SPA 8 — Khevsureti – Tusheti

Protection status: 88.58 % of territory is covered by Tusheti and Khevsureti Protected Areas. 68.09 % of territory is covered by IBA (GEO22).  99.99% of IBA (GEO22) is represented by SPA 8. 31.83% of territory is covered by IBA (GEO23).  34.28% of IBA (GEO23) is represented by SPA 8.

Species of concern

Caucasian Grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi) and Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Guldenstadt’s Redstart (Phoenicurus erythrogastrus), Great Rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilla). There is one of the largest populations of Caucasian Grouse (Gavashelishvili et al. 2010), Unknown number of Guldenstadt’s Redstart and Great Rosefinch and 1-3 pairs of Bearded vulture breed on the territory of SPA.  All of them are included on the red list of Georgia as Vulnerable (VU). Caucasian Grouse is also classified on the IUCN red list as Near Threatened (NT).

Description of the site

Khevsureti-Tusheti SPA is located in the northern part of Georgia, at an altitude of 1400 – 4000 meters. Caucasian mountain mixed forests cover part of the SPA territory. Pine (Pinus Sosnowskyi), Birches (Betula litwinowii, Betula pendula, Betula radeana), Beech (Fagus orientalis), Hornbeam (Carpinus caucasica), Georgian Oak (Quercus iberica), Lime (Tilia begoniifolia), Aspen (Populus tremula), Sorb (Sorbus caucasigena), Currants (Ribes biebersteinii), Sweetbrier (Rosa canina), and Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) are dominant vegetation in the forest. From 2000 meters above sea level up to 3500 meters above the sea level subalpine scrublands and subalpine/alpine meadows are represented with plant species as: Rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum), Meadow Fescue (Festuca varia), Mat-grass (Nardus stricta), Sosnowskyi Hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi), and Monkshood (Aconitum nasutum). (Kvachakidze 2010). See the bird list below / for Avifauna.

Monitoring

Caucasian Black Grouse

Method: Lekking male count

Period: May

Needed Equipment: 20X60 magnification spotting scope; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.

Description: Field expedition should take place every May. During the expedition grouse leks should be discovered, GPS location of the leks should be recorded and lekking males should be counted. Counts should be repeated at least once more during the season. Leks should be given unique name, mapped using coordinates collected on the field and number of males attending the lek should be recorded, date and weather conditions should be recorded as well. Count data should be recorded in the database.

Bearded Vulture

Method: Nest count & assessment of breeding success

Period: April – June

Needed Equipment: 20X60 magnification spotting scope; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.

Description: First field expedition should take place every April. During the expedition, bearded vulture nests should be discovered and nestlings should be counted. Date, GPS location of the nest and number of nestlings should be recorded.  The second expedition should take place every June for assessing the breeding success. The number of chicks should be counted in the same nests discovered during the first expedition.

Guldenstadt’s Redstart and Great Rosefinch

Method: Assessment of presence-absence

Period: Whole year

Needed Equipment: 20X60 magnification spotting; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.

Description: Due to very low density and difficult access to the habitats of those species, presence absence data should be collected. During the winter sea buckthorn bushes, should be searched and presence of the species and observed numbers should be recorded. Presence of both species should be recorded in spring during the monitoring of Caucasian black grouse. Species, date, GPS coordinates and number of birds should be recorded.

Birds recorded in the area 143

Photos and maps