Racha National Park

Racha National Park is located within the administrative boundaries of Oni Municipality, with a total area of  50,835 hectares.

Biodiversity

Flora

The floristic richness of Racha-Lechkhumi amounts to 1,198 species, 491 genera, and 106 families. Among them, 272 are endemic to the Caucasus and Georgia (Gagnidze, Kemu-Laria-Natadze, 1985). A large proportion of biodiversity (95–98%) naturally belongs to Upper Racha, which can be explained by the extensive high-mountain massifs in this region, the variety of forest phytolandscapes, and other factors.
In this region, the floristic richness of the high-mountain zone (1,800–3,800 m) consists of 504 species, 201 genera, and 64 families. Among them, 225 species are endemic (Shetekauri, 1999).
The number of endemic species differs across various types of vegetation (florocenotic complexes). The surroundings of Mamison Pass are distinguished by the particularly high richness of endemic species. The subalpine belt (Shetekauri, Gagnidze, 2000), which directly corresponds to the area of high-mountain forest distribution, is also notable for its biodiversity and endemism.

Species included in the Red List of Georgia

The following tree species are included in the Red List of Georgia: Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill) (VU); Colchic box (Buxus colchica Pojark.) (VU); High mountain oak (Quercus macranthera Fisch et Mey) (VU); Yew (Taxus baccata L) (VU); Smooth-leaved elm (Ulmus glabra Huds) (VU); Walnut tree (Juglans regia L) (VU).

Endemics

Some species protected by the Red List of Georgia are also endemic to the Caucasus and require special conservation measures.

Fauna
According to literature data, ten species of fish are known for the territory, mainly found in the River Rioni and its tributaries (in the confluences of the tributaries with the Rioni and near the confluences).

On the territory of Racha National Park are distributed 9 species of amphibians, 15 species of reptiles, 117 species of birds, and 54 species of mammals. The diversity of mammals is especially high on the Lukhunistskali (20 species), as well as in the areas of Shaori Reservoir (17 species), Sharaula (16 species), and Shkmeri-Mravalzali (18 species).

Species included in the Red List of Georgia

The following species listed in the Red List of Georgia have been identified within the territory:

River trout (Salmo fario Linnaeus), Adjara lizard (Darevskia mixta), Dinnik’s viper (Vipera dinniki Nikolsky), Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi Nikolsky), Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale), Barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus Schreber), Otter (Lutra lutra), Brown bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus), Lynx (Lynx lynx), Caucasian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus Güldenstaedt), Klukhori birch mouse (Sicista kluchorica Sokolov), Prometheus vole (Prometheomys schaposchnikovi Satunin), West Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica Guldenstaedt and Pallas), Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus), Caucasian black grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Red-bellied redstart (Phoenicurus erythrogastrus Güldenstadt),
Great rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilla), Black stork (Ciconia nigra).