Interpretative Trials in Georgia's Protected Areas

1. Interpretative Trials– Support to the Management of Interpretive trials and Natural Protected Areas in the Black Sea Region Georgia, 2013

2. Protected Areas • In Georgia the history of Protected Areas dates back many centuries. The first Protected Area – Lagodekhi Strict Nature Reserve was established as early as 1912. At present the total area of Protected Areas is 520 273 hectares, which is about 7.46 % of the country’s territory. About 75 % of Protected Areas are covered by forests.  • Primary function of the Protected Areas is protection of natural heritage of the country, unique biodiversity and eco systems.  • In Georgia there are 64 different categories of Protected Areas according the IUCN: • 14 Strict Nature Reserves  •  10 National Parks  •  18 Managed Nature Reserves •  24 Natural Monuments  •  2 Protected Landscapes 

3. Biodiversity • Kolkheti National Park Trial Sea Route Paliastomi –Pichori • Kobuleti Protected AreasTrial Trip to the oldest wetland • Mtirala National Park Trial Fairy Mtirala Mount • Kintrishi protected Areas Trial Legends of Colchic Forest

4. Kolkheti National Park • National Park is located in western Georgia. It covers the eastern zone of the Black Sea coast and the basin of the Paliastomi Lake. The Park is established with the purpose of protection and saving wetland ecosystems. • The Kolkheti lowland became the subject of international interest firstly in 1996, when the Georgia joined the Ramsar Convention on “Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat”. Since 2000 the Kolkheti national park began full-scale functioning. In total, the land area of the National Park is 28571 hectares, and the sea water area – 15 742 hectares. The real beauty of the Kolkheti national park is the Paliastomi Lake that was the gulf of the Black Sea several thousand years ago.

5. Kolkheti National Park Trial Sea Route Paliastomi – Pichori • Kolkheti wetlands are featured with domed surface and tussocks, which are formed by sphagnum mosses. • In Kolkheti wetland grow following Boreal species ( native for tundra and taiga) as:  Sphagnum mosses (Spagnumimbricatum, Sp. palustre, Sp. acutiflium), round-leaved sundew (Droserarotundiflora), white beak sedge (Rhynhospora alba), woolly fruit sedge (Carexlasiocarpa)  marsh trefoil (Menianthestrifoliata).

6. In Kolkheti wetland grow sedge(Carexacutifolium, C. vesicariaand etc.), rush (Juncuseffusus, J. infexus, J. acutusand etc.), reed maceTyphalatifolia, T. angustifolia), common reed (Phragmitesaustralis), yellow iris( Iris pseudacorus), Imeretian sedge (Molinialitoralis), Royal fern(Osmundaregalis), golden rod (Solidagoturfosa), seashore mallow (Kosteletzkyapentacarpos) and others. Such species of mountainous Kolkhic flora as are azalea (Rhododendron luteum) and rhododendron (R. ponticum) add originality to Kolkheti peaty mires.

7. Alder tree and Sedge

8. 1. Natural tributaries to Pichori river ;2. Water lily (paneralium maritimum) at rocky coastal dune

9. 1. White lily (Nympaea colchica), Pichori river2. Dalmatian pelicans (Palecanus crispus), Paliastomi Lake

10. FaunaFauna of the park is its’ the most important shelter. While the exact place of species habitation isn’t defined yet. Birds (Aves) Ichthyofauna For such a rare species as is Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) mentioned in IUCN- Red List, over the last ten years was disseminated only in Rioni river. The swamps and wetland forests of the park , rivers and lakes of the Park provide wintering and resting place for 194 bird species. Some of them are migrating species. According to CMS or Bonn Convention and African-Eurasian Waterbird (AEWA) protected bird species are: Dalmatinan pelican (Pelicanus crispus), Common crane ( Grus grus),Black Storke (Ciconia nigra), Little Heron ( Egretta garzetta) et al.

11. Kobuleti Protected AreasTrial - Trip to the oldest wetlandThe Kobuleti Protected Areas were established in 1999 and cover the Kobuleti Strict Nature Reserve (331 ha) and Kobuleti Managed Nature Reserve (439 hectare), which are located along the Black Sea coast in the northern part of Kobuleti.

12. Importance of Ispani mires • The Protected Areas are distinguished with species of migrating waterfowls. Though, these places are very rich in plant species. At present there are partly degraded secondary plant communities in the Ispani-I. Ispani-II (Kobuleti Managed Nature Reserve) is a unique percolation dome-like mire of world importance that only feeds on rain water. The whole background for the peat mire of Kobuleti Protected Areas is covered with peat mosses – sphagnum species, such as white beak sedge (Rhynchospora alba), Imeretian sedge (Molinialitoralis) buckbean (Menyanthestrifoliata) and round-leaved sundew (Droserarotundiflora), et al.

13. Sphagnum

14. 1. Wetland Sedge 2. Round-leaved sundew in Ispani peat bog

15. Mtirala National Park • Significant part of the National Park territory ( ex Ciskara Nature Reserve) till 1960th in quite good condition. It should be noted, that almost all territory of the National Park is covered with forest and shrubs. Colchic vegetation is unique in the entire world – it is represented only in western part of the Black Sea area (ancient Kolchida). Uniqueness is stipulated by the fact that during the Ice Age Kolkheti provided shelter for tertiary relict plants some of them could be found here even now. Area of National Park is featured with typical Colchic vegetation, particularly with shrubbery. • Park creates wide opportunities for successful tourism development. At present Mtirala National Park is the only one protected area, which provides basement for bonding costal and mountain tourism.

16. Trail – Fairy Mtirala Mountain • Mtirala flora is abundant and diversified. In National park is distributed chestnut, beech and Colchic mixed forest. For Kolkheti is distinctive Rhododendron shrubbery . In Colchic forest one can find beech, lime, chestnut, alder trees, hornbeam. The sub-forest is covered with cherry laurel shrubs, Colchic box tree and several kinds of lianas .  

17. The first tourist trials bases from the visitor center at Mtirala National Park. The trail is going across the left bank of the river Chakvistavi. Its height is from 296 m to 476m. While passing the trail one can see species of Colchic flora and fauna: Georgian walnut listed in the Red Book, Colchis nut, Rhododendron; brown bear, marten, fox; eagle, hawk, blackbird and pigeon .

18. Relict beeches

19. Kintrishi Protected Areas Trial Legends of Colchic Forest • Kintrishi Protected Areas consist of Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve, founded in 1958 and andKintrishi Protected landscape, created in 2007. Kintrishi Protected Areas are situated in Kobuleti district of Adjara, at 360 km distance from Tbilisi in the Kintrishi river gorge between the village of Tskhemlovani and mount Khino. Lower border of Kintrishi Protected Areas stretches at 250-300 m above sea level, and the upper one borders on Alpine pastures.

20. Five hundred years old Yew tree • Kintrishi Protected Areas are characterized not only with variaty of relict elements of Colchic flora, but also by their speculiarities. Here you can find Pontic rhododendron, box tree, Cherry laurel of 20 meter height. Evegreen yew trees, beeces, chestnuts, limes and enwrapping them Colchic ivy.

21. Fauna • Is widely presenetd by animals and birds. Bear, wolf, lynx, deer, chamois, hare, badger, marten, fox, squirrel, wild boar. Upper slopes of mount are inhabited by egale, endemic species for Lesser Caucasus - snowcock. Fauna abounds following fish species: trout, mullet and amphibias: banded newt and Caucasian salamander. • In Kintrishi Protected Area there are numerous rivers and streams rich in trout. Kintrishi river is one of Georgian rivers , whci provides nesting place for sulmons. • In gorg ecan be founs Caucasus salamande and newt. • Salamander is commnon in villag eof Tsarakvetsa while newt in Tbikeli Lake .

22. Kintrishi river and its surroundings

23. Thank you !