Biodivesity of Kintrishi Protected Area
Kintrishi Protected Area is situated between the Black Sea and Adjara-Imereti mountain system. Mountains hold up humid air of the sae and generate high humidity climate in Kintrishi area, and climate here is the determinant of unique floristic diversity, which is represented here.
The beautiful landscape of Kintrishi Protected Area is represented by: the mountainous relief, picturesque valleys of the river Kintrishi, small streams and jagged territories of narrow ravines.
Local flora and fauna is represented by numerous Georgian, the Caucasian and Adjarian local endemic and relict species.
Flora
About 80% of Kintrishi Protected area is covered by forest. It should be noted that among the protected areas of Georgia, the largest area is covered by forest.
Kintrishi forest is characterized by a multitude of Adjarian endemics.
Understory is represented by Colchis type evergreen bushes and ferns.
In Kintrishi territory botanists rouse a special interest for: evergreen rhododendron bushes – Pontic rhododendron, the Caicasian rhododendron, blueberry, cherry laurel and azalea bushes.
Dendroflora of protected areas comprises 102 species. Here are 46 tree-plnat species, 4 bushes and 8 liana species. A beautiful view is created by dwarf beech trees surrounded by beautiful lakeTbikeli. The bigeestarea is covered by beech forest, relatively less – chestnut forest, and with small areas are represented: hornbeam, oak, fir and spruce forests, lime, nut, alder, sage, laurel and rhohdodendron forests. Also several copies of yew grow in the protected area, the age of which os more than 1000 years. Moss-covered stones form a beautiful landscape, together with 1000 year-old boxwoods, which run along the bank of the river leading to the waterfall.
Relict and endemic plants
Pontic oak, Medvedev birch, rhododendron ungernii, Pontic rhododendron, yew, Colchis capers, Broom, Caucasian persimmon, chestnut.
From the “Red List” of Georgia here can be found: Imeretian oak, Pontic oak, Q. hartwissiana, Colchis boxwood, yew, Medvedev birch, chestnut, arbutuswingnut, rhododendron ungernii.
Fauna
In Kintrishi Protected area inhabit the following predators: Brown bear, whose population is quite stable. Here are rarely seen a wolf and lynx.
From ungulate animals there are roe, in the border of alpine and sub-alpine zones there is the chamois.
From small mammals Kintrishi valley inhabitats are: moles, weasels, Caucasian (Persian) squirrels, rabbits, foxes, badgers, wild cats. The population of otter is not weel studied, although it has been seen before in the valley.
Rivers and ravines and rich in trout. In the downstream of the river Kintrishi we can meet shemaya and carp. Salmon come from the Blcak Sea for spawning is rarely met in the river Kintrishi.
From amphibians there are: Caucasian Salamander, Asia Minor Newt, Common Toad, tree-frog, Asia Minor and marsh frogs. In Kintrishi Protected areas there are three species of lizards and several species of snakes: common and water snakes, smooth snake and Caucasus viper.
Local orhithofauna is quite rich in birds of prey. In Kintrishi protected areas there are: booted eagle, buzzard, hawk, falcon, hobby and common kestrel. Night predators are: horned owl, scopsow, eagle-owl. Other birds nesting here are: hoopoe, woodpecker, raven, blackbird, oriole and others.
As for insects, the information about them is very poor; however, according to the latest data here are revealed representatives of Carabidae and jumper families.
Endemic animals
There are 28 species of endemic small mammals in Kintrishi protected area: European hedgehog, Caucasian squirrel, gray rat and several species of bats.
From insects there are: Caucasain endemic beetle from jumper family - Cicindeladesertorum, and buzzing beetles Caucasian endemic - Carabusarmeniacussubincatenatus, CarabusroseriFaldermann, CarabusseptemcarinatusMotschulsky, and Georgian endemic - Carabusibericuschaudoirianus, Adjarian endemic subspecies-Carabuspushkinikintrishensis.
From the “Red List” of Georgia following species are spread: trout, Caucasian salamander, brown bear and otter, Cuacasian grouse and Caspian Snowcock, the Imperial eagle, peregrine, Asia Minor Newt. Caspian Snowcock, which has one of the important conservation status, draws special attention.