Kvereti Managed Reserve

Kvereti Managed Reserve is located within the administrative boundaries of Sachkhere Municipality, on the southern section of the Racha Ridge, which includes the headwaters of the rivers Jrchula and Chikhura, as well as the forests and subalpine meadows of their upper catchment basins. The total area of Kvereti Managed Reserve is 14,797 hectares.

Kvereti Managed Reserve is distinguished by unique biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes of national and international importance. The area hosts rare, unique, characteristic, and endangered wildlife species of wild animals included in the Red List of Georgia. Among the mammal species protected by the Red List of Georgia, which are distributed on the southern slope of the Racha Ridge within the territory of Sachkhere Municipality, are the brown bear, lynx, otter, and occasionally chamois. Among birds of prey, noteworthy are the golden eagle, kestrel, goshawk, peregrine falcon, owl, and others. In forest and alpine zones live the woodlark and species included in the Red List of Georgia such as the Caucasian black grouse and the Caucasian snowcock.

Biodiversity

Flora

Kvereti Managed Reserve is represented on the southern section of the Racha Ridge, which includes the headwaters and upper catchment basins of the rivers Jrchula and Chikhura, consisting of forests, subalpine, and alpine meadows. In the forests of this territory, in the low-mountain zone up to 800–1000 meters, there are mixed broad-leaved forests. Here grow characteristic components of the Colchic mesophilic forest: oak, hornbeam, beech, chestnut, and alder. The undergrowth mainly consists of medlar, cornel, hazel, and others.

The middle belt of the mountain forest, from 1000 to 1400 meters, is occupied by beech-hornbeam forests. Also growing here are linden, elm, maple, and others. In the undergrowth are found medlar, cornel, viburnum, bilberry, hazelnut, Imeretian spindle, and others.

On the slopes of the Racha Ridge, above 1400–1500 meters, there are only beech forests. In the undergrowth occur evergreen (medlar, hazel, butcher’s broom, etc.) and deciduous species. In forested areas, wild fruit species can also be found, such as hawthorn, wild apple, bilberry, and others. Relatively undisturbed forests remain as groves on the southern slopes of the Racha Ridge, where the main species are beech, oak, hornbeam, chestnut, maple, ash, and linden; conifers are rare.

In the ridge’s crest zone, above 1900 meters, are distributed subalpine forest-meadow vegetation: subalpine park-type and crooked forests, subalpine shrubs, and tall-herb communities. In park-type forests dominate maple, in crooked forests – birch, rowan, and beech. In subalpine shrubs are found rhododendron, juniper, bilberry, and in tall grass cover – bistort, valerian, lily, gentian, and others.

The upper belt of the subalpine zone is occupied by dense grass meadows. Alpine meadow vegetation occurs only on the slopes of Mt. Daghveruli. Here the meadow is formed by fescue, bentgrass, sedge, forget-me-not, buttercup, bedstraw, plantain, and others.
The Kvereti Managed Reserve also includes the Korbouli Plateau, at 500–800 meters above sea level, where there are oak and oak-hornbeam forests. These are represented by Georgian oak, riparian oak, Imeretian oak, hornbeam, hop-hornbeam, ash, maple, elm, and others. In the forest are also found hawthorn, dogwood, yew, spindle, and others.

Species included in the Red List of Georgia

Among the species protected by the Red List of Georgia are: high-mountain oak (Quercus macranthera Fisch. et Mey.), Imeretian oak (Quercus imeretina), yew (Taxus baccata L.), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), Colchic boxwood (Buxus colchica Pojark.), and riparian oak (Quercus pedunculiflora C. Koch.).

Fauna

On the territory of Sachkhere Municipality, on the southern slopes of the Racha Ridge, are distributed forest and mountain meadow zone animals, among which, according to the Red List of Georgia, noteworthy are the brown bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx), and otter (Lutra lutra Linnaeus). The area also supports a diverse assemblage of bird, reptile, and amphibian species