Interpretative Trials– Support to the Management of
Interpretive trials and Natural Protected Areas in the Black
Sea Region
Georgia, 2013
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:
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14 Strict Nature Reserves
10 National Parks
18 Managed Nature Reserves
24 Natural Monuments
2 Protected Landscapes
Biodiversity
• Kolkheti National Park
Trial Sea Route Paliastomi – Pichori
• Kobuleti Protected Areas
Trial Trip to the oldest wetland
• Mtirala National Park
Trial Fairy Mtirala Mount
• Kintrishi protected Areas
Trial Legends of Colchic Forest
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.
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 (Spagnum imbricatum, Sp.
palustre, Sp. acutiflium), roundleaved sundew (Drosera
rotundiflora), white beak sedge
(Rhynhospora alba), woolly fruit
sedge (Carex lasiocarpa) marsh
trefoil (Menianthes trifoliata).
• In Kolkheti wetland grow
sedge(Carex acutifolium, C.
vesicaria and etc.), rush (Juncus
effusus, J. infexus, J. acutus and
etc.), reed mace Typha latifolia, T.
angustifolia), common reed
(Phragmites australis), yellow iris
( Iris pseudacorus), Imeretian
sedge (Molinia litoralis), Royal
fern (Osmunda regalis), golden
rod (Solidago turfosa), seashore
mallow (Kosteletzkya
pentacarpos) and others. Such
species of mountainous Kolkhic
flora as are azalea (Rhododendron
luteum) and rhododendron (R.
ponticum) add originality to
Kolkheti peaty mires.
Alder tree and Sedge
1. Natural tributaries to Pichori river ;
2. Water lily (paneralium maritimum) at rocky coastal dune
1. White lily (Nympaea colchica), Pichori river
2. Dalmatian pelicans (Palecanus crispus), Paliastomi Lake
Fauna
Fauna of the park is its’ the most important shelter. While the exact
place of species habitation isn’t defined yet.
Birds (Aves)
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 AfricanEurasian Waterbird (AEWA)
protected bird species are:
Dalmatinan pelican (Pelicanus
crispus), Common crane ( Grus
grus), Black Storke (Ciconia nigra),
Little Heron ( Egretta garzetta) et
al.
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.
Kobuleti Protected Areas
Trial - Trip to the oldest wetland
The 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.
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 IspaniI. 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 (Molinia litoralis) buckbean
(Menyanthes trifoliata) and round-leaved sundew
(Drosera rotundiflora), et al.
Sphagnum
1. Wetland Sedge
2. Round-leaved sundew in Ispani peat bog
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.
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 subforest is covered with cherry
laurel shrubs, Colchic box tree
and several kinds of lianas .
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 .
Relict beeches
Kintrishi Protected Areas
Trial Legends of Colchic Forest
• Kintrishi Protected Areas consist
of Kintrishi Strict Nature
Reserve, founded in 1958 and
and Kintrishi 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 250300 m above sea level, and the
upper one borders on Alpine
pastures.
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.
Fauna
• Is widely presenetd by
• In Kintrishi Protected Area there
animals and birds. Bear,
are numerous rivers and streams
wolf, lynx, deer, chamois,
rich in trout. Kintrishi river is one
hare, badger, marten, fox,
of Georgian rivers , whci provides
squirrel, wild boar. Upper
nesting place for sulmons.
slopes of mount are
• In gorg ecan be founs Caucasus
inhabited by egale,
salamande and newt.
endemic species for Lesser
• Salamander is commnon in villag
Caucasus - snowcock.
eof Tsarakvetsa while newt in
Fauna abounds following
Tbikeli Lake .
fish species: trout, mullet
and amphibias: banded
newt and Caucasian
salamander.
Kintrishi river and its surroundings
Thank you !