................................................................................. 49 3.2. Strategic Approaches ......................................................................................................................62 4. Science, Technology and Knowledge ....................................................69 4.1. Situation analysis.............................................................................................72 4.1.1. Biophysical Factors Causing Desertification .................................76 4.1.2. Types of Soil Degradation ..............................................................................................89 4.1.3. Population and Socio-Economical State ...............................................99 4.2. Strategic Approaches................................................................................................................. 105 5. Capacity Building .........................................................107 5.1. Situation analysis......................................................................................... 107 5.2. Strategic Approaches....................................................................................................................109 6. Realisation and Resource Mobilisation .....................................110 7. Operational Objectives, Strategic objectives, Outcomes and Actions.....................................................................................................112 1. National Action Programme to Combat Desertification 4 1.1. Desertification/land degradation processes in Georgia The 1994 UN convention to combat desertification (UNCCD) initiated the international collaboration to devise measures for combating desertification and land degradation on a global scale. The convention to combat desertification classifies desertification with varying features, among them are climate change and soil degradation coused by anthropogenic factors among arid, semi-arid and dry sub- humid areas. Land degradation, as defined by the same convention is, the reduction or loss of biologically or economically productive irrigable and non irrigable arable land, as well as pasture and dense woodland areas, as caused by land use, process of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, which is caused by human activity and settlement structures, for example: soil erosion caused by wind or water; physical , chemical, biological or economical depletion of soil quality; prolonged loss of natural vegetation cover. Combating desertification/land degradation pertains directly towards countering the negative effects of desertification/land degradation and drought, as well as steady governing of land resources (land use, land ownership, integrated governing of water recourses, governing of protected lands, agriculture, practice of climate change adaptation, etc.) In Georgia, desertification/land degradation is not only an ecological , but also a social and economical problem. Overgrazing, reduction of woodland areas, unsustainable practises in agriculture and irrational assimilation of land for urban development are main causes for land degradation. The process of desertification/land degradation is caused by natural, as well as anthropogenic factors. The main natural reasons are following factors: climate, soil, hydrogeological, morpho- dynamic etc. The major factors of anthropogenic influence on natural environment are agriculture, mining, urbanisation, etc. As a result of anthropogenic influence the arid and semi-arid territories increase, where wind and gullying erosion processes occur, which is followed by badland formation on the majority of land. As a result of cutting down trees in mountainous and plain areas, there has been a significant increase in climate aridity, degradation of soil and vegetation cover and desertification of landscape. The decrease in soil fertility is caused by salinisation and alkalinisation processes. Soil salinisation is likely due to depletion in salt-containing rock formations, underground mineral waters or other factors. Also worth mentioning is the disordered watering of arid agricultural lands, due to which secondary salinated