Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands, Georgia
Relict forests which have survived the glacial cycles of the ice age
The property, situated in Georgia, comprises a series of seven component parts, which are located close to each other within an 80 km long corridor along the warm-temperate and extremely humid eastern coast of the Black Sea. They provide an almost complete altitudinal series of the most typical Colchic ecosystems running from sea level to more than 2,500 m above sea level.
Kolkheti National Park, canals in the Pichori River valley (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The so-called "Colchic Amazon" - relict wetlands of the Tertiary Colchic Rainforests – is located in the River Pichori Valley in Georgia. The plants here are accustomed to frequent floods and inundations, and alder trees are dominant.
The canals, overgrown with reed beds and reed mace, and swampy alder forest with lianas and thorns evoke the sensation of miniature jungles.
Kolkheti National Park, relict peat bog of Imnati (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
Amazing view of the relict peat bog of Imnati, where various species of sphagnum, characteristic of the tundra zone, thrive. Sphagnum helps control excess water and acts as flood protection against torrential rains. In addition, it absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and responds to climate pollution.
Kolkheti National Park, (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
Imnati Sphagnum Peatland is a protected habitat included in the European Nature Information System (EUNIS). Due to abundant precipitation and constantly high water levels, there is a lack of oxygen present, which slows down the decomposition of peat. A warm climate and high levels of precipitation create the best conditions for peat vegetation and, here, sphagnum never stops growing.
On the Ramsar List (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The impassable, heavily-swamped Colchic forest on the banks of the River Pichori is a permanent habitat for gray herons. The Colchic swamps have been placed on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, due to it being an important habitat for wintering migratory birds, especially waterfowl. Up to 200 species of birds rest, winter and nest here.
The property is home to approximately 1,100 species of vascular and non-vascular plants, as well as almost 500 species of vertebrates, and a high number of invertebrate species. It hosts an extremely high proportion of endemic species for a non-tropical, non-island region.There are 149 species of plants with a restricted range and almost one third of mammals, amphibians and reptiles are endemic. The contribution of endemic species to amphibians, reptiles and mammals of the region is at 28%.
Kolkheti National Park, Churia district (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
On the peatlands of Churia, swamp magpie, water clover and partitioned sphagnum can all be found in abundance. On the peat bogs in the River Churia basin, the winding streams and flowing channels are surrounded by a narrow strip of sand dunes.
Kolkheti National Park, Colchic ecosystems (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The property comprises ancient Colchic rainforests with their characteristic vertical zoning and ecological succession, and wetlands, particularly Colchic mires, with their supporting processes and succession.
A unique combination of influences from three mountain ranges to the north, east and south, with the Black Sea to the west, plus high precipitation and a narrow range in seasonal temperature variations results in conditions that have created outstandingly complex and diverse forest structures, peatland accumulations, high levels of endemism and intra-species diversity.
Kolkheti National Park, grass vegetation (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The extensive paludified areas along the Black Sea coast are a result of evolutionary and ecological processes related to climate variability in an ancient warm-temperate ecoregion continuously vegetated since the Tertiary period. The exceptional character of the mires has led to the recognition of a distinct Colchis mire region.
Their percolation bogs are of particular global importance as they do not exist anywhere else in the world. They can be considered the simplest and hence ideal-typical mire, due to almost permanent water supplied exclusively by precipitation. Percolation bogs are essential for the functional understanding of all mires, and hence of terrestrial carbon storage in general.
Kintrishi Protected Areas, Biodiversity Hotspot (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
Pictured is a belt of forest growing at 1,600m above sea level and beyond. It is a mixed forest of beech and high mountain spruce, and the undergrowth is represented by a ridge. The brown bear, lynx and birch are just some of the species to be found in the forest that are inscribed on the Georgian Red List.
River Kintrishi (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The River Kintrishi passes through the valley, surrounded on either side by the Colchian forest and its rare features. The forest is mainly comprised of beech, chestnut, hornbeam, walnut and linden trees, along with other vegetation found in the undergrowth, such as birch, yale and watercress. The total length of the River Kintrishi is 45 km.
Kintrishi Protected Areas, Colchian forest (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The Colchic rainforests are highly humid temperate deciduous rainforests, and among the oldest nemoral broad-leaved forests globally. While they are distinguished from other temperate forests by their rich evergreen understoreys, they also display a remarkably dense mosaic of forest types, with 23 forest associations co-existing within an area of only about 200 km2.
Together with the Hyrcanian Forests, they are the most important relicts of Arcto-Tertiary forests in western Eurasia. This peculiar and diverse community, which has survived the Pleistocene glacial cycles, includes a multitude of relict and endemic species. It reflects exceptionally constant climatic conditions and is an invaluable example of the manifold long-term evolutionary processes of forest biota over at least 10-15 million years.
Kintrishi Protected Areas, Rushavi River (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The Rushavi River, which originates in Kintrishi Protected Areas and joins the Kintrishi River, is represented by this grove of beautiful Colchian boxwoods. The river is rich in river trout, which is included on the Georgian Red List, and the water is suitable for drinking. The river has a waterfall which can be found on one of the tourist trails and attracts many visitors.
Kintrishi Protected Areas, Mount Sarbiela (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
This photo was taken from the subalpine zone of Kintrishi Protected Areas. Mount Sarbiela, located at 2,500m above sea level, is the habitat of the Caucasian grouse, which is included on Georgian Red List. The area is covered with clouds, as is the village of Khinotsminda.
Kobuleti Protected Areas, Colchic forest (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
Colchic forest is pictured, with areas of Quercus hartwissiana oak, inscribed on the Red Lists of both the Caucasus and Georgia, and well-preserved areas of Carpinus betulus, Rhamnus frangula, and swampy alder, mostly along the Black Ghela riverbeds.
Herbaceous-sphagnum peat can be seen at the edge of the forest with herbaceous sinuses that have developed on a hilly surface covered with sphagnum mosses.
Kobuleti Protected Areas, Black Ghele River (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The Black Ghele River is the natural boundary of the Kobuleti Srict Nature Reserve and the Kobuleti Managed Reserve, with yellow dupes (Nuphar lutea) and dazzling-yellow floral, moisture-loving swamp lilies (Iris pseudoacorus L.).
Mtirala National Park (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
Mtirala National Park is completely covered with impassable forest. This is one of the most beautiful parts, with rhododendrons, alder and ferns.
Mtirala National Park, "Tsablnara" eco-tourist trail (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
One of the special sights of Mtirala National Park is the lake on the "Tsablnara" eco-tourist trail, formed by the tributary of the River Chakvistavi, and near to which you can see the unique beech/chestnut forest, mainly dominated by chestnuts. Mtirala National Park is the rainiest place not only in the region but also in Europe, however, despite this, the water level of the lake rarely rises.
Mtirala National Park, corridors of rhododendrons (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
A small, wooden pedestrian bridge, which connects the rope park and the zip line with the "Tsablnara" eco-tourist trail, is immersed in the greenery of the Colchic walnut and alder. This route passes through corridors of rhododendrons.
Mtirala National Park, waterfall (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
The property represents a distinctive area of outstanding biodiversity within the wider Caucasus Global Biodiversity Hotspot, where a rich flora and fauna adapted to warm-temperate and extremely humid climate is concentrated.
It belongs to one of the two most important refuge areas of Arcto-Tertiary geoflora in western Eurasia. The property is characterised by a high level of floral and faunal diversity with significant numbers of globally threatened species and relict species, which survived the glacial cycles of the Tertiary.
National Parks of Georgia (2021) by Colchic Rainforests and WetlandsUNESCO World Heritage
This exhibit was created by Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia: www.apa.gov.ge ,
www.nationalparks.ge
More on Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands and World Heritage: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1616/
