Georgia (Nation)

The nation of georgia is located on the crossroads of world cultures in the Caucasus region between the Black and the Caspian Sea. About the size of the U.S. state of Georgia, the nation has a relatively small population of 5 million. In 2004, the Western-educated and U.S.-oriented Mikheil Saakashvili swept into power along with a government for national reform led by the National Movement Party. The goals of this new government have included the opening of markets, democratization, and the development of new investment. Progress in these goals has been challenged by Russian support of the two breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, leading to sometimes-serious border disputes. A recent initiative for peaceful resolution of South Ossetia, however, was introduced in 2005. The restoration of peace in these regions will prevent further environmental degradation caused by constant, low intensity warfare.

Focused on raising standards of living and levels of external investment, especially in petrochemicals and pipelines, the nation of Georgia is faced with many serious environmental challenges, which will only increase if development is not managed carefully. Although a party to the Kyoto protocol, air pollution has built up to high levels in the industrial city of Rustavi. The Mtkvari river is also heavily polluted with industrial, agricultural, and human waste. As this waste is deposited into the Black Sea it further contributes to the environmental degradation of the Sea's fragile red algae ecosystem. A legacy of Soviet control and the remains of Soviet toxic dumps have led to the pollution of soil and watersheds. Closely associated with the United States in a region heavily influenced by Russia to the north and the Islamic world to the south, Georgia is in a fragile political position. The development of a sustainable environmental policy will be difficult in the light of current political and social demands. Nevertheless, further democratic empowerment and the flourishing of nongovernmental organizations may provide ways of highlighting important, short-term environmental concerns.