19 / 88
19
(MoENRP 2015), while the frequency of droughts
has increased almost threefold in recent years; mostly
in Shida, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti and upper Imereti
(Ahouissoussi
et al
. 2014).
As documented in Georgia’s Third National
Communication to the UNFCCC (MoENRP 2015),
the increase in landslides, floods and mudflows is
caused by a combination of factors, including an
increase in anthropogenic pressures (population
growth, removal of vegetation on hillsides and
mountain slopes, construction on unstable soils,
development of artificial waterways), increase
in tectonic activity, and climate change (warmer
temperatures and increased frequency of heavy
precipitation). The likelihood of these incidents
occurring increases during heavy precipitation or
abnormally high amounts of seasonal precipitation.
As a result, areas projected to experience an increase
in such events are also likely be affected by higher
numbers of hydrological disasters. As temperatures
are expected to increase across the region, it is also
likely that the areas prone to drought will increase
and that droughts will become more intense (World
Bank 2006).
Landslide, Georgia
Sources : National Statistics Office of Georgia.
Graph by Manana Kurtubadze, GRID-Arendal, 2015.
Landslides and mudflows in Georgia
in 1995-2013
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1999
1995 1997
2001 2003 2005
Landslide
Mudflow
2007 2009 2011 2013
1999
1995
Case
Victim, person
1997
2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013