Anthropogenic Impact on Environment

Abstract

Georgia is undergoing massive changes that are impacting its environment and ecosystem. Unwise and unplanned interference in the ecosystem brings about unpredictable change, revealing itself in the breaking structure and off-balance local ecosystems, which in turn, undermine the economic base. Of the total area of all woods in the Caucasus (7.32 million ha), 39.4 % accounts for the territory of North Caucasus (Russia) and 37.9 % for Georgia, i.e., woods occupy 2.7 million ha or about 40 % of the countryʼs area, and resources of “business” xylem form 434 million m3.The present-day life shows that the burden lies on timber ecosystems where mountainous wood is being chopped down by the local population as a means of survival and for fuel. In the past there were good traditions of nature protection, including mountainous woods, which were preserved in a number of places until now. Analysis of biodiversity of landscapes in Georgia has shown 97 types of landscapes. In every 10,000 km2 area, there are on average, 14 types of wild landscapes. The greatest variety of wild landscapes is in Shida Kartli which has 36 types in a 10,000 km2 area. It is followed by the Gombori ridge with 35 types and the mountainous part of Adjara-Guria with 34 types. Hence, the defining role belongs to land forms and climate. Georgia can be considered as a rich ecosystem. This chapter provides a glimpse of this treasure.