Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Eco-tourism in Georgia, a boost for the economy and for the environment

Eco-tourism in Georgia, a boost for the economy and for the environment

Georgia's Colchic rainforests and wetlands have just been recognised by UNESCO and added to its World Heritage List. The country is now looking to further protect the unique biodiversity of this area whilst boosting the economy with eco-tourism.

20 million years ago, the Colchic ecosystems began developing on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. These ecosystems created a very special rainforest and wetlands that would make anyone visiting them feel like they were in the Amazon. Georgia, where much of the rainforest and wetlands are located, has long protected its fragile Colchic regions and now UNESCO has given them international recognition.


A protected place


Tamar Khakhishvili, the deputy chair of the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, told us a bit about this region. She explains that very ancient trees have survived since the glacial period in the Colchic rainforest "and they have been continuously flourishing since the tertiary period." There are also lots of very rare, unique endemic and relic species there.

This area is also the only place where ancient rainforests and more recent wetlands coexist. Ispani mire is the perfect example of this and the only way to get around there is on snowshoes that are adapted to the wetlands. These shoes protect the white moss that covers the ground and stops your feet from sinking down.

Special shoe attachments to walk on the Colchic wetlands


Ispani mire, which is a Colchic peatland complex, has a unique composition and is made up of up to 80% water. Izolda Matchutadze, a scientist at the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, tells us that Ispani mire is comparable to a five-metre deep upside-down lake. "It is covered with a blanket of this sphagnum moos. When we walk on it, it vibrates like a trampoline", she adds.

Scientist Izolda Matchutadze shows euronews reporter, Monica Pinna, the sphagnum moss


A boost for the economy


In Georgia, protecting biodiversity has turned out to be a win-win strategy both for the environment and for the economy. National authorities expect that the inscription of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands on the World Heritage List will attract funds for nature conservation and more.

Tamar tells us that once they get funds for the development of protected areas, they will reinvest them into the social and economic development of rural areas. "The local households will get our support in order to embark on business, to have guest houses and so on."

A new tourist destination


Three of the four new Georgian World heritage areas are located in the autonomous region of Ajara. Its capital Batumi is a four-season destination in itself. Tornike Rijvadze, the government chairman of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, sees being on UNESCO'S World Heritage list as an immense positive. He believes it will provide a unique opportunity for tourism in the area to become "even more diversified" and for his region to become even more attractive. He also sees it as a way to diversify the local economy.

High above Batumi, the Kintrishi national park is already getting ready for more visitors to come. As the area is so wild, local tourism authorities are beginning to create trails and shelters for nature lovers.

Georgia is looking to increase the number of protected areas while opening up these unique ecosystems in a sustainable way.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
×