Kolkheti National Park

The Kolkheti National Park is located in West Georgia, in the Kolkheti coastal plain lying between the mouths of the Tikori and Supsa. The Kolkheti National Park covers an area of 28 940 ha of land, spread over the administrative districts of Zugdidi, Khobi, Lanchkhuti, Senaki and Abasha and includes 15 742 ha of marine territory. The park was established in 1999 as part of Georgia’s Integrated Coastal Management Project with the financial support of the World Bank (WB) and the Global Environmental Fund (GEF). The National Park includes the Kolkheti State Nature Reserve established in 1947 (500ha) and the adjacent wetlands, including the Paleastomi Lake.

Relief and Geology

The surface of the land is almost ideally flat, slightly eroded by swamp rivers of small depths. A narrow dune ridge, some 100-200-meters-wide has developed along the Black sea shore that rises some 2-3m above the coastal plain. The elevation of the land within the park ranges between 0-10m. Down to the depth of 10-15m it is formed by sediments of river, swamp, lake and coastal-sea origin, such as clays, sands, silt and peat, deposited during the last 4-6 thousand years.

Climate

The Kolkheti National Park as well as the adjoining areas are characterized by a warm and humid climate. The total annual amount of precipitation, mainly in the form of rain, comes to 1500-1600mm and is almost equally distributed according to seasons. The average monthly temperature in January, the coldest month, is about 4,5-4,7º, while that of August, the warmest month makes up 22,4-22,6º. The region is characterised by heavy relative humidity and heavy periodical winds.

Hydrology

The park is cut by a numerous bog-type small stagnant rivers (Pichori, Kukani, Dedabera, Tkhorina, Tsia, Tsiva, Churia, Munchia, Mukhurjina, etc.). Here one can find the scenic lakes – Paleastomi, Patara Paleastomi, Imnati, Parto Tskali. The peat bogs such as Anaklia, Churia, Nabada, Imnati, Maltakva, Grigoleti and Pichori that contain contemporary and fossil unbroken peat layers are located in the coastal plain. The thickness of the peat layers in certain places exceeds 12 meters. The main mass

of peat in the mentioned bogs are subsided below the sea level.

Vegetative Cover

The warm, humid climate and the dense hydrographical network have, to a great extent, contributed to the rich floristical composition and the development of rather diverse vegetation. The coastal peat bogs are the home for the Boreal flora species - sphagnum mosses – Sphagnum spp.; Drozera roxundiflora, Drosera rotundifolia, Rhinchospora afla, Carex lasiocarpa, Menianthes trifoliata, etc. The plants of the alpine zone – Rhododendron flavum and Rhododendron ponticum give the bogs especial appearance. In the swamped and wetland forests, alongside the peat bogs, Alnus barbata, Pterocarya pterocarpa, Quercus imeretina, Quercus hartwissiana, etc., are found. These forests are characterised by the development of evergreen undergrowth (Hedera colchica, etc.). Aquatic plants, such as Nymphaea alba, Trapa, etc., are common in the peat bogs, lakes, swamp rivers and along them. The vegetation of coastal zone’s sandy dunes is of much interest. On the substrata of this narrow stripe typical salt-loving, xerophytes and ephemeral vegetation (Hippophae rhamnoides, Paliurus spina-christi, Imperata cylindrical, Cynodon dactylon, Pancratium maritimum, Glaucum corniculatum, etc.) are developed. The uniqueness of the park’s vegetation is determined by plentiness of relic and endemic species (Alnus barbata, Pterocarya pterocarpa, Quercus imeretina, Quercus hartwissiana, Trapa, etc.).

Fauna

The coastal zone of the park together with the adjacent marine area lies along one of the main routes of migration of water- fowls and waders of Africa and Eurasia. Over 194 different bird species are found within the region, including 21 species of migratory birds. A number of species, such as Black Stork (Ciconia Nigra), Crane (Grus grus), Great White Egret (Egretta alba), are on the verge of extinction and included in the Red Data Book of Georgia. The National Park together with other areas of the Kolkheti lowlands is considered to be the homeland of the legendary Kolkhuri pheasant. The park swamps, swamp rivers, lakes, swamped and wetland forests provide a shelter for a number of endangered species, such as roe deer, boar, otter, Triturus vittatus, Emys orbicularis, Elaphe longisima. The marine area provides a comparatively undisturbed habitat for dolphins (Delphinus delphis, Tursiops truncates, Phocoena phocoena).

Scientific and Educational Significance

The Kolkheti National Park and its adjoining areas are the remains of tropical and partly subtropical landscape zone of Tertiary period stretched as an unbroken line over the vast continent of Eurasia. The existing wetlands are a valuable natural heritage as they contain rich biogeographical and paleogeographical information. They are of great interest for scientists and have great educational significance. These wetlands are an important tool to raise environmental awareness of school pupils, students and general public.

Status

The wetland ecosystems have been completely destroyed in much of the Kolkheti lowlands as a result of the large-scale drainage activities performed since 1920-1930. The key objective of the Kolkheti National Park is to protect and restore still preserved natural or almost natural wetland ecosystems which were granted the RAMSAR status in 1996.

Tourism

The wetlands of the park are attractive and interesting for visitors of various categories. The whole of the region’s wetland landscapes creates picturesque scenery rarely found anywhere else along the whole Black Sea coastal zone. There are favorable conditions for development of sea-boating, river-boating, diving, bird watching, hiking and horse riding tourism in the National Park.

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