1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Generating Economic and Environmental Benefits from Sustainable Land Management for Vulnerable Rural Communities of Georgia (GREENLANDS)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Global Environment Facility Georgia (GEF Georgia) - Georgia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

14/11/2019

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Under the framework of the project ‘Generating Economic and Environmental Benefits from Sustainable Land Management for Vulnerable Rural Communities of Georgia’, four Integrated Land Use Plans (ILUPs) were developed to support sustainable agriculture and rural development in the Georgian municipalities of Gori, Kareli, Kvareli and Sagarejo. The objective of the ILUPs is to provide strategic guidelines for decision makers and authorities for the spatial development of agriculture at the landscape unit level over the period of 2021 to 2030.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The project ‘Generating Economic and Environmental Benefits from Sustainable Land Management for Vulnerable Rural Communities of Georgia’, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Regional Environmental Center (REC) for the Caucasus, aims to develop new sustainable land management (SLM) systems at both the commune and farmer plot levels, that integrate climate-smart agricultural production, food security and resilience and thereby contribute to Georgia’s objectives for Land Degradation Neutrality.
This WOCAT-based approach describes the development of four Integrated Land Use Plans (ILUPs) for sustainable agriculture and rural development in the municipalities of Gori, Kareli, Kvareli and Sagarejo (each 1000-2500km2).

The objective of the ILUPs is to provide strategic guidelines for decision makers and authorities for the spatial development of agriculture in the four municipalities for the period from 2021 to 2030 at the landscape level. This takes into consideration the balance of nature and human needs, and integrates different sectors and perspectives in the plan. This is to create synergies on the one hand, and to avoid conflicting goals on the other. Special attention is paid to the complex interactions between agriculture, climate change and land degradation. Thus, the ILUPs aim to develop and strengthen Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices, Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and to provide different options for further development. Above all, the plans aim to bring together relevant aspects from existing strategies and policies with local needs and ideas and link them at the spatial level as far as possible.

The ILUP project was implemented between the years 2019 and 2021. The development of the plan needs different approaches and methods - including literature research, statistical data evaluation, field mission, GIS analysis, and suitability assessment. With inception and field visits, workshops with the municipal LDN working group, interviews with farmers, and analyses of different base maps, the land use, the suitability for their development options, and the degradation risks of the area were identified and reflected step by step. The intersection and aggregation of the data led to the definition of the following main basic functional units:
- High Production Value (HPV) Farmland (for perennials, annual cropland and grassland)
- High Nature Value (HNV) Farmland
- High Social Value (HSV) Farmland and, as a specific output,
- Hot Spots of degradation (water erosion, wind erosion, and salinization).

The results were documented in a sectoral, technical plan for each municipality. The ILUP is intended to serve as a basis for further planning, capacity building and decision making procedures within the framework of legal responsibilities and requirements (e. g. for the municipal spatial plan). A second document (also recorded under WOCAT) is based on the outcome of this showcase and predominantly focuses on LDN implementation options by the application and adoption of various SLM and CSA practices.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The objective of the ILUPs is to provide strategic guidelines for decision makers and authorities for the spatial development of sustainable agriculture in the four municipalities for the period from 2021 to 2030 at the landscape level. It takes into consideration the balance of nature and human needs and integrates different sectors and perspectives in the plan. This is to create synergies on the one hand and to avoid conflicting goals on the other.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	none
planning	passive	Local land users were consulted to gain experience and insight into the situation of agriculture in the different areas. The interviews were then incorporated into the preparation of the maps and land use plans.
implementation	interactive	- during the inception mission - in the course of the interactive ILUP workshops
monitoring/ evaluation	external support	- supervision and critical reflection by experts and the client - presentation and reflection at the GEF project steering commitee meeting (about 30 persons - decision makers from different policy levels, national and international experts, project manager etc.)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

The ILUP provides several options to use SLM technologies: the final decision will take place in a next step. Some specific technologies and actions (no-tillage, windbreaks..) are currently implemented.

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

No

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

No

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Representatives of the municipalities - regional expertise, practical implementation, embedded into local policies.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

Discussions and workshops to contribute to a better common understanding and transsectoral learning from each other.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Global Environmental Facility (GEF), in the frame of the project: Generating Economic and Environmental Benefits from Sustainable Land Management for Vulnerable Rural Communities of Georgia

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Different sources and options of support are recommended in the ILUPS, but needs to be decided.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• no

If no or uncertain, specify and comment:

The approach needs embedding into local governance structures

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
clear overview of land suitability
diversification options
set of proposed measures and actions

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
fundamental for strategic and coordinated development, practical framework for implementation
stringent target system, compiled at different levels
integrated development approach, combining all dimensions of sustainability
core tool to adapt to and mitigate climate change

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
plan might raise expectations and an "atmosphere of departure", that cannot be fullfilled in due time	- consistent and timely implementation of proposed measures - acquisition of financial resources - strengthening local structures and participation
plan will not enter next phases, thus implementation might get stuck and/or will not meet the needs on plot level fully	Consistent and timely implementation of the proposed next steps (review process, detailed planning, embedding into municipal land use planning system)

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Risk that further planning process gets stuck and/or lacks participation	- intensive land user involvement - cross-sectoral participation - detailed (process) planning (at plot level)
Risk of weak implementation because of lack of framework conditions	- further land registration needed - detailed planning needed (next phase) - according financing mechanisms needed - embedding into communal planning environment

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zollner, D., Zumbulidze, M., Kirchmeir, H., Fuchs, A. und Huber, M. 2021: Gori Integrated Land Use Plan (ILUP Gori) for sustainable agriculture and rural development with special emphasis on SLM, CSA and LDN. Part A – ILUP Gori. Version 2.0. Klagenfurt, Tbilisi, Gori. 80 p. + documentation volume/ annex.

Available from where? Costs?

REC Caucasus, E.C.O- Institute of Ecology

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zollner, D., Zumbulidze, M., Kirchmeir, H., Fuchs, A. und Huber, M. 2021: Kareli Integrated Land Use Plan (ILUP Gori) for sustainable agriculture and rural development with special emphasis on SLM, CSA and LDN. Part A – ILUP Gori. Version 2.0. Klagenfurt, Tbilisi, Gori. 80 p. + documentation volume/ annex.

Available from where? Costs?

REC Caucasus, E.C.O- Institute of Ecology

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zollner, D., Zumbulidze, M., Kirchmeir, H., Fuchs, A. und Huber, M. 2021: Kvareli Integrated Land Use Plan (ILUP Gori) for sustainable agriculture and rural development with special emphasis on SLM, CSA and LDN. Part A – ILUP Gori. Version 2.0. Klagenfurt, Tbilisi, Gori. 80 p. + documentation volume/ annex.

Available from where? Costs?

REC Caucasus, E.C.O- Institute of Ecology

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zollner, D., Zumbulidze, M., Kirchmeir, H., Fuchs, A. und Huber, M. 2021: Sagarejo Integrated Land Use Plan (ILUP Gori) for sustainable agriculture and rural development with special emphasis on SLM, CSA and LDN. Part A – ILUP Gori. Version 2.0. Klagenfurt, Tbilisi, Gori. 80 p. + documentation volume/ annex.

Available from where? Costs?

REC Caucasus, E.C.O- Institute of Ecology