Legal aspects of European forest sustainable development

Georgia is made up of two separate mountain systems: the Greater Caucasus lying between the Black and Caspian Seas; and the Lesser Caucasus, which runs parallel to the greater range. Two thirds of the country's territory (69700km2) is mountainous. One third of it is covered by forests, 70% of which are mountain forests spread from lower montane belt up to the treeline ecotone. The classification of forest plant communities was done by A. Dolukhanov (1989). However, the different methodology used by European and Soviet schools caused differences in nomenclature. Natura2000 habitat directives based on CORINE biotope classification system developed legislative basis for conservation of natural habitats in EU. To join this system it was necessary to conduct inventory and develop new schema of habitat types according to Natura2000 standards in Georgia. We have undertaken an attempt to classify Georgian forest area to the habitat types and have achieved the following results. 18 forest habitat types are identified to belong to the biogeographical region Forests of Temperate Europe. Beech forest is represented by 7 types. 2 of which are characterized only for Georgia. 5 of 6 habitat types belonging to Mediterranean deciduous forests are typical only for the Caucasus.