ACTUAL ECOLOGICAL SITUATIONS IN THE TERRITORY OF MOUNTAIN REGIONS AND BIODIVERSITY PROBLEMS (THE CASE OF GEORGIA)

Abstract

The complicated social-economic and political situation has brought about an abrupt deterioration of the natural environment in Georgia for the last decades. At present, 4.5 million ha of the territory of Georgia is under the threat of dangerous elemental processes. As a result of activation of the exogenous processes, stipulated by the same factors, 5% of arable lands are withdrawn yearly from agricultural turnover, and 50% is affected by erosion. Under the impact of anthropogenic factors, about 100-130 t/ha of fertile soil layer of arable lands is annually washed-out in Eastern Georgia and about 150-160 t/ha in Western Georgia. The total number of mudflow basins in Georgia exceeds 2.7 thousand. The peculiarity of mountain relief and climate has stipulated not only the presence of various landscapes, but also a high level of biodiversity within the organic world of Georgia. A successful solution of the problem of balanced development and the conservation of biodiversity depends on two main factors influence of elemental-destructive processes and anthropogenic, impact, which are directly bound with each other.