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Ecosystems
The mountainous areas of the South Caucasus have
a wide variety of climate zones, ranging from cold
moderate alpine peaks to temperate, humid and arid
landscapes.
6
The variation in climate zones gives the
region its unique and diverse biodiversity, including
many rare and endemic species (CEPF 2003). Caucasus
region has been recognized as holding an important
reservoir of biodiversity, and is indeed considered a
globally significant ‘biodiversity hotspot’ based on the
richness of species, and level of endemism, recorded.
As part of the Caucasus-Anatolian-Hyrcanian
Temperate Forest, Armenia’s forests are recognized as
a global conservation priority under WWF’s Global
200 Ecoregions (Ulander and Ter-Zakaryn 2012).
In the Southern Caucasus, the majority of forest
ecosystems in the mountains are of great importance
for mountain communities. Georgia has the highest
Vulnerability and impact assessment
percentage of forest cover in South Caucasus at
almost 40 per cent, followed by Azerbaijan and
Armenia both having forest cover of 11.8 per cent and
11.5 per cent respectively (MoENRP 2015, AZ Stat,
MoNP 2015). In Georgia, over 60 per cent of its forests
are situated on mountain slopes at an elevation of
1,000 m.a.s.l or higher (MoENRP 2015; MoENR 2010;
Ulander and Ter-Zakaryn 2012). Forest ecosystems
protect biodiversity, store carbon, and store and
purify water. In addition, they provide benefits vital
to human livelihoods and food security, including
construction materials, fuel wood, food (mushrooms,
nuts and berries), medicinal plants, and grazing areas
for animals. The ability of trees to prevent soil erosion
and landslides is essential in the hazard-exposed
mountains. The forests, however, are under constant
pressure from deforestation. Deforestation rates were
especially high after the collapse of the Soviet Union
when energy shortages were common. Wood became
the main source of energy for heating and cooking,
and in rural areas wood is still used to reduce costly
electricity and gas bills. Illegal logging for commercial
purposes also remains a serious problem in the region
(Ulander and Ter-Zakaryn 2012).
In addition to human pressures, forest ecosystems
are vulnerable to changes in temperature and
precipitation. An assessment conducted for Georgia’s
Third National Communication to the UNFCCC
found evidence of climate change impacts on forests
in all three areas investigated – Adjara, Mestia and
Borjomi Municipality – that may reduce the critical
ecosystem services provided by them. The various
climate change-related impacts included an increase
in areas infested by pests and diseases, introduction
of new diseases (Adjara and Borjomi), increased
frequency of drought and wildfires (Borjomi), and
displacement of species due to warmer temperatures,
and prolonged vegetation period (Mestia).
Similar risks for forest ecosystems due to current
and future changes in temperature and precipitation
are underlined in Armenia’s Third National
Communication (MoNP 2015). This report also
gives a comprehensive oversight into the predicted
upward vertical shift of climatic zones and vegetation.
In general, drier ecosystems will expand in the
lower altitudes while the forest ecosystems are likely
to migrate to higher altitudes. Forest coverage is
expected to gradually decline as forestland gradually
converts to open arid forests, and further to semi-
desert and steppe ecosystems. The altered ecosystems
will not only change in structure but also in the
composition of species. The boundless and fluid
2000
Armstat
According to
Hayantar, MARA
2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Illegal logging in Armenia in 2000-2013
Thousand m
³
Sources : National Statistical Service of Armenia; ICARE Foundation, 2011.
Graph by Manana Kurtubadze, GRID-Arendal, 2015.
100
80
60
40
20
0
100
80
60
40
20
0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Illegal logging in Georgia in 2000-2013
Thousand m
³
Source : National Statistics Office of Georgia.
Graph by Manana Kurtubadze, GRID-Arendal, 2015.