Eng - Nacres

Protected Areas System of Georgia
The Agency of Protected Areas
www.dpa.gov.ge
Tbilisi, Georgia
19 December, 2008

General Information
• One of the 34 biologically richest and endangered ecosystems
(Conservation International)
• One of 200 vulnerable ecoregions (WWF)
• One of 221 endemic bird habitats (Bird Life International)
• 1912 -the first Protected Area in Georgia
• PAs cover 495,892 hectares Comprising 7, 1 % of the entire
country’s (75 % is covered by forests)
• According to the IUCN criteria there are:
– 14 Strict Nature Reserves
– 8 National Parks
– 14 Natural Monuments
– 12 Managed Nature Reserves
– 2 Protected Landscapes

The role of Protected Areas
The main goal of the Agency is protec on and
conserva on of nature and:
• Improving management of Protected Areas
• Crea on of PAs net
• Suppor ng and coordina on of scien fic researches
• Ensuring financial sustainabi lity
• Establishment of new PAs
• Development of trans-boundary coopera on
• Coordina on of coopera on between interested par es
• Crea on of global criteria PAs
Development ecotourism through the introduc on of
Concessions –form of outsourcing tourist services on
PAs

Na onal System of Protected Areas
Managed by the Agency of Protected Areas (APA)
–APA was formed on the basis of Department of
Protected Areas in February 2008 as a Legal Entity
Under Public Law
–Still under the Ministry of Environment Protection and
Natural Resources of Georgia (MoEPNR) but
–More independence in fundraising; budget distribution;
and income generating ability

50-Protected Areas
19 -Administra ons/territorial
units
Typical Structure of the
Protected Area
Administra on/territorial uni t
PA Director
Tbilisi NP
Tushe PA
Vashlovani
PA
Alge NP
Ajame MR
Borjomi-
Kharagauli
NP
Batsara
Babaneuli
PAs
Head of the
Protec on
Department
Head of the
Administra ve
Department
M ralaNP
Mariamjvari
SNR
Lagodekhi
PA
Agency of
Protected
Areas
Chachuna
MR
Gardabani
MR
Imere
Caves PA
Chief rangers
Rangers
Specialist of
Natural Resources
Accountant
Execu ve Assistant
LiakhviSNR
Katsoburi
MR
Visitor’s center
specialist
Kobule PA
Kazbegi NP
Kolkje NP
KintrishiPA
Technical Staff
(Genitor, guard,
etc)

The Financing and Financial
Structure
• Main sources of budget
– Grants
– Income Generated in PAs
– State Budget
• A posi ve trend –the state
Financing increased by approximately
Grants
State
Budget
income
100 % in 2008 Account of the Agency of
Protected Areas

PA Visitor Dynamics
60000
Statistic of the visitors in The Protected Areas according
to the years 15/12/08
53416
50000
40000
30000
24222
20000
10000
5669
9033
0
2005y 2006y 2007y 2008y

Long Term Goals
Georgia has produced a National
Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). NBAP’s
strategic goals and prioritiesare:
•Development protected areas system to
ensure conservation and sustainable use of
biological resources
•Maintain and restore Georgia’s habitats,
species, and genetic diversity through
conservation measures, and sustainable
use of biological resources
•Development of biodiversity monitoring
system and an active and integrated
biodiversity database to ensure sustainable
use and conservation of biological resources
•Raising public awareness of biodiversity
issues and to encourage public participation
in the decision making process

Other Current Projects and short term goals
• Expansion of Kazbegi PAs and
Creation of the Kazbegi Biosphere
Reserve
• Expansion of the Algeti PAs
• Creation of Transbaundary PA in
Javakheti and Lagodekhi
• Comprehensive training of trainers to
build capacity in various modules
• Developing comprehensive financial
sustainability plan
• Developing the concept and
architectural project for Tbilisi National
Park
• Creation of the Central Caucasus PAs

Reintroduction of Gazelles in Vashlovani
PAs
• Successful cooperation with The Ministry of Environment
and Forestry of Turkey - a preliminary visit of Turkish
experts for the assessment
• Prospects of cooperation with our colleagues from Central
Asia
Distribu on of GazellaSubgu urosain Eurasia

Reintroduction of Gazelles in Vashlovani
PAs
• Build 5 ha enclosure for
gazelles in Vashlovani PAs
• Creation of breeding centre
• Reintroduction of 10 adult
individuals from the
Republic of Turkey
• Possibility of reintroduction
additional individuals from
Central Asia

Reintroduction of Bezoar Goats in
Borjomi-Kharagauli NP(II phase)
•In 2006 by WWF support 9 Bezoar Goats were reintroduced from Armenia
in Borjomi-Kharagauli NP
•In 2007 first posterity were received (unfortunately all died)
•In 2008 second posterity were received
•New large enclosure should be built
•Possibility of reintroduction of additional
individuals from Turkey

Priority: elaboration of
Management Plans (MPs)
• Existing MPs are expired (for Borjom-Kharagauli, Tuseti,
Vashlovani, Lagodekhi, Kolkheti, Kobuletis and Batsara-
Babaneuri PAs)
• Borjomi-Kharagauli, Algeti, Gardabani, Kintrishi, Ajameti
and Nedzvi PAs are managed according to the
Temporary Regulatory Rules
• MPs are creating for Mtirala, Ktsia-Tabatskuri and
Central Caucasus (planned) PAs
• New MPs should be elaborated for all 18 PAs

International Cooperation
Some of our Donors

Thank you for your aen on!
For more informa on please see :
www.dpa.gov.ge