Mapping of ecosystem services in the Kolkheti National Park (Georgia) based on their ecological-economic assessment

Abstract

The research area - the Kolkhety National park (Georgia) - is situated in the western part of the Kholhida lowland and includes coastal waters of the Black Sea. It was established in 1998, but its economic value was not assessed. The purpose of the work was to identify the ecosystem services of the park's geosystems, to carry out an ecological-economic assessment of part of the ecosystem services, and to create map of ecological-economic assessment, which is necessary for its nature management regulation, including its buffer zones, as well as nature conservation and recreation activities. Using our field data and thematic publications we compiled a map, presenting 4 large areas of ecosystems: the Kolkhida woodlands, wetlands, the lake Paleostomi, the Black Sea water area. 25 ecosystem services were identified within them. The following were among them: resource ecosystem services - provision of feed for cattle, commercial products of water bodies, etc.; regulating - creation of the coastal line, wetlands water filtration, etc.; supporting - carbon deposition by terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; information - recreation services. Information data base was compiled for several of them and used for assessments based on the widely used international methods. The assessment result of only seven ecosystem services demonstrated their cost - 10,5 mln dollars annually. The results of ecological-economic assessments were used for compiling of an ecological-economic map presenting spatial distribution of different ecosystems services costs. The results may be used for the Georgian coastal area territorial planning and demonstrate the economic value of nature protected lands.