Summary

The European Union’s Clima East initiative was created to help Eastern Neighbourhood countries address climate change through both mitigation and adaptation.

In Georgia, the EU and UNDP partnered with the national government, local authorities, research institutions, and local communities to promote sustainable pasture management in the Vashlovani Protected Areas.

Located in eastern Georgia, the Vashlovani Protected Areas are distinguished by their dry climate, desert and semi-desert steppe vegetation, and arid and deciduous forests. Pastures take a semi-desert part of the territory with overgrazing affecting the ecosystem and local farmers.

In 2013-2018, the EU and UNDP supported the pasture rehabilitation and sustainable management, focusing on healthy soil, efficient water supply systems, environment-friendly infrastructure, and sustainable livelihoods.

Results

• 4,000 ha of degraded pastures and 300 ha of sheep migratory routes have been fully rehabilitated.
• Two pilot farms have been established to showcase best practices for sustainable pasture management.
• A water supply system has been developed, increasing farming and grazing efficiency at fifteen local farms.
• Two automatic meteorological stations have been installed and connected to the national system.
• A unified veterinary service for Tushetian shepherds has been established with the capacity to serve up to 30,000 sheep.

Knowledge Products

• The accurate map of the Vashlovani Protected Areas with the exact locations of farms and pastures.
• The Vashlovani Protected Areas vegetation map based on GIS analysis and field surveying.
• The Sustainable Pasture Management Plan.
• The Local Livelihood Assessment, identifying the Tushetian shepherds’ needs.
• The Carbon Inventory of Pasturelands, Soil Fertility Assessment, and Water Balance Modelling.