National Environmental Agency

Environmental protection and the sustainable use of natural resources represent some of the most pressing challenges of the modern era. Effective decision-making in both ecological and economic contexts is increasingly dependent on an accurate understanding of environmental conditions. Key drivers of environmental degradation include the decline of biosphere components and biodiversity, climate change, and the intensification of damages caused by natural disasters. Recognizing these challenges, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) have emphasized the need to integrate climate change considerations into the evaluation of tourism and recreational resources. As a full member of both organizations since the 1990s, Georgia is required to assess its tourism potential in light of changing climatic conditions. This study examines the impacts of climate and climate change on the development of the tourism sector in Georgia, with a particular focus on mountain and ski tourism. For the first time, several Tourism Climatic Indexes were applied to evaluate recreational resources by integrating diverse meteorological parameters. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating climatic variability into tourism planning and tour design across different climatic zones, particularly in relation to the risks posed by negative climatic events. Furthermore, long-term changes in snow cover duration were analyzed across multiple mountain and ski resorts by comparing two time periods (1961–1985 and 1986–2015). The results underscore the critical need for climate-informed strategies to ensure the sustainable development of Georgia’s tourism sector under changing environmental conditions.

This study presents the first comprehensive survey of fish species’ diversity and distribution in the Algeti River and its reservoir in Georgia, a region within the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot. The research, conducted between 2016 and 2022, identified 19 fish species, including nine native to the Kura River basin and ten introduced or invasive species. The construction of a hydro power plant (HPP) dam in the 1980s and other subsequent anthropogenic activities have significantly altered the river ecosystem, creating distinct upstream, reservoir, and downstream sections with varying fish communities. The study reveals a concerning ongoing impact of anthropogenic factors on the Algeti River's fish fauna and whole ecosystem. The dam impedes fish migration; in addition, pollution, particularly in the mid-downstream section, has led to habitat degradation and a decline in native species. The introduction of non-native species, including predatory and bioturbator species, poses a substantial threat to the native fish populations. Our findings highlight the urgent need for conservation action to mitigate these threats. While the river's headwaters are within a protected area and some species are on the Red List of Georgia, alone these designations are insufficient safeguard. Effective conservation strategies must include stricter enforcement against illegal activities like poaching, as well as better pollution control and habitat management to preserve the Algeti River's biodiversity. This baseline study provides critical data for future research and conservation planning in this ecologically important region.

Brucellosis, a disease caused by Brucella spp., is one of the most prevalent zoonoses in the world and remains endemic in the Mediterranean Basin, the Near East, South America, and parts of Africa. Given the negative impact it has on public and animal health, food safety and livelihoods, sustained campaigns for its control and eradication are crucial. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of brucellosis status in domestic ruminants in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye by looking into the spatial and temporal distribution of the disease in terms of the standardized morbidity ratio/standardized incidence ratio (SMR/SIR), as well as the distribution in humans (SIR). The results of this study highlight areas of higher risk of disease in ruminants, especially near border areas between endemic countries, and the uneven distribution of human cases. Factors that hamper the control of brucellosis in Türkiye and the Caucasus include a lack of sustained funding and adequate animal identification and traceability systems (NAITSs) to identify animals for disease management interventions (i.e., vaccination, test-and-slaughter) and allow for the effective control of animal movement and trade within the countries.

The article attempts to present the species composition and distribution of earthworms in Georgia-one of the central countries of the Caucasus. According to long-term research, about 90 species of earthworms belong to 13 genera. They have been identified throughout Georgia, and most of them (47 species) were described in the nature reserves of eastern, western and central Georgia. 46 species of earthworms (51,7% of Caucasian Lumbricidae) found in Georgia have been identified as endemic species of the Caucasus. The similarities of earthworms' dominant species in the various ecosystems within the Algeti National Park are discussed in the paper. The high level of Caucasus fauna endemism is mainly caused by the unique natural and climatic conditions of the Caucasus, which is clearly expressed in the species composition of earthworms. Among the genera which compose the Caucasian Lumbricidae fauna, the genus Dendrobaena has the most species diversity with 22 species (24.71%), followed by Eisenia (9 species, or 10%). The six genera Bimastos, Eiseniella, Imetescolex, Lumbricus, Octodrilus, and Omodeoia are represented by a single species.

The start of the first systematic geological works in Georgia dates back to 1841, and the results of field geological studies and the first geological reports were published in 1843.Since 1841, systematic geological studies have already originated in Georgia.Among the geological maps, the 1:200,000 scale geological map and the set of specialized maps for various purposes based on it are one of the important ones.Almost all branches of the country's industrial-economic complex (industry, construction, energy, agriculture, environmental protection, medicine, tourism, oil and gas pipelines, railways and highways, tunnels, reservoirs, construction of melioration systems and others) and services of an economic profile are users of the information provided in the mentioned maps and their explanation cards (geological reports).Regional geological surveys of the territory of Georgia, which include the compilation and publication of different thematic geological maps, were last conducted in the 70-80s of the last century and need to be compiled/updated with modern approaches and methodologies.After a gap of ten years, since 2014, a Division of Geological Survey was established in the Department of Geology of the National Environment Agency of Georgia, the main activity of which is the compilation/update of state geological maps of various themes and preparation of geological reports.

ContextEcosystem services provided by mountain forests are critically linked to forest structure. Social-ecological disturbance regimes (i.e., the rate, frequency, and patch size distribution of disturbances driven by interacting natural and anthropogenic processes) and land use affect forest structure, but their specific impacts are not fully understood.ObjectivesWe examine how differences in disturbance regimes affect patterns of forest structure across three European mountain ranges with similar vegetation types but different land-use histories: the European Alps, the Carpathians, and the Caucasus.MethodsWe related data on horizontal and vertical forest structure, measured by spaceborne lidar (GEDI), with Landsat-derived information on forest disturbances (1986–2020) and topographic, climatic, and anthropogenic predictors.ResultsWe found similar social-ecological disturbance regimes in the Alps and Carpathians (average annual disturbance rates of 0.34% and 0.39%, respectively, and median patch size < 0.5 ha), yet much lower disturbance rates and patch sizes in the Caucasus (0.08% yr−1 and < 0.2 ha). Despite different disturbance regimes, we found similar patterns of forest structure. Two alternative states emerged consistently across all mountain ranges: a tall and closed-canopy state in 74–80% of forests and a low and open-canopy state (< 50% canopy cover) in the rest. While forest structure responded consistently to abiotic drivers such as topography and climate, its association with anthropogenic pressures differed between mountain ranges. Stand-replacing disturbances played an important role in the Carpathians, while forest structure in the Caucasus was related to proximity to settlements, reflecting local forest use.ConclusionsDifferent social-ecological contexts in mountain regions can produce markedly different forest disturbance regimes. Despite these differences, similar states of forest structures emerge, suggesting strong attractors of structure in temperate mountain forests.

Amid increasing economic prospects and government support for oil palm plantations, oil palm plantations still have many social problems. The emergence of child labor in small-scale oil palm plantations (smallholders) is a fact. This article analyzes the dilemma related to the child laborers’ choice of working or continuing education in small-scale oil palm plantations in Seberu Village, Silat Hilir District, Kapuas Hulu District, West Kalimantan Province. We use an ethnographic approach to describe activities, behaviors, actions, conversations, and interpersonal interactions within social communities and small-scale farming family units. We found three main reasons why children consider education irrelevant to their daily needs and choose to work on small-scale oil palm plantations. The first factor is access, which is related to the distance to schools and inadequate road infrastructure. The second factor is the need for more imagination about the importance of going to school for the future. The third factor is lifestyle fulfillment rather than family economic difficulties.

Main textTo reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

The aim of this study is to assess the level of the red mullet stock exploitation in Georgian coastal waters using the CMSY, LBB and LB-SPR modeling methods. The samplings were carried out using bottom trawls in 2019-2021. In total 4957 individuals were sampling (1 508 cases age was determined using scales and otoliths). Average annual catch of the red mullet make up 11.7±3.3 t (0.3% of the total annual Black Sea countries landings). The total length ranged from 6.1 to 20.7 cm. 70% of landings consisted of 3+, 4+ and 5+ age. The length-weight relationship was calculated as W=0.0072 × L3.20. Average von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L∞=18.00±0.27 cm, k=0.31±0.03, and t0= –0.93±0.26. LBB method demonstrate that the red mullet stock was overexploited (F/M=2.7 more than optimal level F/M=1.0). According to CMSY analysis, biomass has been decreasing to Blim for the researched period. The LB-SPR result showed that the estimated SPR was 23%. The exploitation of the stock was steadily intensive according to CMSY and LB-SPR methods. Increase in fishing mortality is not recommended.