Drylands constitute a large and important component of landscapes of Georgia, one of the countries of the Caucasus
Biodiversity Hotspot. Deforestation and overgrazing promoted enlargement of the arid environment to formerly
forested areas and further negative impacts (including impacts of climate change) are leading to its further
desertification. Important components of dryland biota are cryptogamic organisms such as fungi (including lichenised
fungi) and bryophytes, which have crucial roles in nutrient cycling and soil stabilization and hence maintenance of
ecosystem function in drylands. Therefore, study of cryptogam species / functional group distribution patterns within
the region’s dryland area, identification of species useful as bioindicators of desertification, redlisting of threatened
species and identification of areas important for threatened species and their habitat conservation were selected as
objectives of the proposed project. Collections of cryptogam specimens from the region’s arid environments are stored
at Georgia’s Herbaria and cryptogam checklist is available with major information on species geography and ecology
in Georgia; however, absence of a detailed Herbarium database creates difficulties to proper analysis of exiting data
and identification of collection gaps. For this reason Herbarium database creation is another objective of the project.
The Red List of cryptogams of arid habitats of Georgia with accompanying species profiles and maps of Important
Cryptogam Areas will be submitted to the relevant governmental body will help to integrate cryptogams in
conservation efforts based on habitat conservation approach. Proposals for species identified as likely to be globally
threatened will be submitted to IUCN Red List Unit to consider their publication on The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species.
Integration of project results in BA and MA lecture courses (‘Cryptogam Diversity’, ‘Environmental Impact
Assessment by Bioindicators’) conducted by the Principal Investigator of the project at Ilia State University will ensure
efficient dissemination of the project achievements and new data to young generation of ecologists.