G.Info:State of the Environment Georgia - Kolkheti wetlands

Small part of the wetlands are designated as Nature Reserve (Pichora-Paliastomi Section). The areas within the watershed are used for mows and grazing. Some of the areas are used for forestry purposes. Lake Paliastomi is used for fishing. Other adjacent territories are covered by arable lands.There are tea and citrus. Flooded plains and lands useless for agriculture are for cattle grazing.

Among the negative anthropogenic inpacts the most important activities are: unsystematic exploitation of natural resources (drainage of wetlands, forest cutting, peat extraction, construction of drainage channels, changes of river flow regimes. due to the short cuts in meandering). These activities are the results of irreversible changes and degradation of natural landscapes.

Despite the fact, that caused due to economic difficulties these activities are less intensive. There are number of dangerous projects planned, which in case of implementation can provoke significant damage to intact landscapes and surrounding areas (one should mention in this regard the Poti port reconstruction, motor- and railway construction plans around the Black Sea, Peat extraction activities within Pichora-Paliastomi section, sapropel extraction from the bottom of the lake Paliastomi).