Georgia's Martvili Canyon project receives Council of Europe landscape award

The state project for development of western Georgia's Martvili Canyon has been distinguished with the National Landscape Award from the Council of Europe Landscape Convention in recognition of the work done on the tourist spot.

The CoE prize, bestowed in the latest Landscape Award Session of the organisation, was used to pick out the four-year Martvili Canyon Sustainable Development project among 23 nominations from around the world.

Run by the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, the development project has been distinguished for its contribution to raising public awareness on environmental issues as well as for its "special importance", Martvili and Okatse Natural Monuments Administration Director Zaza Gagua revealed on social media.

See a brief cinematic video on Martvili Canyon sights and attractions below:

Gagua thanked those involved in the project for their contributions since 2015, when a transformation of the natural location - left for neglect and litter in the years before - into a popular tourist destination with modern infrastructure was launched.

You might think that the mass tourism has been the [most important] outcome of the canyon, however our principal achievement has in fact been the restor[ation of] populations of fish and otter [...] And we managed all this with  participation of [locals]", Gagua said in his comments about the award.

Located in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti province, the canyon was granted the national status of natural monument in 2013, with the project of its tourist development initiated in 2015.

The Agency of Protected Areas said the natural site had only enjoyed local popularity before the project and also struggled with littering as well as illegal fishing and poaching.

Viewpoints have been set up at the canyon for visitors, with trails and bridges leading to the spots. Photo via Council of Europe Landscape Convention.

The state organisation's initiative for the location aimed at four aspects of reinvigorating it, with environmental protection and conservation, infrastructural development, improvement of economic circumstances for locals and awareness-raising comprising the project's focus.

Walking trails, bridges, visitor centre, boat shelter and other infrastructure has been built in the area of the canyon, with the natural monument leased to a company run by residents.

The effort has resulted in a three-fold rise in tourist numbers between 2016-2018, in addition to increase in environmental sustainability and protection of local flora and fauna.