Kobuleti and Kintrishi Protected areas in western Georgia have welcomed new infrastructure received through local and foreign support.
The protected areas now have a new administration building, a visitor center, an exhibition hall, four hotel rooms and a café.
A Visitors' Centre. Photo by Georgia's Agency of Protected Areas press office.
The infrastructure was arranged thanks to the financial support of Kolkheti Protected Areas Development Fund and the German Reconstruction and Development Bank.
Kobuleti Protected Areas was established in order to save a unique waterfowl habitat wetland ecosystem of international importance, which has been recognized by the Ramsar Convention.
An Exhibition Hall. Photo by Georgia's Agency of Protected Areas press office.
The wetlands are located in the maritime Adjara autonomous republic and include the north-eastern part of Kobuleti coastal plain and are distinguished by a diversity of fowl and flora.
Kobuleti Protected Areas is an important habitat for migration, nesting and wintering aquatic bird species. Existing species in the area are of great interest of botanists, especially the white sphagnum moss and carnivorous drosera.
A hotel room. Photo by Georgia's Agency of Protected Areas press office.
The Kintrishi Protected Areas are located in the Kobuleti Municipality with a total area of 13,893 hectares.
Deputy Environment Minister Ekaterine Grigalava and Head of Adjara Government Zurab Pataradze opened the new administration building today. Photo by Georgia's Agency of Protected Areas press office.
It is located in the picturesque valley of the river Kintrishi, between the village of Tskhemvani and the Khino Mountains at an altitude of 300-2,500 meters above sea level.
The protected landscape was established in 2007 on the territory of the Kintrishi State Nature Reserve: the total area of the nature reserve is 10,703 hectares, and the protected landscape amounts to 3,190 hectares. Kintrishi protected areas offers their visitors two tourist trails, both accessible by foot and horseback.