The 2026 Activity Report of the Agency of Protected Areas was presented by Deputy Chairperson of the Agency Tamar Khakhishvili at a meeting of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee.

Presenting the report, Tamar Khakhishvili highlighted the work carried out towards expanding Georgia’s protected areas and noted that the development of protected areas and expansion of the protected area network remain among the Agency’s key priorities.

“In 2026, 12 new protected areas have already been established, including the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Areas, Egrisi National Park and Rioni Managed Nature Reserve. As a result, the total area of protected areas has increased by 136,185 hectares. As of today, Georgia has 112 protected areas,” Tamar Khakhishvili said.

According to her, work on expanding the protected area network will continue. At this stage, work is underway on the establishment of new protected areas in Svaneti and Lechkhumi.

Tamar Khakhishvili also spoke about measures implemented in the field of nature conservation. She noted that particular attention is being paid to forest restoration, pest control and forest inventory, which are important prerequisites for the sustainable management of natural ecosystems.

Biodiversity monitoring and the use of modern technologies were among the key areas highlighted in the report. As Tamar Khakhishvili noted, the Agency actively uses SMART patrolling and drone-based monitoring systems.

The development of ecotourism and the increase in visitor numbers were also discussed at the Committee meeting. According to the data for the first eight months of 2026, almost 850,000 visitors visited Georgia’s protected areas.

The development of new recreational spaces was also addressed. In this regard, Tamar Khakhishvili highlighted the recreational space opened in Tbilisi National Park in 2026 and noted that work is underway in various protected areas to establish new visitor centers and develop related infrastructure.

The report also highlighted projects implemented with the support of donor organizations and international funding.

According to Tamar Khakhishvili, the Agency will continue its efforts to expand the protected area network, conserve natural heritage, monitor biodiversity, introduce modern technologies and develop ecotourism.

At the same meeting, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Zurab Ezugbaia presented a report on the activities carried out by Protected Landscapes, highlighting the measures implemented and the results achieved in this area.
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