More information

Data sources:

Protected areas database provided by Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, under the ENI SEIS II East project activities

Georgia has a high diversity of protected areas, which vary in size, aim and management approach. Analysis shows that between 2007 and 2019 the most common International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) category of terrestrial protected areas in Georgia was national parks (designated as category II), which have increased by 40 % since 2007. At first the main focus was given to the desgination of national parks and natural monuments , with natural monument and habitat/species management areas being established later. Since 2011-2012, the total area of natural monuments (IUCN category III) has increased almost eight times from 314.5 ha to 2749 ha. Habitat/species management areas (IUCN category IV) and protected landscapes (IUCN category V) showed a comparatively slow pace of growth for the same period. However, category IV protected areas have been planned and will be adopted in 2019, which will contribute to the exsiting values and benefits of protected areas. Georgia has been introducing the category of Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources (Cat.VI) into its national protected area system since 2011. In 2019, around 4.5 % of total area of nationally designated protected areas is covered by the category of the Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources.  Moreover, expansion of the nationally desginated protected areas in the country has been defined as one of the priority areas of work between 2014 and 2020 (MENRP, 2014).