Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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Multiple-use areas will be established in Samukhi Valley between the Vashlovani Protected Areas and Azerbaijan-Georgia State Border

Today, at the session of the Government of Georgia, the draft law prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture on the creation and management of Nugzar Zazanashvili Samukhi multipurpose use area has been approved. 

The establishment of a category of Samukhi Multipurpose Use Area in the extreme south-eastern part of Georgia, between the Vashlovani Protected Areas and the Azerbaijan-Georgia state border is envisaged by the draft law on the " Establishment and Management of Nugzar Zazanashvili Samukh Multipurpose Use Area".

This will be the first named protected area in Georgia, which immortalizes the name of Georgian scientist, famous environmentalist and poet Mr. Nugzar Zazanashvili. Many protected areas were created in the country, through the direct involvement of Mr.  Zazanashvili, who has also supervised the launching of a restoration project for the goitered gazelle in Samukhi Valley since 2013.

In 1990, the Goitered gazelle species became completely extinct in Georgia. In 2013, at the initiative of the Government of Georgia, with the financial assistance of the German Government, the WWF, the Agency for Protected Areas and many other governmental and non-governmental organizations, the restoration project of the Goitered gazelle species was launched.

Currently, about 200 gazelle species live in and around the Samukhi Valley area. This year the eighth generation of gazelles was born. The reintroduction of gazelle species from Azerbaijan (return/restoration of the species) is considered the most successful conservation and restoration project in Georgia.

The creation of a protected area will contribute to the long-term survival of the gazelle population in this region, the protection of biodiversity, the development of ecotourism and the sustainable use of traditional sheep-breeding and pastures.