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of strong winds on the productivity of crops is
becoming more evident. This is more pronounced at
the early stage of cultivation, in winter and spring.
There is a now critical need for the municipality to
restore these windbreaks.
The best way to restore natural landscapes and
protect arable lands from the growing threat of
climate change in the Dedoflistskaro Municipality
would be to rehabilitate its windbreaks, which along
with the protection of soil from erosion also would
The Dedoflistskaro Municipality is located in the
easternmost part of Georgia, within an arid and
semi-arid climate zone. Annual precipitation in the
region fluctuates between 300–648 mm and the area
is under high risk of desertification. It is recognized
as one of the most sensitive regions to climate change
in Georgia (MoEPNR and UNDP 2009; MoEPNR
2012; MoEPNR 2014). Agriculture accounts for
about 70 per cent of the gross domestic product of
the Dedoflistskaro Municipality (REC 2012). The
main agricultural activities include wine and cereal
production, vegetable and livestock farming, both of
which are affected by extreme weather events such as
droughts and high winds.
Climate change scenarios developed in the last five
years indicate that climate change will have clear and
dramatic impacts on arid and semiarid ecosystems
(Mavlyanova 2007). It is expected that precipitation
will decrease and temperatures will rise and that
this will be followed by an invasion of thermophilic
species, which are more resistant to a lack of
precipitation (Thuiller
et al
. 2008).
There has been an increase in annual mean
temperature in the municipality of 0.6°C in the
past half-century (MoEPNR and UNDP 2009). The
main climate-related impacts affecting development
of the agricultural sector in the Dedoflistskaro
Municipality, however, are strong winds and a lack of
rainfall. According to Ministry of Agriculture data,
164,488 ha of Dedoflistskaro Municipality now suffer
from wind and water erosion (REC-Caucasus 2012).
To mitigate these processes, windbreaks have been
systematically planted in the region since the 1930s.
In the 1980s, they occupied 906 ha (60 m state-owned
windbreaks) and 865 ha (10 m “Kolmeurneoba”-
owned windbreaks
14
) of land. Windbreaks played a
significant role in moderating the micro climate of
fields and vineyards, and protecting the soil from
wind erosion. Unfortunately, during the 1990s,
these windbreaks were almost completely cut down
for fuel and as a result, the productivity of the land
has decreased.
Studies show that the frequency of high winds (≥
30 m/s) has increased five-fold since the beginning
of 1980s (MoENRP 2009). The surveys also show
an increase in the average duration of drought by
22 days (up to 60 days). More frequent and drawn-
out periods of droughts in arid and semi-arid
regions will inevitably degrade plant communities
with reduced growth in vegetation cover. Along
with anthropogenic loading (overgrazing, cutting
down of windbreaks, salinization, fires, etc.), these
factors result in soil erosion; starting a process of
desertification which under most circumstances, is
irreversible (GoG 2014).
All this indicates a high level of vulnerability of
the primary economic sector of this municipality
to climate change. It calls for urgent adaptation
measures to reduce relevant risks in agricultural
production, such as damage from frequent strong
winds causing land erosion and, consequently,
exacerbating thedesertificationprocess.Windbreaks
were always seen as a measure for protecting farm
lands, pastures and, fauna of protected areas in the
municipality. The main purpose of these belts was
to protect arable lands and pastures from wind
erosion. Because most of them were destroyed
during the energy crisis of the 1990s, the impact
Dedoflistskaro – food pocket of Georgia
CASE STUDY
Dedoflistskaro, Georgia