PM Gakharia: Protected territories to increase by 100,000 hectares in Georgia in 2020

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection also aims to extend the Borjomi-Kharagauli Protected Area by 4,000 hectares, which covers about 60,000 hectares for now. Photo: nationalparks.ge.

Agenda.ge, 19 Feb 2020 - 17:21, Tbilisi,Georgia

The area of the country's  protected territories will increase by 100,000 hectares in 2020, said Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia at a government meeting earlier today.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection will establish a new protected area in Erusheti, which is located in southern Georgia on the border with Turkey.

Gakharia said that with this important decision the Ministry of Environment will be able to protect the environment and preserve endangered species. The Prime Minister also mentioned that establishing the new protected territory is important for Georgia in terms of transboundary cooperation with neighboring countries.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection also aims to extend the Borjomi-Kharagauli Protected Area by 4,000 hectares, which covers about 60,000 hectares for now.

Located in the central part of Georgia, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is known for its diversity of flora and fauna. 57 per cent of the park territory is covered with forests. Red deer, chamois, roe deer, brown bear, wolf and lynx are the main species  of the wildlife which are represented in the park.

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is recognized by the European Network of Protected Areas, which is the highest level of protection of forests.