Legends of Nature. georgia. Protected Areas of the Southern Caucasus. Implemented by:

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1 Legends of Nature Protected Areas of the Southern Caucasus georga Implemented by:

2 2 Georga Borjom Borjom-Kharagaul Natonal Park Vast Lands of Green Adventures Borjom-Kharagaul s one of the largest natonal parks n Europe and boasts breathtakng panoramas, unbroken swathes of wld forest and Georga s most famous medcnal sprngs. Page 10 Imeret Imeret Caves Protected Areas Traces of the Past The Imeret Regon s home to several protected areas featurng karst caves, zoologcal and botancal rartes, and thrllng dnosaur footprnts. Page 12 Kazbeg Kazbeg Natonal Park In the Shadow of Prometheus Destny Mystcal Kazbeg Natonal Park owes ts name to the ce-capped volcanc gant wth a lnk to the legendary story of Prometheus. Page 14 Kntrsh Kntrsh Protected Areas Ancent Vegetaton The breathtakng gorge of Kntrsh rver harbours a Strct Nature Reserve and Protected Landscape where colchc forests date back to tropcal geologcal eras. Page 16 Lagodekh Lagodekh Protected Areas Enchanted Forests of the Greater Caucasus In Georga s far north-east, abundant water streams sculpt wonderful mountan landscapes and endow dense fary-tale forests wth lush tones of green. Page 18 Mtrala Mtrala Natonal Park Msty Mountans Mtrala Natonal Park, located at the Black Sea and named after a weepng mountan, s Europe s ranest place and Georga s model protected area. Page 20 Tushet Tushet Protected Areas Close to Heaven Vstng Tushet means beng close to heaven. Leavng behnd Abano Pass on the only road to Tushet, enter the remote and fascnatng world of hgh mountan vllages wth ther tradtonal houses and remarkable defence towers datng back to the Mddle Ages. Page 22 Vashlovan Vashlovan Natonal Park Where Deserts and Forests Meet The regon of Vashlovan Natonal Park s remarkable for ts hot and dry clmate, unque nature and hstorcal monuments. Page 24 More Protected Areas Georga has many more nterestng protected areas to dscover. Fnd the place where the most eastern Chrstmas tree the Nordmann fr grows n Alget. Enjoy the fascnaton of brdwatchng n Javakhet s wde wetlands whch extend nto Turkey and Armena; experence Kobulet s unque ran-fed peatlands and watch dolphns n Kolkhet Natonal Park at the Black Sea. Tbls Natonal Park can be combned wth a vst to Mtskheta, Georga s hstorcal captal. Chachuna Protected Areas present wonderful landscapes wth grove forests and ard or sem-ard ecosystems. Page 26

3 Georga 3 Contents Welcome to Georga and the fascnatng Caucasus regon, one of the rchest and yet most threatened reservors of plant and anmal lfe on Earth. The Caucasus ecoregon s a bologcal meltng pot of anmal and plant speces orgnatng n Europe, Asa and Afrca. It also presents unque Caucasan characterstcs found nowhere else n the world. Currently, 10% of the Caucasus ecoregon s under legslatve protecton of some knd, but ths natural treasure s stll threatened and a lot of work les ahead. We need to extend and create areas of protecton, establsh habtat corrdors and develop transboundary approaches to management. In Georga, the conservaton and preservaton of natural hertage s safeguarded by the Agency of Protected Areas. Apart from ssues related to nature protecton such as conservaton management, scentfc research and envronmental educaton, we also consder the nterests of people lvng n the areas and wsh to mprove soco-economc lvng standards. The development of sustanable toursm has become a major ssue n ths context snce t offers promsng potental for generatng addtonal ncome whle also enablng us to fulfl our responsbltes regardng the treasures of nature. But apart from apprecatng our hertage from a natonal pont of vew, t s essental that we also see our role n contrbutng to a vtal network of protected areas n order to care for the Caucasus ecoregon as a whole. In ths context, we would lke to thank the German Federal Mnstry of Economc Cooperaton and Development (BMZ) and KfW Development Bank, both of whch have been actvely engaged n ths feld for more than a decade. Much of the progress made n protected area networkng and development results from ths long-lastng cooperaton. Fnally, ths publcaton has only been possble thanks to ths nvolvement and the effcent teamwork of dedcated ndvduals, agences and organsatons, all of whom deserve our thanks. The makng of the brochure was part of a funded transboundary programme nvolvng the countres of Armena, Azerbajan and Georga. It has gven us the opportunty to combne our regonal ssues and vews wth a unfed approach to market ecotoursm n the Southern Caucasus. Map... 4 Georga Treasures to Dscover Treasures to Protect...6 Borjom-Kharagaul Natonal Park Imeret Caves Protected Areas Kazbeg Natonal Park Kntrsh Protected Areas Lagodekh Protected Areas Mtrala Natonal Park Tushet Protected Areas Vashlovan Natonal Park More Protected Areas Useful Contacts Imprnt Ths publcaton contans feedback ganed from regonal and local representatves of conservaton and toursm bodes, protected areas and tour operators. Ther contrbutons hghlght the specal qualtes of protected areas and what they can offer to the tourst wllng to respect ther senstvtes. We are aware that the mplementaton of sustanable toursm s an on-gong journey wth many tasks to be fulflled and we wll proceed along ths route. Fnally, both sustanable toursm and the promoton of the dea of conservng our precous natural envronment wll be essental for both the people lvng n the areas and the protecton of bodversty. Ths brochure s desgned to str enthusasm for the wonders nature has created n Georga and the Caucasus ecoregon as a whole and to rase awareness for ther protecton. March 2015

4 4 Georga Educatonal trals / theme trals g Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng Guded tours Organzed tours over several days X Hkng Clmbng / mountaneerng Cavng Cyclng / mountan-bkng Horse trekkng Cross-country skng, sk-tourng Boatng Swmmng Nature accommodaton Vstor centre M E Museum Spa toursm

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6 6 Georga Treasures to Dscover Treasures to Protect Come and enjoy the fascnatng world of the Caucasus ecoregon. Magnfcent colours, wld contrasts, msty forests and wde open spaces wll nspre you to lsten to nature s legends and stores. Colourful remnder of tropcal tmes: Colchc forest n Mtrala Natonal Park, Georga. The ecoregon of the Caucasus has many stores to tell. Caucasan temperate forests show the greatest bologcal dversty of ther knd worldwde. Vast prmary forests unnfluenced by human cultvaton can stll be found here and, n the case of the so-called colchc forest, some trees and shrubs can even be traced back to geologcal tmes long before human exstence. The reason for the outstandng bodversty of the Caucasus ecoregon s ts extraordnary locaton. The whole regon, whch s about the sze of the Iberan Pennsula, s stuated between the Black Sea and Caspan Sea and s thus at a fascnatng cultural and bologcal crossroads coverng parts of Russa, Armena, Azerbajan, Georga, Turkey and Iran. Plant and anmal speces show a stunnng mx of European, Asan and Afrcan nfluences and have furthermore developed unque Caucasan representatves such as the west and east Caucasan tur, Caucasan black grouse, Caucasan salamander and specal varetes of rhododendron. Dvded by the South Caucasus depresson, the ecoregon comprses two man mountan chans - the Greater Caucasus n the north and the Lesser Caucasus mountans n the south, whch also surround the volcanc Southern Hghlands. Caucasan landscapes are characterzed by hgh mountan sceneres and colourful alpne meadows, rvers and gorges, wetlands and lakes, steppes and sem-deserts. There s a rapd change of alttudes rangng from areas below sea-level to hgh-mountan peaks of more than 5,000 metres. Along wth the specal stuaton between the two seas, ths has resulted n an amazng mx of clmatc condtons. Nne of eleven major clmate zones worldwde are present n the Caucasus. Thus, the Caucasus ncludes Mount Mtrala, the ranest place n Europe wth an annual ranfall of 4.5 metres, and dry sem-deserts where gazelles and reptles lve. Protected areas n the Caucasus (IUCN category) A true local! West and East Caucasan tur only occur n the Caucasus ecoregon. Where vultures and eagles fly: Impressve Sharp walls and semdesert n Vashlovan Natonal Park. n Strct Nature Reserves / State Reserves (Ia) ndcate that prorty s gven to scentfc use. They are defned as areas of hgh ecologcal, scentfc, and hstorcal-cultural value endowed wth specal beauty and resources. The natural envronment may develop wthout drect human nterventon. Access s lmted prmarly to scentfc research and some educatonal actvtes. However, n recent years also some access for vstors has been made possble. n Natonal Parks (mostly II) are areas of specal ecologcal, hstorcal-cultural and aesthetc nterest. They consst of natural and cultural landscapes and thus nvolve human actvtes along wth nature protecton ssues. Natonal parks requre a zonng system wth areas specally desgnated to strct protecton, to recreatonal and to economc actvtes. n Natural Monuments (III) am at the conservaton of unque or typcal natural objects of specal scentfc or hstorc-cultural value. n Sanctuares / State Reservatons / Managed Nature Reserves (mostly IV) am at conservaton through management nterventon. The focus s on specal habtats and speces for conservaton and reproducton. Today s sanctuares often go back to ancent huntng reserves, whch are now transformed under new objectves makng them nto landscape, botancal or zoologcal sanctuares. n Protected Landscapes (V) ndcate the protecton and management of areas where the nteracton of people and nature has produced a dstnct character of aesthetc, ecologcal or cultural value. Mantanng the tradtonal nteracton, conservaton and recreaton are major objectves of ths protected area category.

7 7 Kazbeg Natonal Park n the Greater Caucasus, Georga, features hgh mountan ecosystems wth botancally rch forests. The natural patchwork has produced a dversty of plants and anmals whch s twce as great as that of the neghbourng European and Asan regons. Scentfc assessments have dentfed 6,500 dfferent vascular plants, at least a quarter of whch are unque to the regon, whle 400 speces of brd, 150 speces of mammal, 130 speces of fsh and more than 80 speces of reptle have been lsted. Hotspot for protecton However the ecologcal stuaton s far from deal. Only about a quarter of the regon remans n good natural condton. Many speces are threatened and ther habtats have decreased. The Caucasan leopard stll appears n the Caucasus but s endangered. The bezoar goat, Caucasan chamos, bearded vulture and golden eagle can be observed but are declnng n numbers. Economc overuse, huntng and poachng are major threats to the natural resources. Moreover, fnancal resources are lmted and awareness of the rchness of the regon and the need for ts protecton are only startng to develop. Ths s the reason why Conservaton Internatonal has classfed the Caucasus as one of the globe s 25 most dverse and endangered bodversty hotspots and why t s amongst the WWF Global 200 regons, whch are defned as the most bologcally dverse. Naturally cross-border Currently 10% of the Caucasus ecoregon s under legslatve protecton of some knd however t s stll facng severe threats and there are lots of tasks for the future. The full range of bodversty of the Caucasus s not covered by protecton at the moment. There s the need to enlarge and establsh new areas for protecton. Moreover t wll be essental to go beyond a natonal approach and further develop a vtal network n order to support habtat corrdors and effectve transboundary management. Some gudelnes for vstors n Stay on the marked and sgnposted trals. n Pay attenton to tral markers. n Respect the gudelnes and advce provded by your gude or the park admnstraton. n Take your ltter and cgarette ends home. Even when bured, they damage the landscape. n Enjoy lookng at plants but take care. Leave plants, rocks and natural objects as you fnd them. n Be slent and leave anmals n peace. n Only lght fres n locatons specfcally desgnated for ths purpose. n Enjoy the use of non-smokng shelters and respect the rules of non-smokng. n Leave shelters clean and take your rubbsh home. n Take specal care n fog. Always use proper walkng boots, rangear and a hat. n Fnally, enjoy the wonderful sounds of nature do not make unnecessary nose.

8 8 Georga Dense, vrgn broadleaf forests are a real treasure of the Caucasus ecoregon. Internatonal support The past 10 years have seen a remarkable expanson of protected areas n the Caucasus ecoregon. A number of nternatonal programmes and ntatves have helped n assstng and fnancng protecton ssues and have fostered cross-border approaches. Internatonal bodes whch actvely engage n the Caucasus ecoregon nclude the governments of Germany, Norway, and of the Unted States, multlateral organsatons lke the EU, the Global Envronment Faclty and UNEP, nternatonal NGOs lke WWF and IUCN as well as nature conservaton trust funds such as CNF, prvate companes and scentfc nsttutons. German Cooperaton n the Caucasus Ecoregon The German Federal Mnstry for Economc Cooperaton and Development (BMZ) has a hstory of actve cooperaton wth the envronmental sector n the Southern Caucasus countres of Armena, Azerbajan and Georga. The Ecoregonal Nature Protecton Programme for the Southern Caucasus, fnanced by the BMZ through KfW Development Bank, serves as a key nstrument of ths cooperaton and focuses on the protecton of bodversty n the regon. It ams at harmonzng protecton objectves and nstruments n a cross-border approach wth sustanable soco-economc development and local partcpaton as major gudng prncples. The programme s supported by three man pllars: (1) Investments n Protected Areas Ths pllar serves to support the protected areas n the Caucasus ecoregon through nvestments amed at establshng and developng ndvdual areas. The nvestments lead to mprovements n management plans and nfrastructure (ncludng admnstratve headquarters, vstor centres and walkng trals) and are also used for tranng measures drected at admnstratve staff. The nvestments addtonally support soco-economc developments n local communtes lvng near the protected areas.

9 9 (2) The Caucasus Nature Fund - CNF To ensure the sustanablty of drect nvestments n the protected areas, the Federal Republc of Germany also provdes fnancal support to the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF), thus addressng the problem caused by a lack of long-term fnancng for the operatonal costs of the protected areas. CNF s a conservaton trust fund workng n publc-prvate partnershp wth the natonal governments. CNF s am s to stop the loss of bodversty by provdng long-term fundng for protected areas n Armena, Azerbajan and Georga, mprovng management practces, and promotng sustanable development. In addton to the support of the German government, CNF s wdely supported by major conservaton organsatons ncludng the World Wde Fund for Nature (WWF), Conservaton Internatonal and the Crtcal Ecosystem Partnershp Fund. Fnd out how you can donate and help protect the magnfcent nature of the Caucasus: (3) The Transboundary Jont Secretarat - TJS The thrd pllar provdes support to the Transboundary Jont Secretarat. It complements the cooperaton between Germany and the Southern Caucasus countres, beneftng protected areas n the ecoregon through transboundary cooperaton and harmonzaton of natonal polces. The TJS works to put mportant regonal aspects and nternatonal knowledge on bodversty on the natonal agendas. The World Wde Fund for Nature - WWF WWF focuses strategcally on places and speces whch are partcularly mportant for the conservaton of the earth s bodversty. In the early 1990s WWF started mplementng nature conservaton projects n the Caucasus. Based on wde assessments by more than 140 experts of all sx Caucasus countres defnng threats and prortes for conservaton WWF has also been nvolved n elaboratng the frst Ecoregonal Conservaton Plan for the Caucasus. The plan s now ready n ts second revsed edton of Wth ts longand mdterm targets and actons, t shall help those nvolved n conservaton to plan and coordnate ther actvtes n the entre ecoregon. On the way to sustanable toursm Sustanable toursm has the potental to play a major role n the future protecton of the Caucasus ecoregon. It can help the local economy to generate addtonal ncome whle smultaneously provdng support on protecton ssues. In order to fulfl ths objectve, t wll be necessary to foster sustanable regonal toursm development whch reflects the needs of the area n cooperaton wth local stakeholders. On ths bass, toursm can be guded n a sustanable drecton resultng n carefully planned vstor servces, the wellbeng of the populaton and greater awareness of the natural and cultural hertage. Get the real experence of the Caucasan hghlands on horseback. HIGH UP AND REMOTE BUT FULL OF HISTORY: WATCHTOWERS OF A TRADITION- AL VILLAGE IN TUSHETI, GEORGIA. Georga s Green Treasures Georga s home to an essental part of the natural treasures of the Caucasus ecoregon. Its landscapes vary between extremes: From the hgh-alttude ranges of the Greater Caucasus, ncludng the ce-mountan of Kazbek and the mountans of the Tushet regon, to the subtropcal msty forest of Kobulet by the Black Sea to the hot and ard sem-deserts of Vashlovan n the Lesser Caucasus at the south-eastern border of the country. The hstory of protected areas n Georga dates back to the 12th century, when Queen Tamar ( ) ssued a royal decree to protect certan terrtores. The Law Book of Kng Vakhtang of 1709 mentons Korug as a place for huntng where t was prohbted to fell trees and whch was strctly guarded aganst dsturbance. A systematc legal approach started n 1912, when Lagodekh was establshed as the frst offcal Strct Nature Reserve. Today about 511,000 hectares, whch s about 7% of the country, are under legal protecton, ncludng 14 strct nature reserves, ten natonal parks the frst beng Borjom-Karagaul (1995), 17 managed nature reserves, 28 natural monuments and two protected landscapes. Three new protected areas wth a total of 373,243 hectares are planned for future establshment. Furthermore, Georga possesses a rch cultural hstory gong back several thousand years. Its outstandng cultural unqueness s characterzed by prehstorc monuments, medeval churches and monasteres, mpressve watchtowers and tradtonal archtecture n charmng towns and vllages. The local people are hosptable and uphold the local tradtons, whch are closely connected to folklore and myths. Georga s sad to be the home of wne-makng, whch has a 7,000 year old tradton n the country. Over 500 varetes of grape are grown n Georga today.

10 10 Borjom Borjom-Kharagaul Natonal Park Vast Lands of Green Adventures - Borjom-Kharagaul s one of the largest natonal parks n Europe and boasts an extraordnarly hgh level of protected wlderness. Dfferent clmate zones have resulted n a mosac of landscapes rangng from vast forests to subalpne and alpne meadows. The park provdes shelter for endemc and endangered speces lke the colchc oak, Vnogradov s rs, the golden eagle, brown bear and lynx. Moreover, brdwatchers wll be rewarded, snce the Natonal Park s located on an mportant brd mgraton route. Besdes fantastc landscapes and breathtakng vews, the ancent regons of Tor, Imeret and Samtskhe tell ther story wth fortresses, monasteres and churches whle the ancent town of Akhaltskhe reveals ts past wth ts remarkable hstorcal museum. The southern dstrct s known for ts spas n Borjom and Lkan. A hstorcal ralway lne takes vstors through a narrow gorge to the wnter resort of Bakuran. Kharagaul dstrct n the north attracts wth ts excellent honey, earthenware crockery and basketry.

11 11 Hstorcal Places Don t mss Georga s popular spa resorts of Borjom and Lkan n the southern Borjom dstrct. Attracted by the medcnal sprngs and the beauty of the Borjom gorge, Tsar Ncholas II Romanoff decded to buld a summer resdence here. Known as Lkan Palace t was constructed n 1895 along wth a splenddly desgned park on the banks of the rver Kura. Medeval hstory wll fascnate vstors n the northern surroundngs of the park. In the dstrct of Aspndza, you can dscover a mysterous monastery ste stuated n the caves of Erushet mountan on the left bank of the Mtkvar rver. It goes back to Queen Tamar, who developed Vardza cave monastery n the 12th century to provde shelter from the Mongols. In Touch wth Nature The Natonal Park offers a vast network of trals and organzes guded tours. Trals vary n type, length and dffculty. Choose between trekkng on foot, horseback or mountan bke. The network ncludes: Nkoloz Romanoff Tral, St. Andrew s Tral, Panorama Tral, Pure Prstne Forest Tral, Zekar Pass Tral, Traces of Wldlfe Tral, Natonal Park Informaton Tral, Megruk Gorge Tral, and Shepherds Tral. Most of these are open from Aprl untl October. For plant enthusasts, the best tme to vst s June, when a sea of flowers wll welcome you. The rhododendron are n full blossom n sprng and early summer. Breathtakng panoramas wll nspre landscape photographers n September and October wth vews of the Black Sea and the Greater Caucasus mmersed n a symphony of autumn colours. Facts and Fgures Locaton: Central Georga, Samtskhe-Javakhet & Imeret Regons Sze: 85,047 hectares ncludng Natonal Park, State Reserve & Sanctuary Alttude: 450 m - 2,642 m Year of establshment: 1995 Landscape: Alpne meadows, subalpne meadows, forests, mountans Flora: Colchc box tree, sweet chestnut, beech, oak, orental spruce, Caucasan fr, Caucasan pne Fauna: Golden eagle, Caucasan black grouse, snowcock, red deer, roe deer, brown bear, lynx, Caucasan salamander, chamos, wolf Accommodaton: Guesthouses/prvate accommodaton, hotels n Borjom town, Lkan, Bakuran, Abastunam, Nuns, Marels; Natonal Park guesthouse n Marels How to get there: 160 km from Tbls, 2 hrs by car, 2 hrs by mn-bus/bus, 4 hrs by tran g X Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Guded tours hkng & hstorcal-cultural hkng tours Organzed tours over several days hkng & hstorcal-cultural tours Hkng Cyclng / mountan-bkng Dd you know Horse trekkng that Borjom-Kharagaul s a certfed member of the European PAN-Parks network? Ths label s only awarded after a thorough audt of ssues concernng protected wlderness, conservaton and vstor management. Sustanable toursm development and the park s cooperaton wth local busnesses are an mportant part of the qualfcaton. Info: M E Vstor centres Borjom, Kharagaul Museum exhbton hall, Borjom vstor centre Nature accommodaton cabns, campstes, shelters n the park Spa toursm n the regon

12 12 Imeret Imeret Caves Protected Areas Traces of the Past The Imeret Regon s home to several protected areas featurng karst caves, geologcal, paleontologcal, speleologcal, zoologcal and botancal specaltes. Satapla Nature Reserve s mostly covered wth the characterstc subtropcal colchc forest contanng beech, box-tree and hornbeam groves. Hkng n the dense forests, you can lsten to the sounds of nature, explore Satapla Cave wth ts stalacttes and stalagmtes and admre a gant dnosaur footprnt. The huge and mysterous Prometheus Cave nvtes you to dscover a magc world underground. Why not turn your attenton to culture and hstory after explorng the wonders of nature? The Imeret Regon s located n the ancent Georgan kngdom of Colchs, whch s scattered wth temples, relgous monuments, and fortress towers, some of whch are connected by secret tunnels.

13 13 In Touch wth Nature Satapla Cave was frst dscovered n 1925 by P. Chabukan, who worked as an envronmentalst n Kutas. He also found the vestges of settlements of prmtve men and dscovered the famous dnosaur footprnts. In 1935, the area contanng varous caves was protected as a strct nature reserve. The surroundngs of Satapla Cave offer hkng trals, ncludng a stunnng glass-bottomed vewng platform. Satapla Cave s comparably small, but stll fascnates wth ts fne cave formatons and of course the lmestone proof that dnosaurs once walked there. About 200 footprnts of 30 cm 48 cm have been found n dfferent lmestone layers to date. Musc and lght effects awat the vstor n Prometheus Cave n Kumstav, whch has just recently been modernzed wth techncal nstallatons. It abounds n beautful stalagmtes and stalacttes, stone waterfalls, and stone curtans and can also be dscovered on a boat trp on the underground rver. Vstors can opt to go on specal speleologcal, paleontologcal or photographc tours. Facts and Fgures Locaton: Central Georga, Imeret Regon Sze: 505 hectares Alttude: 180 m m Year of establshment: 1935 Landscape: Karst caves and colchc forests Flora: Colchc (relct) forest, colchc box tree, chestnut tree, oak tree, colchc bladdernut, small-leaved lnden Fauna: Wolf, golden jackal, European badger, roe deer, fat dormouse, Kaznakov s vper, varous bat speces Accommodaton: Accommodaton at the park admnstraton, guesthouses/prvate accommodaton and hotels n Kutas How to get there: 220 km from Tbls, 3 hrs by car, 4 hrs by mn-bus/bus; 7 km from Kutas, 20 mn by car Hstorcal Places Georgan cultural monuments and archtecture can be explored n the surroundngs of Satapla Reserve. Near Satapla you wll fnd the runs of the ancent cty of Van, whch was destroyed n the 1st century B.C. Van s a rch archaeologcal ste where the manfold remans of a fortfcaton and the runs of cult buldngs can be dscovered. Dd you know that the cave was named after Mount Satapla, an extnct volcano 494 metres n heght? Snce ancent tmes ths mountan has been an deal locaton for bees. No wonder the surroundng vllages have a long tradton n beekeepng and accumulatng honey n the rockcracks. Over the course of tme and thanks to plentful honey harvests, the mountan became known as Satapla whch stands for land of honey. M E Educatonal / theme trals Guded tours speleologcal, paleontologcal, nature, hstorcal-cultural Cavng Boatng Vstor centre n Satapla and n Prometheus Museum exhbton hall, Satapla vstor centre Spa toursm n the regon

14 14 Kazbeg Kazbeg Natonal Park In the Shadow of Prometheus Destny - Kazbeg Natonal Park n the Greater Caucasus owes ts name to Mount Kazbek or Mqnvartsver, whch s Georgan for ce mountan. At 5,047 metres, the dormant volcano s the thrd hghest peak n Georga. The regon s tectoncally very actve, wth regular small earthquakes and geothermal hot sprngs. Kazbeg Natonal Park stretches out over several thousand hectares of protected nature. It dsplays a magnfcent patchwork of ancent gorges and wld rver valleys, topped by majestc snow-capped mountans. Vstors fnd wld forests, jagged basalt rocks, lava clffs and hgh meadows wth alpne flowers where the east Caucasan tur and chamos roam. Hstorcalcultural monuments, churches, watchtowers and tradtonal vllages dot the valleys. Local people, the custodans over Georga s far north, are hosptable and uphold the local tradtons, whch are closely connected to folklore and myths.

15 15 Meet the People The local people call themselves the Mokheves or gorge dwellers. They are fercely ndependent hghlanders who for centures protected Georga from foregn ncursons from the north. They controlled and managed the man northern route nto central Georga, whch leads through the narrow and deep Daral gorge. Old tradtons, hghland customs and tradtonal ways of lfe play an mportant role n ther culture. Hosptalty and busness connected wth a wde range of toursm servces as well as fne local products have a long-standng tradton here due to the mportance of hgh mountan passes n Georga. Tradtonal clan structures are stll alve and watch over the safety of travellers. In Touch wth Nature Explore the spectacular and vared mountan scenery along the Terg rver, whch follows wde glacal valleys and carves ts course down nto the narrow Daral gorge. Hkng trals wll lead you through lush broadleaf and hgh conferous forests, across steep slopes and ragng rvers nto the hgh alpne meadows. The hghlands are an nvtaton for outdoor campng as well as stunnng trekkng tours across age-old shepherds passes. Enjoy the relaxed charm and hosptalty of Stepantsmnda and hke along Gerget tral, beyond the mpressve Trnty church, as far as Gerget glacer and all the way up to the Ice Mountan Kazbek. Facts and Fgures Locaton: North-east Georga, Mtskheta-Mtanet Regon Sze: 8,686 hectares Alttude: 1,300 m - 4,200 m Year of establshment: 2007 Landscape: Mountans, glacal valleys, alpne and subalpne meadows Flora: Pne, junper, fr, sea-buckthorn, Caucasan brch, beech, Caucasan oak, alpne vegetaton wth campanula, gentans Fauna: East Caucasan tur, chamos, pne marten, wolf, brown bear, Eurasan grffon vulture, golden eagle, Caucasan grouse, Caucasan snowcock Accommodaton: Hotels, guesthouses/prvate accommodaton n Stepantsmnda and surroundng vllages How to get there: 150 km from Tbls, 3 hrs by car or mn-bus/bus X Hkng n the Natonal Park Sk-tourng n Gudaur resort close to the Natonal Park Clmbng / mountaneerng n the regons borderng the Natonal Park Mountan bkng n the regons borderng the Natonal Park M Museum Kazbeg Museum, Ethnographc Museum n Stepantsmnda Dd you know that Mount Kazbek s assocated wth Prometheus, who was chaned to t as a punshment for stealng fre from the gods and takng t to humans? Hs prson s sad to be n Betlem, a cave whch became an Orthodox hermtage and, accordng to legends, housed many sacred relcs, ncludng Abraham s tent and the manger of Jesus.

16 16 Kntrsh Kntrsh Protected Areas Ancent Vegetaton - Kntrsh Strct Nature Reserve and Kntrsh Protected Landscape are located n the Kobulet dstrct n the breathtakng gorge of the Kntrsh rver, whch flows through the Adjara Regon. The protected areas of Kntrsh start at a heght of metres by the Black Sea and lead up to the alpne pastures of the Adjara-Imeret mountans. Ths barrer captures the humd sea ar and generates the humd clmate whch s typcal of Kntrsh. The mountan relef n the strct nature reserve s deeply scored by the gorge of Kntrsh rver as t makes ts way down from Mount Khno to the Black Sea near the resort town of Kobulet. Hkers are rewarded wth amazng steep waterfalls of up to 70 metres, wonderful rhododendron blossom n sprng, the relcts of the ancent colchc forests and charmng mountan lakes.

17 17 In Touch wth Nature The admnstraton of the protected areas of Kntrsh offers a one-day tour leadng over an ancent arch stone brdge across Kntrsh rver, through colchc forests wth box trees, and past Kntrsh s astonshng waterfalls. You wll dscover yew trees and the church of Khnotsmnda, and stop for a refreshng rest at Tbkel Lake at 2,000 metres on a two-day hkng or horse trekkng tour. The hghly toxc yew trees are precous relcts of the ancent forests datng back to geologcal tmes. Only eght speces of ths tree survve worldwde untl today. They grow only one metre n ten years and can become nearly 4,000 years old. Facts and Fgures Locaton: South-west Georga, Adjara Regon Sze: 13,893 hectares Alttude: 250 m - 2,500 m Year of establshment: Nature Reserve 1959, Protected Landscape 2007 Landscape: Forests, alpne and subalpne landscape types Flora: Colchc relct forest, sweet chestnut forest, hornbeam forest, colchc box tree, oak tree, yew tree, conferous forest Hstorcal Places Kntrsh gorge s located n the hstorcal Land of Achara, whch abounds n ancent monuments and places. Accordng to the Roman hstoran Strabone, 120 brdges once crossed the Ron rver n Colchs, the ancent pre-chrstan Georgan kngdom. Stone arch brdges datng back to the 11th/12th centures are stll very evdent today and are amongst the oldest whch are stll n use n the world. Other stes nclude the Khnotsmnda church near the vllage of Ddvake, the fortress of Elya near the vllage of Achkvstav and Mamyka s fortress near the vllage of Alambar. Fauna: Brown bear, wolf, lynx, chamos, roe deer, Caucasan squrrel, hare Accommodaton: Shelter, campste n Tskhemvan vllage; campste n Zerabosel How to get there: 360 km from Tbls, 5-6 hrs by car, 6 hrs by mn-bus/bus, 8 hrs by tran X Educatonal / theme trals Guded tours nature, hstorcal-cultural Organzed tours of several days manly hkng & cultural tours Hkng Horse trekkng Nature accommodaton shelters, campstes n the protected area Dd you know that the evergreen shrubs of colchc box trees are relcts of ancent vegetaton datng back to geologcal tmes wth tropcal, subtropcal and moderate clmate condtons? They reach an average heght of eght to ten metres, and become years old.

18 18 Lagodekh Lagodekh Protected Areas Enchanted Forests of the Greater Caucasus - In Georga s far north-east, water plays wth the earth, sculpts the land, and preserves ts enchantng nature. In the Lagodekh Nature Reserve, Georga s oldest protected area, glacal alpne lakes spll nto swellng mountan streams, whch grow and rage ever deeper down the gorges between narrow pne-clad slopes. Ther rapd torrents cascade nto mpressve waterfalls, whch are sometmes as hgh as 40 metres. The water fnally quetens down n the lower zones, where t feeds the wdenng valleys wth ther magnfcent broad leaf forests, remndng one of fary tale stores. Along the many trals, hkers can trace the path of the water back from the valley floors to the hgh rdges where t orgnated. On ther way, they wll enjoy the lavsh dversty of the green forest and mountan meadows. Ths s possble almost all year round due to the humd subtropcal clmate.

19 19 Meet the People Numerous bural grounds, Bronze Age crypts, castles, and medeval churches are testmony to age-old human actvty datng back to pre-chrstan tmes. On the grasslands of Lagodekh, shepherds stll herd ther lvestock accordng to the age-old tradton of movng between lower wnter pastures and the summer meadows up n the hgher areas. The grazng of sheep not only provdes local ncome, but also mantans a very hgh ecologcal dversty of pasture ecosystems wth abundant meadow flowers at subalpne levels. In Touch wth Nature Be nspred by the fresh ar and the splendour of nature at each and every step you take. Whether on foot or on horseback, the network of trals wll mmerse you deeply n the wlderness. Varous one-day walks take vstors to Mach castle, Gurgenan waterfall and along the Lagodekh waterfall routes. A mountan tour along the Shav Klde lake route takes several days, wth overnght stops n pure nature n a shelter or tent. You wll lterally feel the most green abundance of the trees, ferns, and mosses of the lower valleys. The deep decduous forests wth ther old vy-covered trees, streams and cascades wll remnd you of fary tales before they slowly gve way to pne forests and open out nto alpne meadows wth colourful flowers and wde mountan vstas. Facts and Fgures Locaton: North-east Georga, Kakhet Regon Sze: 24,451 hectares Alttude: 400 m - 3,500 m Year of establshment: 1912 Landscape: Forests, subalpne and alpne meadows Flora: Beech, alder, hornbeam, oak, maple, lme, sycamore, brch, rhododendron, peony, berbers, snowdrop, cowslp Fauna: East Caucasan tur, chamos, roe deer, red deer, brown bear, wolf, lynx, Caucasan black grouse, Caucasan snowcock Accommodaton: Guest rooms n the vstor centre, guesthouses/prvate accommodaton, hotels n Lagodekh town How to get there: 160 km from Tbls, 2:30 hrs by car, 2:30 hrs by mn-bus/bus Educatonal / theme trals Wldlfe watchng Guded tours pantng, photo, vdeo, cultural tours Dd you know that a Polsh offcer named Ludwk Mlokosevcz, who had been exled by the Russan Tsar, dscovered n 1875 that the Caucasan grouse of Lagodekh was dstnct from the black grouse of Europe? Thus t was named Tetrao Mlokosewcz and s forever assocated wth the offcer and Lagodekh. One of the dfferences between the Caucasan grouse and ts European relatves s the whte undersde of the wngs, whch can only be seen n flght. X M Organzed tours of several days hkng & cultural tours Hkng Horse trekkng Vstor centre Lagodekh town Museum exhbton hall n the vstor centre Nature accommodaton campng, shelters wthn the protected area

20 20 Mtrala Mtrala Natonal Park Msty Mountans - Mtrala Natonal Park, stuated n the Adjara Regon at the Black Sea borderng Turkey, s a model protected area n Georga whch combnes nature conservaton wth ecotoursm. Blessed wth a humd clmate, Mtrala s gently rollng mountans are lavshly covered wth evergreen shrubs, colourful rhododendron bushes and msty, mpenetrable colchc forests datng back to ancent tropcal clmate condtons. Vstors can explore coastal, hlly and mountanous zones reachng up to 1,600 metres above sea level wth wonderful gorges, canyons, and waterfalls. The area s home to many mneral and fresh water sprngs of medcnal value. Wth an annual ranfall of up to 4,520 mllmetres, Mtrala mountan s the ranest place n Europe. No wonder t s called Mtrala, whch means crybaby!

21 21 In Touch wth Nature Mtrala Natonal Park offers varous trals startng from the vstor centre n Chakvstav. A moderate tral of seven klometres leads along Chakvstav rver up to a heght of 476 metres. The route carres on through colchc forest wth ts rhododendron, box trees and ferns as far as a small lake and an mpressve waterfall. Another tral of 16 klometres nvtes you to a round tour ether on foot, horseback or bcycle. You pass through colchc forest, and then clmb up to 1,450 metres, where you can spend the nght n a shelter. Chestnut trees can be seen on your way back to the vstor centre, where you can stay n guesthouses, unpack your tents and replensh your energes n the restaurant of Chakvstav vllage. Facts and Fgures Locaton: South-west Georga, Adjara Regon Sze: 15,806 hectares Alttude: 135 m - 1,765 m Year of establshment: 2007 Landscape: Mxed broad-leaved colchc forests, chestnut forests, beech forests Flora: Ground laurel, Ungern s rhododendron, brch, pontne oak, beech, hornbeam, chestnut, box tree, Caucasan oak Meet the People An nterestng tme n whch to experence Adjaran culture s early September, when about 200 people celebrate The Festval n Chakvstav. Durng ths perod, locals and vstors take part n folk dances, craft exhbtons, and compettons, and enjoy Adjaran cookng tradtons. In the vllage restaurant, vstors can taste Snor (a warm savory bread puddng wth butter and cheese), Adjaran khachapur (cheese bread topped wth egg and butter), and pan-fred eggplant tossed n walnut sauce. 15 varetes of honey produced by more than 40 local beekeepers are sold at the Natonal Park s vstor centre. Dd you know Fauna: Roe deer, chamos, brown bear, golden jackal, Caucasan salamander, Caucasan squrrel, booted eagle, common buzzard, honey buzzard Accommodaton: Guesthouses/prvate accommodaton, guestrooms n vstor centre Chakvstav How to get there: 320 km from Tbls, 5-6 hrs from Tbls by car and mn-bus/bus; 1:30 hrs from Batum X 3 Educatonal / theme trals Guded tours brdwatchng, nature tours Organzed tours of several days hkng & cultural tours Hkng Quadra-Cyclng four-wheeled pedal-powered vehcles Horse trekkng that the solated locaton of Mtrala Natonal Park ensured the survval of so-called colchc forests datng back to tropcal tmes, makng t a topprorty protected area n Europe? Ground laurel (epgaea gaultherodes), one of the rarest plant speces of the Adjara Regon, fnds shelter here. M Vstor centre Chakvstav vllage Museum exhbton hall n vstor centre Nature accommodaton shelter, campstes n the park

22 22 Tushet Tushet Protected Areas Close to Heaven - Vstng Tushet means beng close to heaven. Leavng behnd Abano Pass on the only road to Tushet, you wll enter the remote and fascnatng world of hgh mountan vllages wth ther tradtonal houses and remarkable defence towers datng back to the Mddle Ages. Tushetans only lve here n summer, when they graze ther sheep and cattle on the mountan pastures. Ths s where you wll also meet the Georgan shepherd dog, an old breed whch orgnates n ths area. The beauty and peace of the Tushet mountans, grasslands, gorges and rvers are a paradse for vstors and nature lovers alke. Here you can encounter specal Caucasan trees, shrubs, flowers and brds, all of whch have found ther heavenly nche n the hghlands of Tushet.

23 23 Be part of t - Events In Tushet you can explore hstorcal stes, tradtonal customs, Tushetan cusne, musc and local products. Why not combne all of these and take part n one of Tushet s famous festvals? Tushetoba festval s held n July and ncludes tradtonal Tushetan games. Women s teams compete n a wool processng contest ncludng cardng, spnnng and knttng whle men measure ther sklls n archery, stone-flckng or knfe-throwng n a varety of dffcult postons. Zezvaoba festval, the hghlght of whch s a horse race, takes place n May. The festval s dedcated to the Tushetan local hero Zezva Gaprndaul, a warror who defeated the Persans at the battle of Bakhtron n Dd you know that Tushetan cookng s closely connected to the produce of the local surroundngs offer? Cattle, sheep, goat, dary products, sustanable feld-crops as well as game and wld plants have always been pllars for survval. The result s a cusne of the mountans whch s rch, seasonal and local. Try khnkal a pasta dsh stuffed wth meat, potatoes, butter or wth kalt, the local cottage cheese flavoured wth thyme or caraway. In Touch wth Nature If you are lookng for somethng really close to nature, Tushet s the place for you! Ths s the home of 230 endemc Caucasan plant speces, 90 speces of brd and 60 speces of mammal. At the end of May and begnnng of June, when the slopes are stll covered n snow, you can admre Caucasan rhododendron, huckleberry, crowberry, and many more blossomng plants. Hkng and horse trekkng trals rangng from two to fve days start out from Omalo. The regon s popular for hkng but please be aware that you can only go durng the summer months and that luxury s not to be expected as the area s almost naccessble. Although toursm nfrastructures may be smple, you wll be rewarded wth warm hosptalty, authentc tradtonal culture and magnfcent nature. Facts and Fgures Locaton: North-east Georga, Kakhet Regon Sze: 113,660.2 hectares Alttude: 1,650 m - 4,493 m Year of establshment: 1980 Landscape: Hgh mountan ranges, gorges, rvers, alpne and subalpne meadows, shrubbery, pne and brch forests Flora: Tushetan yellow prmrose, Georgan hazelnut, dog-rose, catchfly Fauna: East Caucasan tur, chamos, wld goat, boar, stone and pne martens, roe deer, brown bear, wolf, lynx, Caucasan snowcock, Caucasan black grouse, grffon vulture, bearded vulture, golden eagle Accommodaton: Guesthouses/prvate accommodaton, small hotels n Omalo, Dartlo, Chesho, Verkhovan, Shenako, Dklo, Chgo, Baso, Alsgor; most accommodaton s not open before July How to get there: 215 km from Tbls, 3:15 hrs by car; the road to Tushet s accessble from early June to early October by 4WD vehcles only. X M Educatonal / theme trals Wldlfe watchng observaton ponts Guded tours adventure, photo, nature, hstorcal-cultural tours Organzed tours of several days hkng & cultural tours Hkng Horse trekkng Vstor centre Omalo vllage Museum exhbton hall n the vstor centre Nature accommodaton campng, shelters n the park

24 24 Vashlovan Vashlovan Natonal Park Where Deserts and Forests Meet - The regon of Vashlovan Natonal Park s remarkable for ts hot and dry clmate, unque nature and hstorcal monuments. Here you wll fnd the typcal natural nhabtants of deserts and steppes, lowland shrubberes and sparse forests, whch provde deal lvng condtons for the gotered gazelle. The scenery of Alzan rver, wth ts shady tree groves, gves way to magnfcent rugged clffs and canyons where vultures soar. Besdes the Greek tortose and other reptles, Bear Canyon dsplays ts geologcal fauna wth shells and well-preserved fossls of elephant bones n ts lme-stone layers. Apart from enjoyng the wonders of nature and hstory, you can get a real taste of Vashlovan, known for ts delcous honeys and tradtonal wne cellars.

25 25 Meet the People Do you lke stores and legends? Tamara s or Khornabuj castle s located close to Eagle Canyon and s the perfect place to dream amdst the cultural hstory of the area. The fortress tself has a long hstory: ts orgns go back to pre-chrstan tmes and t later flourshed as a tradng town n the 12th century under Queen Tamar, after whom t s named. Wth a lttle luck you mght meet one of the famous story tellers of the regon who come to places lke ths on warm summer evenngs to tell legends to vstors n the sunset hours. In Touch wth Nature Vashlovan Natonal Park offers attractve hkng routes such as the short tral to Eagle Canyon wth ts beautful landscapes and small sprngs. Vashlovan tral s a 2-3 days hke whch leads through the heart of the Natonal Park for 80 klometres, offerng an exctng route through the typcal landscapes and habtats of the Natonal Park. Smple but cosy two-person cabns nvte you to sleep n the heart of nature. On a ranger tour you can watch rare brds, dscover botancal rartes and observe gazelles grazng n the late afternoon. Sprng and autumn are the best tmes to enjoy the fauna and flora of Vashlovan. That s when colours are at ther best and flocks of mgratng brds lke the beautful yellowsh bee-eater can be encountered. Facts and Fgures Locaton: East Georga, Kakhet Regon Sze: Natonal Park: 24,610 hectares; all protected areas: 35,054 hectares Alttude: 150 m m Year of establshment: 1935 Landscape: Deserts, sem-deserts, steppes, badlands, lowland shrubbery, lght forests, rvers, canyons, sharp clffs, ravnes Flora: Kakhetan bellflower, Georgan rs, pstacho, Echleran tulp, poplar tree, stnkng junper Fauna: Black stork, buzzard, colchc pheasant, fox, jungle cat, Caucasan leopard, brown bear, strped hyena, wld boar, lynx, wolf, gotered gazelle, lebetne vper, Greek tortose, Egyptan vulture, grffon vulture Accommodaton: Guesthouses/prvate accommodaton, small hotels, guest rooms n vstor centre n Dedoplstskaro How to get there: 130 km from Tbls, 2 2:30 hrs by car and mn-bus/bus g Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng observaton pont - gazelles Dd you know that Vashlovan means garden of apple trees n Georgan? Actually, the name refers to the pstacho trees, whch are very wdespread n the regon and happen to look smlar to apple trees at frst sght. X M Guded tours brdwatchng, reptles, gazelles, flora Hkng Horse trekkng Vstor centre Dedoplstskaro Museum exhbton hall n vstor centre Nature accommodaton shelters, campstes, cabns n the park

26 26 Georga More Protected Areas g X Brdwatchng Guded tours archaeologcal tours Hkng Mountan-bkng Horse trekkng Alget Natonal Park Alget Natonal Park stretches across the south-eastern slope of the Tralet range, the source of the Alget rver from whch t derves ts name. Here you wll fnd mountans up to 1,950 metres n heght whch are covered by valuable conferous and decduous forests. The Nordmann fr wdely popular as the Chrstmas tree - reaches ts most eastern lmt n Alget, one of the man reasons for establshng the protected area. Popular actvtes nclude hkng, horsetrekkng, cyclng and brdwatchng. Horserdng routes of three to sx hours are offered. Several churches and a cave are also worth vstng. g X Brdwatchng Hkng Horse trekkng Javakhet Protected Areas Javakhet Protected Areas are one of the hot spots for brdwatchng n the Southern Caucasus. It was only n 2011 that the wetlands were declared as protected areas to create a cross-border vson of conservaton wth Turkey and Arp Natonal Park n Armena. Durng the mgratory seasons of sprng and autumn, you can admre up to 200 dfferent speces of brd. However, brd speces can stll be observed n summer and wnter. Moreover, the regon of Samtskhe Javakhet s of nterest due to ts partcular cultural mx of Armenan, Georgan and Turksh characterstcs. g X Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng observaton ponts Hkng marsh-skng Kobulet Protected Areas Kobulet Protected Areas present a very specal landscape wth an mpressve panorama of gentle green beds of clover and unque peatland. Ths s the only regon n the world where sphagnum-domnated, ran-fed peatlands occur n a warm-temperate clmate. Kobulet s therefore recognzed as a wetland of nternatonal mportance, especally wth respect to ts mres and relct forests. In the strct nature reserve, observaton towers offer attractve vews over ths vulnerable and untouched habtat. A closer look s possble n the area surroundng the reserve: put homemade snowshoes on and walk over the whte tender sphagnum moss whlst studyng but not damagng t.

27 27 g Brdwatchng Boatng Kolkhet Natonal Park Kolkhet Natonal Park s the only Georgan natonal park whch ncludes coastal areas of the Black Sea. Moreover, the protected area ncludes the lake of Palastom. Kolkhet Natonal Park ams at the preservaton of ts wetland ecosystems. You can enjoy a four-hour tour on the Pantom boat and observe varous mgratory and water brds feedng peacefully across the mouth of Pchor rver. Furthermore, you wll enjoy the natural scenery of swampy alder tree forests whch spread out across the northern part of the bog. Vstors can also go kayakng on the Pchor rver or observe dolphns from a boat n the Black Sea. X Hkng Horse trekkng Tbls Natonal Park The park overlooks fascnatng natural landscapes, the ancent cty of Mtskheta, the Aragv gorge, and the snow-covered Caucasus mountans. Gorges, rvers, artfcal lakes and natural sprngs can be found here. Tbls Natonal Park was establshed n order to protect the endangered forest fauna, notably Caucasan red deer and lynx. The forest ecosystem comprses Georgan oak, Orental beech, ashes, Caucasan hornbeam, Orental hornbeam and crabapple trees. Representatves of relct colchc flora can also be encountered, such as colchc holly, colchc and Pastukhov plush, box tree or butcher s broom. The Natonal Park s just a 20 mnute walk from Tbls centre. It can be deally combned wth a vst to Mtskheta, the former captal of Georga, and ts 6th century monastery. g X Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng anmal and brd observaton ponts Guded tours photo tours and others Hkng Chachuna Sanctuary Rght at the edge of south-east Georga, at the border to Azerbajan, you can vst the Managed Nature Reserve of Chachuna. It presents a landscape whch s typcal of grove forests and ard and sem-ard ecosystems wth specally adapted fauna. The wetland part of the park offers spectacular brd lfe whch you can experence from observaton ponts. Apart from brd- and wldlfe watchng, botancal, photographc and envronmental tours are offered. Nature lovers can rent a tent and sleepng bag and stay n the reserve overnght. Why not combne a nature experence wth one of Georga s most mportant outstandng hstorcal monuments? In the monastery complex of Davd Garej caves, you can wander around hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectores and lvng quarters carved out of the rock.

28 28 Georga Useful contacts State Agency Protected Areas The Mnstry of Envronment Protecton of Georga The Agency of Protected Areas - APA 6, G. Gulua Street, Tbls 0114, Georga Phone: ; E-mal: nfo@apa.gov.ge State Agences Toursm Development Georgan Natonal Toursm Admnstraton - GNTA 4, Sanapro Street, Tbls 0105, Georga Phone: E-mal: nfo@gnta.ge Department of Toursm and Resorts of the Autonomous Republc of Adjara 84/86, Parnavaz Mepe Street, Batum 6010, Georga Phone: , E-mal: nfo@toursmadjara.ge n Alget Natonal Park Park Admnstraton 4, Kurort Street, Mangls 2309, Georga Phone: , E-mal: nfo@apa.gov.ge n Borjom-Kharagaul Natonal Park Park Admnstraton 23, Meskhet Street, Borjom 1200, Georga Phone: E-mal: welcome@borjom-kharagaul-np.ge Vstor Informaton Borjom Toursm Informaton Centre Rustavel Street, Borjom 1200, Georga Phone: E-mal: tcborjom@gmal.com Vstor Informaton Bakuran Toursm Informaton Centre 1, Aghmashenebel Street, Bakuran 1204, Georga Phone: , E-mal: tcbakuran@gmal.com n Chachuna Protected Area Informaton: see Vashlovan Natonal Park n Imeret Caves Protected Areas Park Admnstraton Banoja Vllage 5406, Georga Phone: , E-mal: zkvanto@gmal.com, nnnklh@gmal.com Vstor Informaton Kutas Toursm Informaton Centre 8a, Rustavel Street, Kutas 4600, Georga Phone: E-mal: tckutas@gmal.com n Javakeht Protected Areas Informaton: see The Agency of Protected Areas, Georgan Natonal Toursm Admnstraton n Kazbeg Natonal Park Park Admnstraton 62, Vaja-Pshavela Street, Stepantsmnda 4700, Georga Phone: E-mal: otsamaladze@yahoo.com

29 29 n Kntrsh Protected Areas Park Admnstraton 4, Leseldze Street, Kobulet 6200, Georga Phone: , E-mal: kntrshs@mal.ru Vstor Informaton Kobulet Toursm Informaton Centres Ispaan, Kobulet 6200, Georga Cholok, Kobulet 6200, Georga Phone: , n Kobulet Protected Areas Park Admnstraton 4, Leseldze Street, Kobulet 6200, Georga Phone: E-mal: knrknr@mal.ru Vstor Informaton Kobulet Toursm Informaton Centres Ispaan, Kobulet 6200, Georga Cholok, Kobulet 6200, Georga Phone: , n Kolkhet Natonal Park Park Admnstraton 222, Gura Street, Maltakva Dstrct, Pot 4400, Georga Phone: E-mal: khatuna78@mal.ru Vstor Informaton Urek Toursm Informaton Centre Ralway Staton, Urek 3522, Georga E-mal: tcurek@gmal.com n Lagodekh Protected Areas Park Admnstraton 197, Vashlovan Street, Lagodekh 2700, Georga Phone: E-mal: shalvashvl@apa.gov.ge, tshalvashvl@gmal.com Vstor Informaton Sghnagh Toursm Informaton Centre 10, Kostava Street, Sghnagh 4200, Georga Phone: E-mal: tcsgnag@gmal.com Vstor Informaton Kvarel Toursm Informaton Centre 8, Rustavel Street, Kvarel 4800, Georga Phone: , E-mal: tckvarel@gmal.com n Mtrala Natonal Park Park Admnstraton 13, Chavchavadze Street, Daba Chakv 6214, Georga Phone: ; E-mal: mtralapa@yahoo.com, nno_khakhuba@yahoo.com Vstor Informaton Batum Toursm Informaton Centre 1, Nnoshvl Street,Batum 6010, Georga Phone: E-Mal: nfocenterbatum@gmal.com; Vstor Informaton Batum Toursm Informaton Centre Sarp 6414, Georga Phone: E-mal: nfocenterbatum@gmal.com n Tbls Natonal Park Park Admnstraton Tbls Natonal Park Mtskheta, Saguramo 3311, Georga Phone: E-mal: vaxtang77@yahoo.com Vstor Informaton Tbls Toursm Informaton Centre 3, Rustavel Avenue, Tbls 0105, Georga (offce wll move n 2013) Phone: E-mal: tctbls@gmal.com Vstor Informaton Mtskheta Toursm Informaton Centre 3, Arsukdze Street, Mtskheta 3300, Georga Phone: E-mal: tcmtskheta@gmal.com n Tushet Protected Areas Park Admnstraton Omalo Vllage 0905, Tushet, Georga Zemo Alvan 0909, Akhmeta Dstrct, Georga Phone: , -13, -92, -91 E-mal: an_alvan@yahoo.com Vstor Informaton Telav Toursm Informaton Centre 9, Erekle II Str. 9, Telav 2200, Georga Phone: E-mal: tctelav1@gmal.com n Vashlovan Protected Areas Park Admnstraton 5, Baratashvl Street, Dedoplstskaro 1600, Georga Phone: E-mal: vpadrecton@yahoo.com

30 30 Georga Useful contacts ORGANISATIONS BMZ German Federal Mnstry for Economc Cooperaton and Development Southern Caucasus Desk Dahlmannstr. 4, D Bonn, Germany Caucasus Nature Fund - CNF 54 rue de Clchy, F Pars, France Phone: ; Fax: E-mal: contact@caucasus-naturefund.org Elkana Bologcal Farmng Assocaton Rural Toursm Department Certfed rural accommodatons 16, Gazapkhul Street, Tbls 0177, Georga Phone: E-mal: bofarm@elkana.org.ge Forum Anders Resen e.v. Wppertstrasse 2, D Freburg, Germany Phone: , Fax: E-mal: nfo@forumandersresen.de (German assocaton of sustanable toursm tour operators) Georgan Assocaton of Gudes 5, Smon Janasha Street, Tbls 0179, Georga Phone: E-mal: nfo@gudes.ge Georgan Centre for the Conservaton of Wldlfe 3, Nutsubdze Plateau, Tbls 1710, Georga Phone: , E-mal: offce@gccw.org IUCN Caucasus Cooperaton Centre 38, Gogebashvl Street, Tbls 0179, Georga Phone: , -85 E-mal: caucasus@ucn.org KfW Development Bank Palmengartenstr. 5-9, D Frankfurt, Germany Nacres - Centre for Bodversty Conservaton and Research 12a, Abashdze Street, Tbls 0179, Georga Phone: E-mal: admnstrator@nacres.org Regonal Envronmental Centre for the Caucasus - RECC 23, Chavchavadze Avenue., 2nd floor, Tbls 0179, Georga Phone: , E-mal: nfo@rec-caucasus.org WWF Caucasus Programme Offce 11, M. Aleksdze Street, Tbls 0193, Georga Phone: E-mal: offce@wwfcaucasus.org Georgan Incomng Tour Operators Assocaton - GITOA 5, Shevchenko Street, Tbls 0108, Georga Phone: , E-mal: nfo@gtoa.ge Georgan Toursm Assocaton - GTA 18, Melkshvl Av., II entrance, III floor, Tbls 0179, Georga Phone: , E-mal: nfo@toursm-assocaton.ge

31 31 Imprnt Edted by: The Mnstry of Envronment Protecton of Georga The Agency of Protected Areas APA Implemented and fnanced by: KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Mnstry of Economc Cooperaton and Development (BMZ) Coordnated by: The Transboundary Jont Secretarat TJS A consortum of: AHT GROUP AG REC Caucasus Project Partners: The World Wde Fund for Nature WWF The Caucasus Nature Fund CNF Consultng and desgn: axplan w. desgn nfo@w-desgn.bz Specal thanks to: n Andreas Wetzel from KfW for hs conceptual support n Aurel Hedelberg, Gera Voskanyan, and Tamaz Gamkreldze from WWF for ther expertse n bodversty and ecotoursm and ther extensve contrbuton of photographs and map data. n Brgt Henchen, Member of forum anders resen e.v., Avetk Pepanyan, George Tevdorashvl, and Manana Lekshvl for ther expertse as tour operaters. Pctures & map: Agency of Protected Areas of Georga: p. 1 c/2nd & 3rd l, b/1st -4th l; p.3; p. 6 l/t, l/b; p. 7; p. 8; p. 9 r/b; p. 10; p. 11 r/b; p. 12; p. 13 l/t, l/b, r/b; p. 14; p. 15 l/t, r/t, r/b; p. 16; p. 17 l/t, r/t, r/c, r/b; p. 18; p. 19 l/t; p. 20; p. 21 l/t, r/c; p. 22; p. 23 l/t, l/b, r/c, r/b; p. 24; p. 25 l/t, r/t, r/c, r/b; p. 26 / b; p. 27 t; p. 31 l/t; p. 32. AHT GROUP AG: p. 4&5 (map), p. 19 r/c, p. 23 r/t; p. 26 t. Georga Traveller: p. 13 r/t. WWF: p.1 t, c/1st & 4th l; p. 6 l/c; p. 9 r/t; p. 11 l/t; p. 19 r/t; p. 21 r/b; p. 26 c; p. 27/c, b; p. 28; p. 30 r/b. Chrstan Henchen: p. 11 r/t; p. 21 r/t; p. 30 r/t. A. O. Schmolnske: p. 11 r/c; p. 13 l/b; p. 15 r/t, r/c; p. 31 l/c, l/b. Emn Yogurtçuoglu: p.19 r/b. t = top, c = centre, b = bottom, l = left, r = rght March 2015

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