AVES · GeorgiaSpecial Protection Areas for birds

Bird conservation in Georgia

Special Protected Areas (SPAs) for birds in Georgia

24 Special Protection Areas for birds — candidate sites selected under the EU Birds Directive for the Emerald network.

Explore the areas
Bird checklist

Bogdasheni (SPA 23) · Photo: Z. Javakhishvili

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Natura 2000 · Emerald

The Birds Directive and Georgia

The association agreement between Georgia and the European Union, signed on 27 June 2014, includes obligations regarding the implementation of the following two EU directives relevant for the conservation of biological diversity:

  • Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora
  • Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds

According to the association agreement Georgia is obliged to establish a network of Emerald and Special Protection Areas (SPA) and to initiate priority management measures within four years after signing of the association agreement.

Kvernaki (SPA 10) · Photo: Z. Javakhishvili

SPA 1–24

24 Special Protection Areas

Choose an area for its description, species of concern, monitoring methods and bird list.

The areas at a glance

SPANameRegionArea (ha)Altitude (m)IBA
01LagodekhiKakheti23,065500–3200GEO24
02Alazani ValleyKakheti33,670200–250GEO25
03ChachunaKakheti27,794250–500GEO11
04VashlovaniKakheti64,176100–600GEO11
05David GaredjiKakheti22,899600–900GEO11
06JandariKvemo Kartli3,530250–450GEO27
07Lower Mtkvari valleyKvemo Kartli10,943300–400GEO26
08Khevsureti - TushetiKhevsureti; Tusheti119,4671400–4000GEO22-GEO23
09KheviKhevi95,4611300–5000GEO21
10KvernakiKartli12,979500–1000GEO20
11RachaRacha89,9341400–3800GEO13
12MeskhetiSamtskhe-Javakheti41,2211200–2000GEO08
13ZekariImereti; Samtskhe-Javakheti29,5671300–2500GEO15
14ShavshetiAdjara24,8101000–3000GEO16
15Chorokhi DeltaAdjara2,2320–30GEO32
16BatumiAdjara26,60020–1000GEO14
17KolkhetiGuria - Samegrelo29,9700–10GEO04
18Rioni DeltaSamegrelo2,9390—
19ChuriaSamegrelo3,5820—
20KhanchaliSamtskhe-Javakheti1,8052000GEO09
21KartsakhiSamtskhe-Javakheti3,3371800–2200GEO17
22TabatskuriSamtskhe-Javakheti11,0582000–2300GEO18
23BogdasheniSamtskhe-Javakheti1012000GEO30
24MadatapaSamtskhe-Javakheti1,6742100GEO31

Map of the areas

Click an area on the map for details.

The project

The objective of the Ilia State University is to support the Biodiversity Protection Service of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia in the selection of candidates to be nominated as Special Protected Areas for Birds (SPAs). In particular, Ilia State University implemented following project activities:

  1. Identified candidate Special Protected Areas for Birds (as future Emerald sites)
  2. Performed baseline study for each individual candidate SPA (biodiversity-georgia.net/SPA)
  3. Prepared of maps of each SPA (biodiversity-georgia.net/SPAmaps)
  4. Developed a monitoring scheme of the SPAs
  5. Produced SPA monitoring manual
  6. Prepared database for monitoring data
  7. Trained stakeholders in monitoring methods
  8. Performed monitoring of 3 selected pilot SPAs
  9. Updated checklist of Bird species of Georgia (biodiversity-georgia.net/aves )
  10. Produced web page for the SPAs for birds

Selection criteria

The selection process is divided in two stages. In Stage 1 all potential sites are selected by applying the respective Stage 1 criteria. These areas are then considered further using one or more of the judgements in Stage 2 to select the most suitable areas in number and size for SPA classification. In this way Stage 2 is meant to support a consolidation process where the suite of sites selected in Stage 1 is refined, delineations are adapted and the best combination of sites can be chosen.

The criteria presented below shall be subject to comments and discussions with relevant stakeholders, after which an agreed set of criteria will be elaborated.

Selection criteria

Stage 1

  1. An area that is used regularly by 1% or more of the Georgian population of a species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) in any season (IBA criteria C2).
  2. An area is used regularly by 1% or more of the biogeographical population of a regularly occurring migratory or non-migratory species (other than those listed in Annex I) in any season (IBA criteria C3).
  3. An area that comprises a mirgratory “bottleneck” where over 5.000 storks, or over 3.000 raptors or 3000 cranes regularly pass on spring or autumn migration (IBA criteria C5).
  4. An area is used regularly by over 20.000 waterfowl (waterfowl as defined by the Ramsar Convention) or 20.000 seabirds or 10.000 pairs of seabirds in any season (IBA criteria C4).
  5. An area is used by 1% or more of the Georgian population of a species listed on the Georgian Red List with category threatened, endangered or critically endangered.
  6. An area that is one of the ‘n’ most important in the country for a species with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe (SPEC 1, 2 or 3)1 and for which the site-protection approach is thought to be appropriate (similar to IBA criteria B2).
  7. An area, where the application of Stage 1 criteria 1-6 for a species does not identify an adequate suite of most suitable sites for the conservation of that species, but which meets the requirements of one or more of the Stage 2 criteria in any season.

Stage 2

  1. Population size and density
    Areas holding or supporting more birds than others and/or holding or supporting birds at higher concentrations are favoured for selection.
  2. Species range
    Areas selected for a given species provide as wide a geographic coverage across the species’ range as possible.
  3. Breeding success
    Areas of higher breeding success than others are favoured for selection.
  4. History of occupancy
    Areas known to have a longer history of occupation or use by the relevant species are favoured for selection
  5. Multi-species areas
    Areas holding or supporting the larger number of qualifying species (Annex I, Red List of Georgia, waterbirds, migrating birds) are favoured for selection
  6. Naturalness
    Areas comprising natural or semi-natural habitats are favoured for selection over those which do not.
  7. Severe weather refuges
    Areas used at least once a decade by significant proportions of the biogeographical population of a species in periods of severe weather in any season, and which are vital to the survival of a viable population, are favoured for selection.

1 The SPEC categories (Species of European Conservation Concern) determine the state of conservation of the species of birds present in the whole Europe, in relation to their European populations and to their distribution, both on the European and the world level (BirdLife International (2004a,b).

SPEC 1 – Species of global conservation concern, i.e. classified as globally threatened, Near Threatened or Data Deficient (mostly congruent with Annex I with few exceptions)

SPEC 2 – Concentrated in Europe and with an Unfavourable Conservation Status

SPEC 3 – Not concentrated in Europe but with an Unfavourable Conservation Status

Abbreviations

Seasonal status at a site

YR-R
Year-round resident; breeder, present throughout the year
YR-V
Year-round visitor; non-breeder, present throughout the year
BB
Breeding bird; breeder, absent during the non-breeding period
SV
Summer visitor; non-breeder, present in spring and summer
WV
Winter visitor; non-breeder, present in late autumn, winter and early spring
M
Migrant; bird of passage, present mainly in autumn and spring
Cas
Casual (vagrant) species
ND
No data

IUCN Red List

CR
Critically Endangered
EN
Endangered
VU
Vulnerable
NT
Near Threatened
LC
Least Concern

Other

SPA
Special Protection Area for birds
IBA
Important Bird and Biodiversity Area
RLG
Red List of Georgia
Annex 1
Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), Annex I