Parliament approved the legal status for 16 Nature Monuments

In July this year, the Agency of Protected Areas nominated 16 nature monuments in 8 different locations to receive Protected Area status. It submitted its nominations to the parliament for consideration. After the third hearing, parliament approved the bill and from now on, all 16 nature monuments will be under the legal protection of the state. Each monument receives protected status only after the decision of a special commission that decides whether it meets special criteria that are in accordance with International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN).     

It will be prohibited to extract mineral resources, carry out certain infrastructural projects and all types of ownership will also be banned in areas surrounding the nature monuments. The only sanctioned activities in these protected places are touristic and recreational activities.

The Agency of Protected Areas is planning to promote the value of natural heritage and implement different types of restoration and investment projects. As a result of the damaged travertine during the construction at the Jvari Pass motorway, a special monitoring system will be established to protect the monument from further damage and to help restore its original condition. 

From now on, the following 8places will be under legal protection:

• Goderdzi Fossil Forest Nature Monument (Adigeni Municipality);
• Dashbashi Canyon Nature Monument (Tsalka Municipality);
• Samshvilde Canyon Nature Monument (Tetritskaro Municipality);
• Mukhuri Waterfall Nature Monument (Tkibuli Municipality);
• Bodorna Rock Pillars Nature Monument (Dusheti Municipality);
• Jvari Pass Travertine Nature Monument (Kazbegi Municipality);
• Keterisi Mineral Vokluz Nature Monument (Kazbegi Municipality);
• The complex of Nature Monuments of Samegrelo – includes 8 nature monuments (Chkorotsku and Martvili Municipalities).