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Reduction of Pollution
RIVERS
The distribution of water resources is not
even on the territory of Georgia: in Western Georgia - 1340 thousand
m3 per 1 km2. On one resident in Western Georgia comes 19
thousand m3 per 1 square km, in Eastern Georgia -5 thousand
m3..
Nowadays the total catchment area is intended for 1206 rivers
(2,4% of total quantity). The river Chorokhi (22130 km2), river Rioni
(13900 km2), The largest rivers in Western Georgia: Rioni (12,6
km3 per year), Chorokhi ( 8,9 km3 per year), Inguri (5,9
km3 per year), Kodori (4,1 km3 per year).
Water pollution from municipalities
Wastewater treatment installations exist in 19 towns with total
capacity 546,1 thous.m3/24 hours. The traditional biological
treatment plants are built in 14 towns with total capacity 390,3
m3/24 hours. The plants with mechanical treatment are built in 5
towns and populated areas with total capacity 155,8 m3/24 hours.
The treatment plants were put into practice in a period of
1972-1986. More of them are amortized hardly throughout the last period, as the
capital repairs and works for its modernization were not held in proper time.
Nowadays there is not treatment plant which can guarantee the
biological purification of municipal sewage. The steps of mechanical
purification work on the treatment plants of Kutaisi, Tkibuli, Sairme, Batumi
towns. Bun the most of the treatment plants are out of order. Some treatment
plants are not finished.
Airborne Pollution
Air quality was and is measured by "Hydromet", which is now
part of the MoE. In the past "Hydromet" exploited 34 stationary measuring
stations in 11 towns. Concentrations of dust, SO2, NOx and
CO were measured. Additionally, based on the actual technological processes of
industrial enterprises located in the town, concentrations of some specific
substances were measured. For example, in Zestafoni - manganese dioxide.
Kutaisi and Zestafoni were included in the list of the most
polluted towns of the Soviet Union.
It has not been possible to get relevant calculations of social
costs of health impacts, decrease of productivity in agriculture or degradation
of ecosystems. Existence of such calculations relevant for Georgia is doubtful.
Only rough assessments can be made. It is known that in countries with low
technological level costs of environmental damage caused by industry come to
some 4-5% of GNP. Taking into account the size of GNP for 1995, the cost of
environmental damage in Georgia should be in the order of 340-430 million
lari.
Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes
On 14 October 1994, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Law
on Transit and Imports of Waste in the Territory of Georgia which prohibits:
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the import of toxic and radioactive industrial and economic
waste;
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transport and import for the purposes of neutralisation,
processing or burial of radioactive and toxic industrial and economic waste.
The only wastes that may be imported into Georgia are non-toxic
and non-radioactive materials for recycling of the following types: ferrous and
non-ferrous metals, waste paper and waste plastics.
From January 23, 1995, legislative acts on import and re-export
of waste were brought into compliance with western standards. Standards are
currently being developed that will be implemented by the Ministry of
Environmental Protection concerning waste treatment and use.
Waste Disposal
Generator Permits and Other Requirements
There are no specific waste disposal requirements in operation.
Waste issues are addressed in the Feasibility Study, EIA and State Environmental
Examination (Sections 1.4, 4 and 6). A mechanism is being
developed that will define the functions of the Ministry of Environmental
Protection as the authority that issues permits and the functions of the
Sanitary and Epidemiological Station as the monitoring authority.
Operator Permits and Other Requirements
The land for waste disposal sites is allotted by the local
bodies of government. There are no regulatory requirements in operation.
Requirements are currently being developed.
Transport of Waste
Labeling and Containers
There are no waste transport, packaging and labeling
requirements except for radioactive waste.
Vessel source pollution
Data on Pollution from Ships
According to the Poti Marine Inspectorate (Ministry of
Environment of Georgia) data the freight traffic (cargo) of Poti port from
January 1997 until June 1997 constituted 1 092 891, 9 tons among them 276,145
tons of oil- productrs.
The quantity of the vessels that came into the Poti harbour
constituted 550 among them 61 tankers.
The examination of Batumi and Poti Ports in connection with
MARPOL Convention requirements showed the following:
Poti port is not equipped with waste -water treatment plant.
During 7 months in 1997 only 42 vessels registered oily-water and gave to
special receiving ship, that transported the waste-water to Batumi waste-water
treatment plant.
Direct Spillage to Marine Waters
Coupling failures during loading and off-loading operations
have the potential to release oil or petroleum products to water. The likelihood
of coupling failure is increased by the age and condition of the equipment.
Spill containment measures are limited to:
Living Resources Management
Commercially Exploited Resources
Economically
valuable species of Georgian flora: an overview
About 2,000 species of vascular flora of Georgia are of
economic importance. The following groups of economically valuable higher plants
may be distinguished:
1. Timber trees
2. Trees and shrubs valuable for
edible fruits i
3. Essential oil-bearing plants
4. Plants of industrial interest
5. Forage and fodder plants
6. Medicinal plants for
pharmacology
In traditional medicine of wide use are Glycyrrhiza
glabra, G. echinata, Rhamnus cathartica, Chenopodium
ambrosioides, Ch. botrys, Aristolochia clematitis, Cyclamen vernum, Tamus
communis, Sparganium polyedrum, S. simplex, S. neglectum, Alisma
plantago-aquatica.
Commercial Fisheries
From a historical point of view, fishing and the fishing
industry have been primary sources for sustenance of a considerable part of
Georgian population. In the 1930s marine and inland fish catches and processing
enterprises were created, including Poti fish processing plant with local
stations in Poti, Anaklia, Maltakva and Grigoleti. In addition, five coastal
fishing collective farms in Batumi, Kobuleti, Poti, Sokhumi, Gagra were
established.
The main fishing areas of the Black Sea are located near the
Kerch Strait between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Large schools of
anchovy, herring and mullet gather here and migrate through the strait into the
Sea of Azov in spring, and back again in late autumn. Other rich fishery areas
are the estuaries and bays of the north-west part of the sea.
Fish catches in the Georgian Black Sea Region
(Poti-Supsa-Batumi)
The dramatic decline in catches cannot be attributed solely to
the present state of the Black Sea ecosystem, but also the reduction in fishing
due to the difficult period of economic transition.
Currently catches consist of anchovy (95%), whiting (2,4%),
sprat (1,8%), Black Sea horse mackerel (0,2%), spiny dogfish (0,4%), goby (0,1%)
and other species (turbot, etc.) accounting for 0,3% of total landings. Catch
season for the Black Sea horse mackerel lasts from May to September, for anchovy
and whiting from November to March. Gobies are of no commercial importance and
are simply discarded. With regard to high-value species (sturgeons, Black Sea
salmon, mullet, flounder, mackerel), due to depletion of stocks, catches are
prohibited, however, these fish species continue to be the target of heavy
poaching by subsistence fishermen, and administrative measures do not function
adequately to prevent these activities. Also, fishing is strictly banned during
spawing period (spring-summer). However, due to a lack of equipment by law
enforcement agencies and inadequate sanctions, illegal fishing are frequently
reported.
Development of Sustainable Aquaculture and
Tourism
Development of Sustainable
Aquaculture
This part reflects ideas of the Black Sea
aquaculture
development of the projects designed by Georgian NGO - Poseidon.
The Black Sea fishery reserves are completely exhausted, and
excessive fishing is quite evident; mullet, plaice, surmullet, sturgeon-salmon
species have practically disappeared. As for species not targeted by the
fisheries (sea plants, mussels, etc.) here there are certain reserves, the
utilization of which will provide raw material for industry and feed for poultry
breeding and pig breeding. Rational management and the use of biological and
mineral resources of the Black Sea its climatic factors will, to a great extent,
determine the ecological development of the region.
Of course, the coastal zone is one of the priority area of
tourism, but only one among the others. These resources will be successfully
used in-combination with other tourism destination - mountains, heritage sites
and adventures.
Development of Sustainable
Tourism
The sustainable forms of tourism can be a good tool for
environmental conservation and economic development of the low income areas and
remount zones. The priority areas are:
- mountain and high mountain communities
- fragile ecosystem in the coastal zone
- historical and heritage sites
- nature parks and preserved territory
Very often these destinations cover same areas.
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