GEORGIA
GEORGIA | Western Lesser Caucasus Eco-Corridor
The Western Lesser Caucasus Corridor is located in the Colchic biogeographic region in southwestern Georgia and follows the Meskheti Mountain Range, providing links between important conservation areas in Turkey and Georgia. The eco-corridor includes mountain forests, alpine meadows and a dense network of rivers and streams, which drain to the Black and Caspian Seas. The topography of the area is very steep, resulting in high risk of erosion and landslides giving the forests an important protective function. The corridor contains high biological and landscape diversity as it connects different biogeographical and climatic zones.
Connecting wildlife populations
in the Colchic forest landscape
Key Species & Habitat
Charismatic large mammal species have been selected to represent the biodiversity of the landscape.
The suitability of habitats for these species has been studied in order to set priorities for conservation measures. Habitats have been broken down into:
-
Core areas - most suitable habitats
-
Ecological traps - naturally suitable habitats where animals are threatened by human pressure
-
Potential refuges - naturally less suitable habitats where animals may evade human pressure
Key Species Habitat | Georgia
Key Species
Key Habitats
Caucasian red deer
Cervus elaphus maral
Critically endangered species on Georgia’s Red List
Jernej Stritih
Caucasian chamois
Rupicapra rupicapra caucasica
Endangered species on Georgia’s Red List
Jernej Stritih
Brown bear
Ursus arctos
Endangered species on Georgia’s Red List
Jernej Stritih
Forests
Mountain grasslands & mixed forest grassland
Rivers & rocky slopes
Natural & Cultural Heritage
Parks and Protected Areas
Borjomi‐Kharagauli National Park is located in central Georgia in the eastern part of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The park is located on a transition line between different climate zones and hosts remarkable biological diversity and landscapes.
Mtirala National Park is of high value for conservation as an example of relict Colchic flora. The park contains rare, relict flora and fauna species, endemic to the Adjara region and plays an important role in water regulation and erosion prevention.
Machakhela National Park has high diversity of relict and endemic flora and fauna throughout the Colchic-type mixed forests. Situated along the border of Turkey the park forms a cross-border protected area with the Camili Biosphere Reserve.
Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve (SNR) and adjacent Kintrishi Protected Landscape (PL) were established with to preserve unique Colchic forests, located in the valley of Kintrishi River.
Goderdzi Fossilized Forest Natural Monument is located at an altitude of 1600-2100 m along the Batumi-Akhaltsikhe road on Goderdzi Pass, in Adigeni and Khulo municipalities. The Natural Monument is managed by Borjomi-Kharagauli NP Administration and contains unique fossilized flora and fauna of the Pliocene Epoch visible in exposed ore deposits.
Jernej Stritih
Jernej Stritih
Conservation Agreements | GEORGIA
Western Lesser Caucasus Eco-Corridor
VIDEO | Explore Georgia's Ajara Region
May 2018
The short film Jara, takes viewers on a one year journey through the mountains of the Ajara region of Georgia, examining the shifting boundary between human habitat and wild nature.
It tells a story of bees in the forest, of the beauty and ruthlessness of nature, of local people and their lives intertwined with the region.
Partners
WWF Caucasus
WWF Germany
KfW Development Bank
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Georgia
Ministry of Economy Sustainable Development, Georgia
Local governments and landowners
Contacts
ECF Georgia Office
+995 32 2 23 75 00
11 Aleksidze Str
0193, Tbilisi, Georgia
Jernej Stritih
Chief Technical Advisor
Irakli Gogoladze
Nino Jamaspishvili
Administrative Assistant