Farming Systems and Non-Timber Forest Products in Pshavi region, Georgia: Implication for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Bc. Kristýna Sosnovcová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The present master thesis documented livelihood strategies of households living within the planned Aragvi Protected Landscape (APL) in Georgia, in connection to agricultural production and Local Ecological Practice (LEP). The data were collected in September 2018 and in July 2019. First visit brought general overview on the study site through combination of observations, transect walks and informal interviews. During the second phase, data on household characteristics, agricultural production and LEP on Wild Food Plants and mushrooms (WFPs) gathering were collected through questionnaires with 94 households in 17 villages in Pshavi, Ukanapshavi, Gudamaqari and Piraketa Khevsureti. The results showed that outmigration threatens the functioning of remaining social structures. Particularly economically active women were underrepresented in the APL. Subsistence farming including small-scale cattle herding remained dominant livelihood strategy. Even though 33 different cultivated crops were recorded, only 18% of the estimated total production, including 9 cultivated crops, were commercialised. Regarding animal products, out of 12 mentioned, 9 were regularly commercialised representing around 43% of the total production from the region. Results showed that remoteness and households’ income dependent on farming relate to the larger volumes of animal production. Regarding LEP, 63% of households continued to collect Wild Food Plants and mushrooms (WFPs). We recorded current use of 41 folk-taxa of WFPs in four use categories. On average, 4 species were collected per household and the diversity of species did not differ across communities or altitudes. Relative Cultural Importance Indices highlighted multipurpose fruits and herbal species widespread across the region. WFPs were commercialised by 7% of interviewed households. Parents and grandparents appeared to be dominant LEP knowledge source. According to peoples’ perception LEP has been declining. However, local communities mostly expect WFPs to be available and gathered in the future as much as today. Designation of the APL as protected area might create numerous opportunities to improve livelihoods of local communities and to promote LEP. Localized research on communities’ perception of LEP as their potential livelihood strategy should be undertaken in order to support successful conservation efforts in mountains.

Keywords

Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Wild Food Plants, Aragvi Protected Landscape, sustainable livelihoods framework, tourism, pastoralism

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 5. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Vladimír Verner, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / Sustainable Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics