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Home > About Georgia > Nature

ABOUT GEORGIA - Nature

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
forests
2.7mnh
vascular plants
4.200spec
Nature is generously rich in Georgia.

We can hardly find many places in the whole world that may hold such diverse landscapes within such a small area – from humid subtropics to perennial snows and glaciers of high mountains.
OTHER INFORMATIONS

NATURAL HISTORY

FLORA & FAUNA

NATURAL HISTORY

Nature is generously rich in Georgia. One can hardly find many places in the whole world that may hold such diverse landscapes within such a small area – from humid subtropics to perennial snows and glaciers of high mountains.

According to the words of Dr. Mikhail Zukov, "not a single country of Europe has such flora and fauna as Georgia. Not in a single country of Europe can you see such versatile relief on such a small territory. At the same time in Europe it is impossible to find a country preserved in such an original shape."

Despite its small size, Georgia is ecologically very interesting. Located between the forests of northern Eurasia and the tropical deserts of Iraq and Iran, and incorporating Europe`s highest mountains and a subtropical coastline, it has Europe`s highest level of biodiversity and is a route for many migratory bird species. It is characterized by its complex interaction of West Asian, East European and purely local communities. There is a wide variety of plant communities, with examples of almost all the main habitant types found in Europe and some of those in Asia; many are highly valuable in terms of biodiversity, including subalpine coniferous forests, meadows, wetlands; caves and mountain gorges; unique Colchic forests with evergreen undergrowth; Mediterranean and sub- Mediterranean communities; steppe grasslands; arid light woodlands; and riparian shrub and forest vegetation along the rivers such as the Alazani and Mtkvari.

Forests cover 2.7 million hectares ( 36.7% of Georgia`s area), of which only 59, 500ha is artificially planted; around 6% of the natural forest is virgin, and 40% has avoided serious human impact. In order to preserve the nature of the country 19 reserves have been organized: the largest of them are Lagodekhi, Borjomi and Ritza State Reserves.

horseOverall, Georgia can be split into two main biogeographical regions: firstly the Colchic and Caucasian districts, forest landscapes with plenty of autochthonous animals and plants, and others related to middle and eastern European species; and secondly the uplands of the Lesser Caucasus and the Mtkvari district, with species related in some places to Anatolia and the Middle East, and in others to the arid and semi-arid Turanian region, beyond the Caspian. Between these two main regions are mixed zones, notably the Borjomi gorge and the Trialeti ridge, as well as the southern slopes of the High Caucasus in eastern Georgia.

The Colchic (or Euxine) district covers most of western Georgia, between the Black Sea, the Meskhetien mountains, the Surami ridge and the High Caucasus; the climate is mild and humid, rarely freezing and with a metre or more precipitation each year, and the characteristic landscape is subtropical forest with well-developed evergreen underwood consisting of many Tertiary relicts.

The Caucasus district lies to the north at 2,000m and higher, with a severe climate and over a metre of precipitation per year. It harbours some of the most diverse and distinctive temperate coniferous and deciduous forests in Eurasia, ranging with altitude from subalpine beechwoods, dark coniferous forests and crook-stem woods to subalpine, alpine and subnival plant communities and, above these, bare nival landscapes. Its borders are fluid, with many Colchic elements in the west, and Turanian elements in the east; on the northern slopes there are many Eastern European and boreal species.

The plateaux of the lesser Caucasus are largely treeless grassland, either subalpine meadows or mountain steppes, as well as forest and semi-arid steppes. There is a severe continental climate, with annual precipitation between just 400 and 800mm. The Mtkvari district covers much of Kartli and Kakheti, and is largely arid and semi-arid steppe, with xerophytic Turanian species predominating, and forested only along the banks of the Mtkvari. There is a warm continental climate, rarely dropping bellow -5°C, with under 400mm of precipitation per year.

The mixed zones, at the borders of these main zones, are the most biologically fascinating regions of Georgia. There are three main mixed zones: firstly the northern slopes of the Trialeti ridge, from the northwestern side of Tbilisi to the Borjomi Gorge, mostly dry deciduous mountain forests with a temperate climate and 400-800mm of precipitation per year – the fauna and flora are mostly Caucasian, with some Turanian and Colchic elements, and no great diversity; secondly the forests of eastern Georgia, which are relatively similar to the Trialeti forests, but with more Turanian elements – the climate is subtropical/mild, with 400-600mm precipitation; and thirdly, the smallest but most interesting is the Borjomi Gorge, which has a well-balanced range of elements from all over Georgia with a mild temperate climate and 800-1,200mm precipitation per year. The gorge marks the divide between the humid west and the arid east, and between Mediterranean and Turanian fauna.

Endemic species comprise about 9% of Georgia`s flora, a surprisingly high proportion for so small a country. The highest proportion (for instance 87% of western Georgian scree flora) is in certain mountain areas which were turned into islands when the seas rose around 15 million years ago, in the Miocene epoch; the surrounding areas have since dried out and gone their own way biologically, while the humid subtropical forests of the mountains have survived largely unchanged, and many species there now have their closest relatives in Anatolia and Europe.

FLORA

Georgia boasts around 4,200 species of vascular plants (including 153 trees and 11 lianas), of which 380 are endemic to Georgia and about 600 to the Caucasus; and between 8,400 and 10,000 cryptogamous or spore-bearing plants (including between 7,000 and 21,000 fungi, 2,600 algae and seaweeds, 675 mosses, 738 lichen and 74 ferns). Ten species are extinct, notably the chickpea (Cicer arietinum), the Georgian elm (Ulmus georgica), the TransCaucasian poplar (Populus transcaucasica), and the Eldari pine (Pinus eldarica); 50 species are in a critical state – including the fern (Osmanda regalis), the Mingrelian birch( Betula megrelica) etc; around 300 species are now rare, including the Pitsunda pine (Pinus pityusa), the Saguramo camomile (Anthemis saguramica)and about 140 are seriously reduced, including the joint-pine (Ephedra distachya), Mediterranean caper (Capparis spinosa), etc.

Lowland Colchic forests are dominated by oak (Quercus pedunciflora, Q. hartwssiana, Q. imeretina), chestnut (Castanea sativa) and lime (Tilia sp), while higher regions are covered by beech (Fogus orientalis), fir (Abies nordmanniana) and spruce (Picea orientalis), with an evergreen understorey. At subalpine levels there are crook-stem and dwarf forests of birch and oak. Other trees and shrubs found in the Colchic district include hornbeam, pine, juniper, pistachio, Colchic boxwood, cherry-laurel, holly, bladder-nut, Colchic hazel, rowan, wing-nut, Caucasian wing-nut, small0leaved elm and the extremely rare strawberry tree.

The High Caucasus is also rich in endemics; on the southern slopes at lower to mid-altitude there is thick deciduous forest, which on the southwestern slopes is described as "temperate rain forest". Then between 1,250m and about 2,300m there is mixed deciduous-coniferous forest of birch, dwarf rowan and rhododendron, with spectacular flowers in clearings and on the forest edges.

Above the tree line (between 1,800m and 2,400m) are subalpine meadows, which are very lush to the west: herbaceous plants include masterwort, maroon lousewort, bistort, lilies, bellflowers, orchids, cornflowers, etc.

Although Georgia`s territory is small, there is a wide variety in the nature of plant life. At one extreme there are the plants of eastern Georgia`s dry semi-desert and mountainous regions; at another, there are the thick humid woods that flourish in the subtropical climate of Colchis.

Fauna

The fauna of Georgia is also notable for its diversity. There are 105-110 species of mammals, 322 species of birds, about 52 reptiles and 13 amphibians, around 160 fish, and thousands of invertebrates (including 290 mollusks, 150 homoptera, 8 lepidoptera). Twenty-one species of mammals, 33 birds and 10 reptiles and amphibians are listed as rare, threatened or endangered; these include the goitered or Persian gazelle which is probably extinct in Georgia. The striped hyaena and Caucasian leopard remain only a few in the arid steppes of southeastern Georgia.

Large mammals such as red deer, bear, wolf, boar, lynx, jackal, ibex, chamois, wild goats and wild sheep (moufflon) are found almost exclusively in the High Caucasus.

Mammals

There are four species of wild goat: the West Caucasian tour, the East Caucasian tour or Daghestanian goat, bezoar or pasang and chamois and all are suffering from hunting. The red deer is also endangered by an increase in hunting; in eastern Georgia numbers fell from 2,500 in 1985 to 880 in 1994. Likewise the lynx has fallen from 500 in 1990 to just 160 now. The wolf and the bear are also endangered. In fact the main hazard for hikers in the mountains is the Caucasian sheepdog, used to guard sheep.

Mid-sized mammals in the mountains include the badger, pine marten, stone marten, marbled polecat, wild cat, fox, hare, and weasel. Other endangered species include the jungle cat whose range stretches from here to Indochina, the European otter, the Caucasian mink and golden jackal. The Persian squirrel is suffering from an invasion by the European squirrel.

Twelve species of small mammals are endangered or vulnerable, largely due to over-grazing or agricultural expansion; these include the red-backed vole, the TransCaucasian golden hamster, the pygmy or grey hamster, the shrew, the birch mice, and the Prometheus vole, most of which have been split up into isolated groups. Many of these are endemic to the Caucasus: the TeansCaucasian golden hamster, the black-chested hamster, the shrews and the water shrew, birch mice and the Prometheus vole; the Caucasian moles; the yellow-breasted mouse and hybrids with the house mouse.

Cetaceans

There has been little research on the cetaceans of the Black Sea, but the harbor porpoise, bottlenosed dolphin and common dolphin are all present.

Reptiles

There are around 52 species of reptiles in Georgia (the total keeps changing as lizards are reclassified), 25% of which are endemic to the Caucasus. The dominant lizard species is Lacerta praticola, while L. rudis, L. derjugini, L. parvula, L. mixta, L. valentini, L. unisexualis, L. clarcolum, L.valentini and L. mixta may or may not be separate species. Much the same applies to the Vipera kaznakovi complex. Threatened species include Schneider`s skink; the lidless skink; the leopard snake – perhaps the most beautiful in Europe – and the TransCaucasian ratsnake; the dwarf snake; the boigine snake; the racerunner; the turtle; the snake-eyed lizard – the commonest lizard in the Anatolian steppes; the javelin sand boa; the garter snake; the Caucasian viper; the Levantine viper – the giurza; V. dinnicki; and Lacerta dahli.

Amphibians

Georgia`s amphibians consist of four species of Caudata ( the Caucasian salamander), the banded newt, the smooth newt and the southern crested newt and nine species of Anura – the frogs and toads. A quarter of these are endemic to the Caucasus. The Caucasian salamander is in fact only found in the Lesser Caucasus, not the High Caucasus. Pelobates syriacus, Mertensialla caucasica and probably Hyla savignyi are threatened, and Pelodytes caucasicus, Bufo verrucosissmus and Rana macrocnemis are in decline.

Fish

A quarter of fish species are also endemic to Georgia; the sturgeon is probably extinct in Georgia, while A. guldenstadti and A. sturio are endangered. Eastern European fish have been introduced into the lakes of the Javakheti plateau, virtually wiping out local fish species; the Crucian carp is also harming newt populations.

Birds

Georgia acts as a "funnel" for birds migrating from their breeding grounds in Siberia and northern Europe to their winter homes, so it is hardly surprising that very few (only 0.08%) are endemic to the Caucasus, and even these are subspecies rather than distinct species. Twenty species are endangered: the lammergeier or bearded vulture, the black vulture, the griffon vulture, the Egyptian vulture, the peregrine, the lanner falcon, the short-toed eagle, the marsh harrier, the Imperial eagle, the lesser spotted eagle - the Georgian population of both are under 85 pairs, the golden eagle, the booted eagle, the Caucasian snowcock, the black francolin, the grey partridge, the black stork, the spoonbill, the crane, the demoiselle crane and the glossy ibis, as well, probably, as some woodpeckers and passerines. Certainly the Syrian woodpecker is vulnerable, as, amazingly, is the pheasant; having taken over the world it is suffering in its land of origin from loss of forest and increased hunting.

There are many raptors, which nest in the mountains but can often be seen hunting in the semi-desert of David-Gareja; other mountain species include the Caspian snowcock – from the Eastern Caucasus to Iran, the Caucasian snowcock – more to the west, and the Caucasian black grouse – typically Caucasian, and probably a relict species. There is an isolated population of the alpine finch or great rosefinch, which otherwise lives in Central Asia, the scarlet grosbeak breeds from Sweden to Japan and passes through to winter between Iran and china. An endemic subspecies of the rock partridge can be seen near the snowline.

Other species found in the High Caucasus include Kruper`s nuthatch, the white-winged or Guldenstat redstart, Radde`s accentor, the red-fronted serin, the grey-necked bunting and rock-bunting, the alpine accentor, the redwing – only in winter – and a subspecies of jay.

In the deserts you may find the trumpeter bullfinch, the rufous bush robin, or tugai nightingale, the chukar, and in winter great bustard and little bustard.

Perhaps the most important bird habitats are the wetlands of the Black Sea coast and the Javakheti plateau, where you may see migratory birds such as white spoonbills, red-breasted geese, red-necked grebe, white pelican, Dalmatian pelican, squacco haron, great white egret, little egret, white stork, black stork, glossy ibis, ruddy shelduck, ferruginous duck and other ducks, herons, geese and cormorants.

GEORGIA

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Capital
and largest city
Tbilisi
Official languages Georgian
Spoken languages 71% Georgian
9% Russian
7% Armenian
6% Azerbaijani
7% other
Ethnic groups (2002) 83.8% Georgian
6.5% Azerbaijani
5.7% Armenian
1.5% Russian
2.5% others
Demonym Georgian
Government Unitary semi-presidential republic
Legislature Parliament
Area 69,700 km2 (120th)
26,911 sq mi
Population (2014) 4,935,880 (119th)
Currency Lari (GEL)
Time zone GET (UTC+4)
Drives on the right
Calling code +995
ISO 3166 code GE
Internet TLD .ge

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