The Area of Racha National Park will Increase by 4,759 hectares

The draft law “On Amendments to the Law of Georgia on the Establishment and Management of Racha Protected Areas”, initiated by the Government of Georgia, was presented to the Finance and Budget Committee by Zurab Ezugbaia, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.

As a result of the expansion of the Racha Protected Areas, a complex network of protected territories of different categories will be created.

According to the draft law, within the territory of Ambrolauri municipality, the area of Racha National Park will be increased by 4,759 hectares. In addition, the amendments envisage the establishment of the Ambrolauri Protected Landscape and five natural monuments — the Usholt, Kidobani, Sakishori, Muradi and Shareula caves.

As Deputy Minister Zurab Ezugbaia stated during the presentation, the project is of great importance for the development of the protected areas system, recreational zones and tourism infrastructure in the region. It will support the further development of local traditional agriculture, as well as the restoration and preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Racha National Park is located in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region, in Oni municipality. The park was established in 2023 and currently has a total area of 50,835 hectares.

The committee members supported the draft law in its first hearing.