@article{jpe 1964, author = {Gigi Tevzadze, Zaal Kikvidze}, title = {Ethno-ecological contexts of the Skhalta Gorge and the Upper Svaneti (Georgia, the Caucasus)}, volume = {23}, year = {2016}, url = {http://journals.librarypublishing.arizona.edu/jpe/article/id/1964/}, issue = {1}, doi = {10.2458/v23i1.20212}, abstract = {<p>The applicability and analytical power of political ecology is improved by study of the 'ethno-ecological context', which is based on the concept of socio-ecological systems (SES). It represents an operating principle of interactions between the ecological and social systems of a specific locality, developing under different historical, political and climatic regimes. We compare two socio-ecological systems in the high mountain regions of Georgia – the Skhalta Gorge and the Upper Svaneti. These are on the southern and northern borders of Georgia. Historically, their socio-ecological systems were similar but today the Skhalta Gorge is rapidly depopulating, whilst in the Upper Svaneti the population is stable. The comparison of the ethno-ecological context and today's state of affairs suggests that (i) "self-regulation" and conserving local culture and traditions, whilst the country undergoes rapid social and political changes, can lead to degradation or even destruction of either the ecological or the social components; (ii) conversely, sustainable development results from active intervention rather than abstaining from it; (iii) tourism appears as a mechanism that restores the ethno-ecological context by providing a source of income - under certain conditions, it supports traditional agriculture.</p>}, month = {12}, pages = {246-262}, keywords = {Political ecology,ethno-ecological context,socio-ecological systems,Georgia,Adjara,Svaneti,Mulakhi community,Skhalta Gorge,sustainability,tourism}, issn = {1073-0451}, publisher={University of Arizona Libraries}, journal = {Journal of Political Ecology} }