PROTECTED AREAS IN AJARA PROTECTED AREAS IN GEORGIA

PROTECTED AREAS IN AJARA

PROTECTED AREAS IN GEORGIA The total area of the protected territories in Georgia is 520, 272. 85 hectares Comprising 7% of the total territory of the country. 75 % of the protected areas are covered with forests. 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

STATISTICS STATISTIC OF VISITORS IN THE PROTECTED AREAS ACCORDING TO THE YEARS / WAS UPDATED 2. 09. 2013

PROTECTED AREAS IN GEORGIA VASHLOVANI PROTECTED AREAS IMERETI CAVES PROTECTED AREAS BORJOMI-KHARAGAULI NATIONAL PARK TUSHETI PROTECTED AREAS

PROTECTED AREAS IN GEORGIA LIAKHVI PROTECTED AREA MARIAMJVARI PROTECTED AREA TBILISI NATIONAL PARK LAGODEKHI PROTECTED AREAS

PROTECTED AREAS IN GEORGIA PSKHU-GUMISTA PROTECTED AREAS CHACHUNA PROTECTED AREA GARDABANI PROTECTED AREA RITSA PROTECTED AREA

PROTECTED AREAS IN GEORGIA KAZBEGI NATIONAL PARK JAVAKHETI PROTECTED AREAS ALGETI NATIONAL PARK AJAMETI PROTECTED AREA

STATISTICS STATISTIC OF VISITORS IN THE PROTECTED AREAS OF GEORGIA / WAS UPDATED 2. 09. 2013

ABOUT AJARA Ajara is the Autonomous Republic within Georgia. Ajara is situated to the south-west of Georgia. Total area: 3 thousand sq. km (4, 2 per cent of total area of Georgia); Population: over 400 thousand people (82 per cent Georgians); Borders with Turkey to the south; Total border length: 270 km including 57 km marine; Administrative division: 1 administrative center, 5 regions ( Khulo, Shuakhevi, Kedi, Khelvachauri, Kobuleti), 7 town type settlements; Urban population: 48 per cent; Administrative center: Batumi

TOURISM IN AJARA

ABOUT AJARA PROTECTED AREAS THERE ARE FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN AJARA: 1. 2. 3. 4. KOBULETI PROTECTED AREAS KINTRISHI PROTECTED AREAS MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK MACHAKHELA NATIONAL PARK

KOBULETI PROTECTED AREAS Location: approximately 30 km from Batumi Total area: Other 770 ha, comprises the Kobuleti Strict Nature Reserve (Ispani I) and Kobuleti Managed Nature Reserve (Ispani II). It Represents a unique percolation-type wetland of international RAMSAR Convention importance and is considered as wet area for wintering birds. Ispani Wonders – Sphagnum Dome: The most in violable live sphagnum peatland on the world lies less than 300 m from the coast in Ajara. This mossy plant appears to be a seeming lake over the soil surface covered with 25 -45 cm sphagnum like a blanket that is never covered with water. Together with sphagnum (a unique and sensitive moss against environmental pollution), water creates a completely smooth dome without any hillocks. The dome is raised in 4 -5 m over the surroundings.

KOBULETI PROTECTED AREAS-Statistics VISITORS' QUANTITY IN KOBULETI PROTECTED AREAS ACCORDING TO THE MONTHS / WAS UPDATED 2. 09. 2013

KINTRISHI PROTECTED AREAS Location: The beautiful Kintrishi Valley lies 55 km from Batumi. The valley is located between Tskenlovani and Khino mountains at 2, 500 m above sea level. Total area: 13. 893 ha

KINTRISHI PROTECTED AREAS ECOTOURIST ROUTES Route I: “Tamar Arched Bridge” Route Duration: one and a half hours Route Length: 1 200 m Route II: Lake“Tbikeli” Route Duration: Two days Route Length: 37 km

KINTRISHI PROTECTED AREAS - Statistics VISITORS' QUANTITY IN KINTRISHI PROTECTED AREAS ACCORDING TO THE MONTHS / WAS UPDATED 2. 09. 2013

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK Location: Mtirala National park is located in the most western part of the Ajara-imereti range, on the Kobuleti-Chakvi ridge. Total area: 15. 306 ha

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK The park was created in 2006 through the initiative of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia and the Agency of the Protected Areas with the support of WWF and the Norwegian government

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK Visitors Center The Visitors Center, opened 2010, features four double-rooms with showers, dining areas and exhibits relevant to park biodiversity

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK The best place for bird watching

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK ECOTOURIST ROUTES Route I: “Tsablnari Path” Route Duration: four hours Route Length: 7 km Route II: Ring Path “Tsivskaro” Route Duration: two days Route Length: 15 km

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK Unique flora and fauna

MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK-Statistics VISITORS' QUANTITY IN MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK ACCORDING TO THE MONTHS / WAS UPDATED 2. 09. 2013

MACHAKHELA NATIONAL PARK Location: the south-western part of Georgia in autonomous republic of Adjara, in the ravine of the river Machakhela, which represents the transboundary river between Georgia and Turkey. Total area: It covers 8733 ha. 75% of the total area is covered by forest. Development of the National Park helps: • To protect the cholchic ecosystems, ensure the sustainability and balance • To form the ecological corridor of south west Georgia and north-east Turkey • To improve the social and economical conditions of local community Machakhela ravine characterized with endemic and relict species. 13 species of woody plants are the member of the red list. The National Park is rich with its fauna too.

TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE For attracting more visitors to Protected Areas of Adjara, it is necessary to continue improving the tourism infrastructure : • Install information boards • Develop tourism trails • Arrange picnic spots • Post in protected areas tourism marks and signs

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