Geography-Geological Department of Tbilisi State University

Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Georgian Academy of Science

THE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC CONFERENCE

NATURAL POTENTIAL OF THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRITORIES: SITUATION, PROBLEMS, PROSPECTS

Internet/E-mail discussion 25.05 – 25.07.2003

PROBLEMS OF BALANCED DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES POTENTIAL IN THE CAUCASUS

Z.K.Tatashidze*, O.G.Khmaladze**, I.V.Bondyrev*,

Z.Kh.Seperteladze**, E.D.Tsereteli***, V.B.Zaalishvili****

* - Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Georgian Academy of Sciences, 1/8 Aleksidze str., Tbilisi, Georgia, [email protected]

** - Geographic and Geologic Department at Tbilisi State University. 1, I. Chavchavadze Av. Tbilisi, Georgia, [email protected]

*** - Georgian State Department of Geology,

**** - Vladicaucasus branch of O.U.Shimdt Institute of Land Physics, Republic of North Ossetia- Alania, Russia, [email protected]

The point of balanced development of the mountain regions of the Caucasus remains a vital problem and is probably without alternative at the modern stage. Herewith it should be noted that the concept of "Sustainable development", accepted by UNO, as a working model can neither be considered as the synonym of undisturbed conditions nor the variability of geo-ecosystems. Stability here is more similar to stability of pendulum, fluctuation of which though has a certain range, in the usual conditions is not beyond the scope of its amplitude. Thus, the balanced development of the society and natural environment always occurs in conditions of certain instability, which is the base for their evolution. The main problem of formation the concepts of balanced development is concluded in the determination of those parameters of instability, outside of which stability of geo-ecosystem is disturbed and there begin to reveal irreversible disastrous phenomena, both of the natural environment and society. Herewith we should also take into account that mountain geo-ecosystems of the Caucasus undergo intense action of exogenous geo-dynamics escalated by antropic activity.

The problem of conservation the bio-diversity of the organic world of our planet is one of the important points for the sake of protection natural environment and its sustainable development. Peculiarity of the natural environment of the Caucasus is revealed in compression of time and space before the limit, specifying the existence on a relatively small territory of unusual motley mosaics of landscapes, significant aspectual variety of flora and fauna that presents itself a reserve of tough local eco-systems in case of incidental disastrous phenomena

.

There are observed two main genetic type of engineer work impact, both on the natural environment and on urbanized territories: natural-anthropogenic and anthropogenic. Overwhelming majority of landslides, mud-streams, subsidence’s, and taluses on urbanized territories of Georgia pertains to the first type exactly.

To the second category we should refer such purely anthropogenic (technogene) phenomena as, for instance is the Gldani landslide, provoked by construction of Тbilisi ring-road. The similar processes are noted along Tran Georgian highways, on its Imereti, Tskhinvali and Sukhumi areas, as well as along the Sochi - Adler high-way, Rostov -Mineral-Waters, Daghestanskie Ogni - Derbent, Tashir - Dzorget, Vladikabkaz - Alagir, Tirnauza vicinity, etc.

In consequence of intense anthropogenic mismanagement and insufficient study of engineer-economic projects for developing the territories of the country, in the geological medium there occur significant changes of regional nature, testifying the presence of critical situations.

This situation reveals itself most clearly in mountainous Atchara, Svaneti, Mtskheta-Tianeti regions, on the Black Sea coast. Disastrous geoecological situation arose in Chiatura region, in the territory of the city of Tbilisi and its vicinities. (Table.№ 1)

Table No1

Inhabited localities and economic objects of Georgia in the areas of high risk zone of exodynamic processes. Sites of active geodynamic processes (units)

Regions	Development Area of active geodynamic processes (units)						Inhabited localities and economic objects
	landslides and collapses	mud streams	sites of active gravitational ablation	undermining of coasts (km)	flooded territories (hа)	avalanches	inhabited localities	highways	bridges
Atchara	509	126	156	186,9	13,3	28	220	83,6	39
Guria	368	45	61	145,3	-	4	91	29,6	28
Samegrelo	304	24	16	94	5660	-	125	-	-
Svaneti	297	113	27	32,5	18,5	550	138	78	46
Racha-Lechkhumi	599	97	37	81	536	52	194	31,8	12
Imereti	1429	136	254	526,9	941	36	292
Meskheti	133	27	5	54,1	-	-	63
Javakheti	62	51	222	13	8693	-	115

Thus, westward from Tbilisi, the basin of the Vere River, with extremely complex geologic and geomorphological conditions is degenerated through the fact that practically the whole valley of the Vere River from the city of Tbilisi up to the village of Manglisi presents uninterrupted stretch of populated villages: (Bagebi, Akhaldaba, Tskhneti, Betania, Tseriovani, etc,) and so called cottage- site areas (Samadlo, Betania, Ksovrisi, et al.). Considering that the valley presents itself a synclinal depression dissected by the erosion, active processes of erosion and abovementioned facts have brought about development of catastrophic landslide processes here. It is necessary to forbid construction of both - houses (particularly on the slopes with the gradient over 20° and in areas of tectonic disturbances) and roads. Besides we should ensure construction of sediment collectors and refining facilities in each village.

Creation of irrigation systems has involved significant changes in the relief of Eastern Georgia regions. Trough shaped beds of temporary flows are good examples of these processes. (Photo 1).

Photo 1. Dried up bed on the left bank of the Kura River between the city of Tbilisi and Gardabani village

On degrees of influence of given processes on transport communications of Tbilisi witnesses table 2.

The Caucasus is a unique model region of our planet, to some extent having preserved natural potential of landscapes of different hypsometric areas that defines the geoecologic condition as a whole. The importance and urgency of this problem is beyond any doubts. Thus we are going to assist the process of constructing an ecological map of the Caucasus on 1:600 000 scale . It is noteworthy that for the territory of the South Caucasus there has been an already constructed large-scale map - of reconstructed landscapes, of seismic risk, etc. Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Georgian Academy of Sciences with the State Department of Geology have constructed maps of landscapes, landslides, mud-streams, of avalanche hazards, anti- erosion actions, etc.

What the maps of ecological condition of the Caucasus region should represent?

Table № 2

Degree of liability of transport communication network of Georgia through the natural and anthropogenic factors.

Name of objects	Amount of manifestation
	landslides	collapses and rock falls	midst-reams	lateral erosion (area)
Main highways of the country (3000км)	600	1728	387	614
Oil pipe line Jandari - Supsa (394км)	19	-	59	20
Oil pipe line Khashuri - Batum (232км)	32	17	101	300
Gas mains in the area Lars - Saguramo (148км)	42	33	37	74
About 1 ths. ha of land is left out of use

First, the red areas are to be plotted - i.e. areas of ecological disaster, original signal of SOS. So, in the territory of the Caucasus such areas are the highly urbanized and ecologically most sensitive (explosive) regions of the Black Sea coast, Imereti, Atchara, and mountain regions of Georgia, Armenia, north-west and south of Azerbaijan, Mountainous Dagestan, right bank of the Terek River (Republic of North Ossetia- Alanya) (refer Fig.2) et al.

Especially should be noted completely degraded landscapes in the vicinity of the town of Chiatura and Madneuli vicinity, territories adjoining to the town of Zestafoni poisoned by chemical compounds, ruined coasts and communications at the mouth of the Inguri River, areas southward from Poti to Kobuleti and from Adler to Tuapse. Poisoned waters of the Mashavera River (below Kazreti), the Debeda (below Alaverdi), the Jejora (below Kvaisi village), the Kura (below the city of Tbilisi) etc. also rank among them.

Secondly, the demarcation of the territory of the Caucasus is necessary from the standpoint of a risk-factor, which requires developments of strategy adapted to local conditions.

For qualitative performing of all the work of the above-mentioned problems it is necessary to find the sources of their financing. Probably, at present, the only source of investments required for similar project could serve a grant support of any of the International funds.

In conclusion we would like to recall the accomplishments of Worldwide Summit, held in Johannesburg on August, 26- to September 4, in 2002 on sustainable development of environment. The prospects laid down for 2015 year are as follows: to reduce the number of persons not having access to sources of clean water in half, to restore fish resources of the world ocean violated by fishery, to suspend a reduction of biodiversity by 2001,etc. In a certain degree it concerns the problems of mountain territories, since our planet - is a united bio-geo-sphere, beyond which there will not be any prospects of balanced development as well as future for any region in the world.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ СБАЛАНСИРОВАННОГО РАЗВИТИЯ И ОХРАНА РЕСУРСНОГО ПОТЕНЦИАЛА КАВКАЗА

З.К.Таташидзе, О.Г.Хмаладзе, И.В.Бондырев,

З.Х.Сепертеладзе, Э.Д.Церетели, В.Б.Заалишвили

Вопрос о сбалансированном развитии горных регионов Кавказа представляет собой на современном этапе насущную, и, наверное, безальтернативную задачу. Концепция "устойчивого развития", принятая ООН в качестве рабочей модели не может считаться синонимом состояния покоя и не изменчивости геоэкосистем. Устойчивость здесь больше схожа с устойчивостью маятника, колебания которого хотя и имеют определенный размах, но, в обычном состоянии, не выходят за пределы своей амплитуды. Так, сбалансированное развитие общества и окружающей среды всегда происходит в условиях некой нестабильности, которая и является основой их эволюции. Главная задача формирования концепции сбалансированного развития заключается в определении тех параметров нестабильности, за пределами которых устойчивость геосистемы нарушается, и начинают проявляться необратимые катастрофические явления, как природной среды, так и общества.

В связи с чрезмерной антропогенной нагрузкой и недостаточной проработкой проектов инженерно-хозяйственного освоения территории Кавказа, в геологической среде происходят значительные изменения регионального характера, свидельствующих о наличии критической ситуации. Наиболее ярко эта ситуация проявляется в Горной Аджарии, Сванетии, Мцхета-Мтианетском районе, на Черноморском побережье. Катастрофическая геоэкологическая обстановка возникла в Чиатурском районе, на территории г.Тбилиси и его окраинах и др.

Что же должны представлять собой карты экологического состояния Кавказского региона? Во-первых, это фиксация красных зон – участков экологических бедствий, своеобразный сигнал SOS. Во-вторых, необходимо районирование территории Кавказа с точки зрения риск-фактора, что требует разработки адаптированной к местным условиям методики.

Для проведения и качественного выполнения всех работ вышеотмеченной проблематики необходимо найти источники их финансирования. По-видимому, в настоящее время, единственным источником инвестиций необходимых для разработки подобного проекта может служить грант какого-либо из Международных фондов.