Guria National Park

Guria National Park is located within the administrative boundaries of Chokhatauri Municipality and Ozurgeti Municipality, with a total area of 15,310 hectares.

Biodiversity

Flora

The territory of Guria National Park is located within the boundaries of the Guria floristic region, which is part of the Colchis botanical-geographical province. The region is bordered from the north and northeast by the lower course of the Rioni River and the Imereti lowlands, from the west by the Black Sea up to the Adjara border, from the east by the watershed of the Supsa and Khanistskali rivers along the Loboroti Ridge, which, at 2850 m above sea level, divides northward from Mount Mefistskharo, and from the south by a section of the Adjara-Imereti Ridge up to Mount Mefistskharo and the foothills of Guria. Within the Colchis botanical province, there are many types of vegetation and habitats that are not represented anywhere else on Earth.

The following main species and their forest types are distributed within the territory of Guria National Park:

Beech forest types represented by evergreen undergrowth (Fagus orientalis - Rhododendron ponticum, Fagus orientalis - Laurocerasus officinalis), as well as with blackberry (Fagus orientalis - Rubus caucasica) and tree fern (Fagus orientalis - Dryopteris strutiopteris).

Alder forest types with blackberry (Alnus glutinosa - Rubus caucasica) and subalpine mixed herbs (Alnus glutinosa - Subalpine mixtoherbosum). Hornbeam forest types with evergreen undergrowth (Carpinus caucasica - Rhododendron ponticum, Carpinus caucasica - Laurocerasus officinalis) and blackberry (Carpinus caucasica - Rubus caucasica).
Fir and spruce forest types with evergreen undergrowth (Abies nordmanniana - Laurocerasus officinalis), subalpine herbs (Abies nordmanniana - Subalpine mixtoherbosum) and bilberry (Abies nordmanniana - Vaccinium arctostaphylus). 

Oak forest type represented by Pontic oak (Pontic oak - Subalpine mixtoherbosum).
Plant species of special conservation value include: Rhododendron caucasicum.

Species Included in the Red List of Georgia:

The following species are found: Chestnut (Castanea sativa) - Red List of Georgia and Pontic oak (Quercus pontica) - Caucasus endemic, IUCN Red List - Endangered (EN), Red List of Georgia - Vulnerable (VU).

Endemics and relicts

Pulsatilla aurea – rare endemic of Georgia; Aquilegia caucasica - Caucasus endemic; Lilium kesselringianum - Caucasus endemic; Orchids (Orchis mascula ssp. longialcarata, Dactylorhiza romana ssp. Georgica) - protected species by IUCN and CITES conventions.

Fauna

In Guria National Park, there are humid, Colchic-type mountain-forest landscapes spread from 300–400 m to 1800–1900 m above sea level, and high-mountain meadow landscapes starting from 1800–1900 m and spreading up to 3000–3500 m. In Guria National Park, during different seasons of the year, up to 272 species of vertebrates may be recorded. Among these, three species of fish, eight species of amphibians, twelve species of reptiles, up to 185 species of birds, and up to 64 species of mammals may be found. Of the 272 vertebrate species, 88 are endemic and/or protected.

Fish: Three species of fish are distributed in the area, among which one species – river trout (Salmo fario) – is included in the Red List of Georgia under the category “Vulnerable” (VU).

Amphibians: In the territory of Guria National Park, eight species of amphibians may be recorded, among which two species – Caucasian toad (Bufo verrucosissimus) and Caucasian salamander (Mertensiella caucasica) – are Caucasus endemics. The Caucasian salamander is also included in the Red List of Georgia and the IUCN Red List.

Reptiles: In the territory of Guria National Park, twelve species of reptiles may be found. Among these, two – Adjara lizard (Darevskia mixta) and Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi) – are included in the Red List of Georgia, while two species – large-headed water snake (Natrix megalocephala) and Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi) – are included in the IUCN Red List. Among the twelve distributed species, four – Colchic slow worm (Anguis colchica), Ajara lizard (Darevskia mixta), Artvin lizard (Darevskia derjugini) and Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi) – are Caucasus endemics, while two species – marsh turtle (Emys orbicularis) and Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi) – are protected under the 6th Resolution of the Bern Convention.

Birds: In the territory of Guria National Park, during different seasons of the year, about 185 species of birds may be recorded. Among the species that may occur in the area, 18 are included in the Red List of Georgia – Levant sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes), long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus), boreal owl (Aegolius funereus), imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), white stork (Ciconia ciconia), black stork (Ciconia nigra), lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus), red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), Caucasian black grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), common crane (Grus grus), ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) and Caspian snowcock (Tetraogallus caspius), while five species – imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) – are included in the IUCN Red List under various categories. Two species – Caucasian grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi) and mountain chiffchaff (Phylloscopus sindianus) – are Caucasus endemics. In addition, 52 species are protected under the 6th Resolution of the Bern Convention.

Mammals: In the territory of Guria National Park, up to 64 species of mammals may be found. Among those that are likely to occur within the area’s boundaries, nine species – barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus), bank vole (Myodes glareolus), otter (Lutra lutra), lynx (Lynx lynx), Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii), Prometheus vole (Prometheomys schaposchnikovi), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), Caucasian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus), brown bear (Ursus arctos) – are included in the Red List of Georgia, while one species – giant noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus) – is in the IUCN Red List. Also, 10 species and/or subspecies represent Caucasus endemics. Eight species are protected under the 6th Resolution of the Bern Convention.

Species included in the Red List of Georgia

Within the boundaries of the National Park, up to 31 species listed in the Red List of Georgia may be recorded throughout the year, along with 18 Caucasus endemic species, 10 species included in the IUCN Red List, and 27 species protected under the 6th Resolution of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

Endemic species

Within the boundaries of Guria National Park, up to 18 species and subspecies that are endemic to the Caucasus may be encountered. These include two species of amphibians, four species of reptiles, two species of birds, and ten species of mammals (nine species and one subspecies). Together, they highlight the exceptional biogeographical uniqueness and conservation value of the protected area.