Mountain and coastal landscapes as a unified socio-ecological system (on the example of Adjara)

Abstract

The case of Adjara demonstrates that energy infrastructure, urban and social development, as well as ecological processes, are closely interlinked. The expansion of Batumi’s urban infrastructure largely relies on hydropower generated in the mountainous areas of Adjara; however, this dependency creates new social and ecological risks.
The construction of hydropower plants in mountainous Adjara has altered river flow dynamics, reduced sediment load, and led to the complete loss (flooding) of agricultural lands and ancestral territories, as well as to microclimatic changes.

Along Batumi’s coastline, the balance between marine abrasion and the accumulation of riverborne sediments delivered by the River Chorokhi has been disrupted. This imbalance accelerates beach erosion and increases the vulnerability of coastal infrastructure, while protection against such damage requires costly coastal defense measures such as artificial beach nourishment and berm construction.
The social consequences are reflected in the sharp and unequal distribution of benefits and costs: the city expands and gains economic advantage from energy generated in the mountains, while the residents of mountainous Adjara suffer from ecological degradation and forced migration caused by hydropower development.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the study reveals that the developmental dynamics of Adjara constitute an interdependent system linking the energetic, urban, social, and ecological processes of mountain and coastal zones.
Ensuring the region’s sustainable social, ecological, and economic development requires the active participation of local communities, adherence to principles of justice, and the long-term consideration of interconnections between the mountains and the sea coast.