Part I

Draft Black Sea Regional Transmission Project ESIA
herbaceous vegetation and subalpine meadow that is intended for mowing and grazing
combined use and is rich in biodiverrsity.
4.1.6.7 Sakire vicinity to Mtkvari River crossing
Three figures show aspects of vegetation and flora in this section: Figure 4-2e shows
ecosystems, Figure 4-6e shows various types of agricultural and other vegetation zones,
and Figure 4-11e shows areas of medium and high sensitivity. All these figures are at the
end of Chapter 4. More than half of this section crosses areas considered to be highly
sensitive.
The area from Kodiani mountain to Sakire village is occupied by coniferous forest with
oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) and pine (Pinus kochiana, Pinus sosnowskyi), coniferousbroadleaf
mixed forests with such broadleaf components as Acer trautvetteri, Betula
pendula, Pyrus caucasica, Malus orientalis, Corylus avellana, Ulmus glabra, etc.
West of Sakire village up to a nameless pass the corridor an agricultural landscape, after
which coniferous (spruce and pine) and coniferous- broadleaf forests occur southwest of
Tiseli village. Broadleaf species include Fagus orientalis, Carpinus caucasica, Quercus
macranthera, Quercus iberica, Acer campestre, Fraxinus excelsior, Cerasus avium, Corylus
avellana, Euonymus europaea, Crataegus orientalis, Swida australis, Prunus divaricata,
Lonicera caucasica, etc.
After this forested area are intermittent agricultural lands with scattered fragments of forests
and single trees and shrubs. An area of high conservation value is at the Mtkvari (Kura) river
gorge southwest of Atskuri village between Tkemlana and Tiseli villages. This is the edge of
the forest on the north slope, with significant concentrations of such GRL, RDB woody
species as high mountain oak (Quercus macranthera), in the lower point of its distribution,
and sea-buckthorn (Hippopha rhamnoides). Other trees and shrub species include Acer
campeste, Berberis vulgaris, Cornus mas, Corylus avellana, Crataegus sp., Fraxinus
excelsior, Ligustrum vulgare, Picea orientalis, Prunus divaricata, Prunus spinosa, Pyrus
caucasica (Pyrus communis), Rosa canina, Salix caprea, Viburnum opulus (rare species).
4.1.6.8 Mtkvari River crossing near Tsnisi to Turkey border
Three figures show aspects of vegetation and flora in this section: Figure 4-2f shows
ecosystems, Figure 4-6f shows various types of agricultural and other vegetation zones, and
Figure 4-11f shows areas of medium and high sensitivity. All these figures are at the end of
Chapter 4. Figure 4-11f shows that over 15 kilometers of this section of the corridor crosses
areas considered to be highly sensitive.
Within this section the corridor passes through hemixerophilic and xerophilic complexes of
vegetation, viz. steppes, xerophilic shrubwoods, fragments of arid open woodlands,
tragacanthic communities. Agricultural landscapes cover much of this area.
The eastern slope of a foothill close to the irrigation canal west of Vale supports a sensitive
habitat of high conservative value. This area is populated by the GRL, RDB sea-buckthorn,
(Hippopha rhamnoides) in association with rare species Ceratoides papposa as well as
Berberis vulgaris, Rhamnus spathulifolia, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus sp., Cotoneaster
sp., Pyrus salicifolia, Rosa canina, Ligustrum vulgare, Glycyrrhiza glabra, etc.
Another two sensitive sites in this section are noteworthy. The first is at the Potskhovi river
crossing north of Vale town and the second is the Potskhovi river crossing near Naokhrebi
village. Both areas have floodplain forest fragments dominated by poplar-willow and willow
communities (Populus spp., Salix spp.). It should be noted that these communities are
distinguished by occurrence of GRL, RDB species, sea-buckthorn (Hippopha rhamnoides).
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