XVI International Botanical Congess

On the basis of the pollen-spores material, we have been able to reconstruct the history of the high-mountain vegetation, climate and floristic complexes of some Botanico-geographical provinces of Georgia during the Holocene epoch. Established on the high-mountain parts of Georgia (Greater and Minor Caucasus), climate changes and vegetation development after Wurm glaciation proceeded similary to those on Southern Europe mountains (Submediterranian or Southern European-Caucasian subregion). The type changes of the Holocene vegetation, climate and floristic complexes of South Georgian Upland date to one of the variants of Anterior Asiatic (Antasian) type of changes. In the Early Holocene, the tree limit was at about 1600 m a.s.l. In the Middle Holocene, (Atlantic period) the tree limit was 400 higher than at present. The contemporary zonation of vegetation belts and climate took place in the Late Holocene.