Conserving Kolkheti Wetlands to Enhance Regional Development

Abstract

Georgia has a total land surface area of 70 000 sq. km with a stable population of approximately 5.5 Million. 169 000 hectares are currently under protection in form of 14 nature reserves (2.4% of the land surface area). The protection category “Nature Reserve” corresponds to IUCN’s category I: “Strict Nature Reserve” which does not permit any resource utilization and/or human settlements. 58 000 hectares are managed in form of 5 hunting reserves (0.8% of the land surface area). The management category corresponds to IUCN category VI“ Managed Resource Protected Area”. Most reserves protect sub alpine forests and alpine grasslands. Each reserve has its own management personnel (professional foresters, administratively, forest management and reserve management are independent of each other). On a central level, protected areas are administered by the Department of Protected Areas, Nature Reserves & Hunting with direct access to the office of President.