Located in eastern Georgia, the Vashlovani Protected Areas stand out for their unique blend of dry climate, desert and semi-desert steppe vegetation, and arid deciduous forests. A significant portion of this territory consists of semi-desert pastures, where overgrazing has placed increasing pressure on the local ecosystem and the livelihoods of farmers.

To address these challenges, the European Union and UNDP, through the regional Clima East initiative, supported efforts to rehabilitate and sustainably manage the Vashlovani pastures. 

The present research was commissioned to inform the rehabilitation process and provide the following critical insights: 

• Estimates the area’s carbon stock,
• Assess soil fertility,
• Models the water balance of the pastures to guide evidence-based conservation and management.