Covering a total of 280,000 ha and rich in lakes and marshes, the volcanic highland Javakheti plateau is often referred to as Georgia’s ‘lake district’. The plateau is on two major global flyways for migratory land and waterbirds which are attracted by the shallow lakes with densely vegetated lakeshores and small islands. Every spring and autumn, nearly 100 bird species are seen on Javakheti lakes in the thousands. Among them are the globally vulnerable Velvet Scoter, Dalmatian Pelican, Common Pochard, Eastern Imperial Eagle, as well as the rare Caucasian Common Crane.

The rural, multi-ethnic population of the Javakheti Plateau largely depends on agriculture. However, both its global conservation significance and the vital ecosystem services the plateau’s landscape and its wetlands provide to local communities are now threatened. In Soviet times, many of the wetlands were subjected to somewhat experimental and largely unsuccessful modifications such as large-scale drainage/irrigation projects and transformation for fish farming. Today, the already damaged wetlands suffer from eutrophication and the inevitable impact of changing climate is yet to be understood.

Notably, the local communities exhibit strong socio-cultural connections to their landscape, which presents a unique opportunity for initiating a landscape restoration programme. The project will draw on national and international expertise and launch a dialogue at all levels to overcome all the knowledge and political barriers, and demonstrate to the decision makers, local communities, and the international donor community that the restoration of the Javakheti landscape is not only possible but it is in everybody’s best interes

Project activities and main outcomes:

A desk analysis, reviewing all existing data and information will be followed by studies (to address the existing knowledge gaps) on: vulnerable/degraded sites, concrete causes of degradation and their vulnerability to climate change; socio-economy/land use; public attitudes; legislation/policies; green marketing opportunities; hydrology; ecotourism potential, and; the park’s capacity needs.

A dialog platform will be launched for all key stakeholders including local communities, land users/owners, state institutions, scientific and conservation circles, and the private sector. Various means will be utilised i.e., meetings/workshops, round table discussions, social media, press, etc.

Stakeholder workshops will be conducted; new findings and various thematic maps will be presented to identify and agree on restoration targets − sites and other landscape elements (e.g., degraded lake shores, ecological corridors, etc.) to be restored. The selection will make use of agreed upon criteria (level, history of degradation; restoration potential, current and projected /post-restoration ecological / conservation values, technical aspects; cost and benefits). The dialogue platform and the stakeholder workshops are envisaged as parallel and inter-complementary processes between which there will be a constant exchange of information and ideas. While the stakeholder workshops will be more technical, the dialogue process is meant to be open to all, aiming at reaching out to a wider audience − top decision makers at the national and local level as well as the general public. Local groups will be the key players. We will assist and strengthen local NGOs/CBOs and women’s groups, so that they effectively participate in landscape restoration planning. Some will form a local support group that will conduct advocacy campaigns for wetlands restoration.

The main output of the Planning Project will be a comprehensive and detailed Javakheti landscape restoration plan. The plan will outline the following main elements:

• What do we want to restore and why? This will include detailed maps of the restoration sites / landscape elements and justification.
• What do we want to achieve? Description of the current and target status (vision) of Javakheti Plateau landscape detailing (a) landscape level improvements i.e., enhanced: (i) connectivity and natural processes, (ii) conservation value for migratory birds and other biodiversity, (iii) ecosystem services as well as positive interactions between people and nature, and (b) improvement at the site-specific level i.e., target status of the restoration sites (lakes) and other landscape elements.
• Stakeholders as change-makers: A detailed description of key stakeholders will be provided with their potential roles in changing behaviour/attitudes/policies and in establishing new partnerships; their key strengths and needs/interests on which to base the Project’s communication strategy. All of this will form the basis for the theory of change for restoring Javakheti landscapes.
•  Wetland awareness campaign: This will include a description, objectives, target audiences and overall design of the wetland awareness campaign at the local and national level (with the local level component to be designed in both Georgian and Armenian for the ethnic Armenian communities with limited knowledge of the Georgian language). The target being for key stakeholders, primarily local communities, to welcome the idea of landscape restoration and choose to take action because they see it as in the best interest for themselves and the landscape, they live in.
• The design of restoration: Detailed restoration designs will be prepared for each restoration site/landscape element including cost estimates, and implementation strategy and timeframes.
• National capacity and international experience: The national capacity and experience of wetland restoration will be reviewed, as will gaps in restoration project design. Specific international expertise to draw upon will be identified.
• Protected areas and wetland restoration: Based on the JPA capacity needs assessment, a specific plan for strengthening/expansion will be designed. This plan will consider not only their current needs but also necessary improvement for their involvement in the restoration process and subsequent management.
• Supporting activities: This chapter will include detailed plans for any necessary supporting measures and schemes for the restoration process as well as for post-restoration management. Site specific management plans may be needed with clear roles and responsibilities of each player including local groups. New plans will need to be elaborated or existing plans updated for JPA on grazeland management, eco-tourism/destination development, waste management and communication.
• Conflict resolution strategy and local livelihoods programme: A detailed conflict resolution strategy will be developed to address any existing conflicts between the local communities and PA as well as to mitigate any projected conflicts that may arise during or after the restoration. In addition to public outreach, a local livelihood programme will be proposed as a tool for gaining public support and for paving the way for meaningful cooperation between the PA administration and local communities. Thus, the restoration plan will include a comprehensive local livelihood programme with priorities, cost estimates, timeframes, organisational structure and implementation strategy (local groups and community leaders should be fully involved to ensure maximum transparency).
• A fundraising plan: The restoration plan will include fundraising strategy and detailed plan which will explore funding opportunities both within the country and internationally. Although rarely available, the plan should still aim at securing some funding from within the country.
• Implementation: The implementation of the restoration plan will specify the timeline, an evaluation and monitoring plan as well as the total estimated cost.

Another outcome of the Project will be the empowerment of local NGOs/CBOs and women’s groups. We will not only ensure the involvement of these groups in the planning process but also encourage them to play a leading role − e.g., they will host local meetings and discussions as well as participate in national-level activities, gaining full ownership of the restoration planning process as well as new skills and experience.

This project is supported by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in partnership with Arcadia. https://www.endangeredlandscapes.org/

Facts

Project status: Active

Project location: Javakheti Plateau, southern Georgia 

Project Coordinator/Team: Irakli Shavgulidze / Natia Muladze / Marine Kupatadze

Donors/Partners:

This project is supported by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in partnership with Arcadia https://www.endangeredlandscapes.org/

Project implmenting partner: Samtskhe-Javakheti Media Centre (SJMC).

Projectt partners: Agency of Protected Areas (APA) , Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF), Samtskhe-Javakheti State University