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Minister Davitashvili: “Restoration of gazelles has resulted from effective cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia”
Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA), Mr Levan Davitashvili has awarded certificates of gratitude to the Ministry of Internal Affair’s Land Border Defense Department’s (#4 Division) staff and rangers of the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia for successful restoration of gazelles’ population.
Since 2013, the MEPA has been undertaking meaningful efforts for restoring gazelles’ population at the Vashlovani Protected Areas upon joining forces with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and through financial support of the German Government. The Samukhi valley is a border territory, thus, it doesn’t hold status of a protected territory; therefore, successful implementation of the project has derived from a vital role of the border police. Ministry of Internal Affair’s Land Border Defense Department’s (#4 Division) staff has been actively engaged into the process of protecting and monitoring gazelle population.
“Gazelle restoration project is transborder efforts on the territories of Georgia and Azerbaijan; repopulation of a very beautiful species – gazelle, has been deployed at the Samukhi valley. We started the process with only 10 gazelles and nowadays – there are around 150 gazelles on the whole territory of Georgia. Such a successful effort has resulted from an effective cooperation between the two agencies – the MIA’s Land Border Defense Department and Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia. Because of braconniers several attempts to populate gazelles have failed; however, at this stage, we can proudly announce about formation of a sustainable population with a demonstrated increase. This project has a vital importance, including for the sake of attracting visitors to the Vashlovani Protected Area, which is highly attractive among visitors. Frankly speaking, the respective project will cultivate bigger interest” – Minister Davitashvili stated.
Restoration of gazelle happens to be at the core of Georgia’s environmentalists, as healthy ecosystem at Iveri plain is closely tied with the respective species.
Vashlovani National Part is the only protected area in Georgia with a European Diploma. The Diploma was awarded for the first time in 2015; moreover, it had been extended for 10 year-period.