Part I

Draft Black Sea Regional Transmission Project ESIA
agrocoenosis and natural landscape. In such ecosystems, there is often a high diversity and
density of animal species. In this area, the transmission line route crosses the home range of
several rare and threatened species that dwell mostly on mostly on cultivated lands (for
example, Brandt's hamster (Mesocricetus brandti) and Common Tortoise (Testudo graeca)).
Brandt's hamster lives in a colonial mode of life. It is everywhere rare and very sensitive to
human impact, since a colony may occupy an area no larger than a single tower.
Cultivated lands are a feeding place for many animals, especially for birds nesting in forest
strips and migrating birds. These areas are not diverse and numerous, but they provide
constant support.
Even on pastures and measures that are mown there can be protected species (including
species in reduced numbers). Species on the Javakheti upland, for example, are everywhere
sensitive, because of strong human impact
Also, pastures and arable lands are important for birds of prey. These areas often support
small birds and mammals which serve as prey for these larger birds. They also attract
migrating raptors for feeding and for thermals they use for soaring. Migrating and resident
raptors in these areas would use towers as roosts and hunting perches, and resident birds
may nest on towers.
As noted in section 4.1.6, the transmission corridor passes and/or crosses wetlands in
several areas, including forest swamps in Gardabani district, swampy lake in Tsalka district,
and peat bogs near Tabatskuri Lake. All wetlands contain a number of rare and endemic
vertebrate and invertebrate species and coexist with a very vulnerable community of
animals. They are important for many species as shelter, feeding places, and stopover sites
during migration and wintering.
Ecosystems of mountain and foothill deciduous and mixed (coniferous with deciduous)
forests These ecosystems cover a large portion of the Trialeti ridge that is twice crossed by
the transmission corridor, mainly in the eastern part, in the Tetritskaro district (“Tetritskaro
forest”), in the crossing of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, and up to village Argveta in the
Zestaphoni district (both “Mountain forest”).. Mountain forest is the richest ecosystem with
high diversity and a large number of endemic game and endangered species. At the same
time, animal communities of these ecosystems are very sensitive for human impact.
Foothills and hills covered with xerophytic bush vegetation. Ecosystems of this type are quite
diverse with regard to bush vegetation and species composition of plants and animals, and
cover a significant part of territory crossed by the transmission line route in the Gardabani
district on the slopes of Yagluja mountain and between Marneuli and Tetritskaro (see also
section 4.1.6). They are important for many species as shelter and feeding places in the
surrounded steppes, but less sensitive to the impact of the transmission line construction.
Animal communities of these ecosystems can be significantly affected only if large areas of
shrub will be destroyed (for example, from an accidental fire).
Freshwater ecosystems: ecosystems of current waters and freshwater lake ecosystems.
Invertebrate species and amphibian species occur in floodplains and surface water. These
species are especially sensitive in eastern Georgia in semiarid and arid habitats but also can
be sensitive at nearly any river crossing or lake edge.
River bank ecosystems are usually different from their surrounding landscapes by the higher
humidity, less developed soil layer, higher density of shelters, more developed bush
vegetation, and less covered with agricultural landscapes. These ecosystems usually form
narrow belts along rivers up to several hundred meters wide. The most important riverbank
ecosystems are the tugai forests, located in valleys of large rivers surrounded with arid or
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