LEPL Agency of Protected Areas

The Agency of Protected Areas underwent several stages of development and structural reforms before becoming what it is today.

The Division of Strict Nature Reserves of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia managed Georgia’s protected areas until 1951.

1952 The Division of Hunting Farms Affairs of the Council Ministers of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia was established, which was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Production in 1953 as a result of a merger between the two ministries.

1954 - 1957 The Division of Strict Nature Reserves and Hunting Farms was established, but was still under the jurisdiction of the Soviet Socialist Ministry of Agriculture and Production. 

1957 - 1965 The Main Division of Forestry, Strict Nature Reserves and Hunting Farms operated under the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Socialist Republic. Beginning in 1967 and ending in 1975, the Main Division was transferred to the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Socialist Republic for oversight and management.  

1975 - 1980 The Division of Strict Nature Reserves and Hunting Farms operated under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Forestry of the Soviet Socialist Republic, which from 1980 to 1992 changed its status and began operating as a Main Division.

1992 - 1997 the unit operated as the Main Division of Strict Nature Reserves and Hunting Farms of the Republic of Georgia.

1997 - 2004 the unit transformed into the State Department of Protected Areas, Strict Nature Reserves and Hunting Farms of Georgia.

2004 State sub-institution of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Georgia – Department of Protected Areas was established.

February 1st, 2008 The LEPL Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia was established and began operations.

As of 2025, the total area of protected areas in Georgia amounts to 929,996 hectares, which represents approximately 13.34% of the country’s territory. According to IUCN criteria, there are 100 protected areas in Georgia, divided into six categories: 14 State Reserves, 15 National Parks, 40 Natural Monuments, 26 Managed Reserves, 5 Protected Landscapes, and 1 Multiple Use Area

Mission and Objectives

The Agency’s primary responsibility is to manage Georgia’s strict nature reserves, national parks, natural monuments, managed reserves, protected landscapes, biosphere reserves, world heritage sites and wetland sites of international importance.  

The objective of the Agency is to improve the management of protected areas, ensure functionality of territorial administrations, supervise the process of following legally established regulations and to plan, create and develop new protected areas.

The main objectives of the Agency of Protected Areas are:

• Long-term protection of bio-geographic units of Georgia in order to ensure continuous development of natural processes;
• Protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, landscapes and living organisms;
• Protection of diversity of the gene pool of “Red Listed” and endangered wild animals and conservation of biodiversity;
• Maintaining unique and rare organic and inorganic natural formations;
• Protect territories that have been actively affected by erosion, mudslides, floods, avalanches, landslides, areas for surface and underground water formation, as well as flow and discharge areas from anthropogenic impact;
• Conservation and restoration of historical-cultural landscapes, and the landscapes characteristic to architectural and archeological complexes;
• Creating appropriate field conditions for invaluable and irreplaceable objects to be used for educational purposes and scientific research;
• Ensuring favorable conditions in natural and historical-cultural environments for recreation, the promotion of healthy living and tourism;
• Supporting traditional agricultural activities and the protection, restoration and development of folk arts in order to preserve Georgia’s unique historical-cultural environment;
• Stimulating activities that contribute to saving natural resources and territories intended for agricultural, industrial, transportation and energy purposes.