Environmental Background Condition and Current Impact Assessment of Digomi Meadows in Tbilisi

Abstract

The article highlights the importance of the Dighomi Marshes ecosystem for the city of Tbilisi, focusing on the preservation of local biodiversity, the city's climate resilience, and maintaining ecological balance. It also provides an assessment of existing environmental challenges related to urban development, lack of green spaces, and

pollution issues in Tbilisi, including the Dighomi Marshes area. The paper discusses how these problems can affect the state of the city's ecosystem and, consequently, the health and quality of life of the population.

Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of preserving the landscape with recreational functions for the local population, which is considered one of the key factors in improving the psychological and physical health of the city's residents {1}. The article also examines the 190-hectare area of the Dighomi Marshes, known for its unique natural ecosystem, and the risks posed to the ecosystem and human health due to anthropogenic impacts, particularly the establishment of an illegal landfill since 2015 {2}.

It is worth noting that the gradual development of the areas surrounding the Dighomi Marshes and urbanization began only a few years ago, around 2015, during which both the Olympic Village and residential buildings were constructed. Parallel to these processes, the recreational potential of the Dighomi Marshes became evident, prompting the Tbilisi Municipality to plan the creation of a new city park on an 8-hectare area to make the space more beneficial and attractive for the local population {3}.