5 New Protected Areas Created in Georgia This Year
According to the information of the Agency of Protected Areas, 5 new protected areas were created this year. Among them is the "Nugzar Zazanashvili Multiple Use Area", which is the first named area in Georgia and at the same time the sixth category of IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature, which was first established in Georgia.
As stated in the presentation of the annual report of the agency's activities, the area of protected areas in 2022 has increased by a record 116,720 hectares.
At the meeting, the achieved results in the direction of nature protection were also noted, which include forest restoration and pest control measures. The conversation touched on the forest inventory, which this year covered more than 33,665 hectares, as well as the development and approval of forest management plans. Special attention was paid to the SMART patrolling system in the protected areas of Georgia. implementation, which is one of the main achievements of 2022. The SMART patrolling and monitoring system makes patrolling by rangers even more efficient.
"The year 2022 is also outstanding in terms of infrastructure development - the unique ecotourism space of Tsalki Canyon was opened, which is very popular and is the focus of many international media outlets; the international standard visitor center of Pshav-Khevsureti National Park, Navenakhevi Cave was opened; a new exhibition space was organized in Machakhela National Park, Mtirala National Park In the park - ecotourism infrastructure; a network of up to 900 kilometers of trails was organized, including in Vashlovani National Park, Artsivi Gorge, Lagodekhi protected areas, the new trail of Ninoskhevi waterfall and others," the press service of the protected agency shares.
The summary meeting was attended by the Deputy Ministers of Environment Protection and Agriculture, Yuri Nozadze and Solomon Pavliashvili, as well as the heads of the Protected Areas Agency and representatives of donor organizations.