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Minister David Songulashvili Meets with Rangers of Batsara-Babaneuri Protected Areas
Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. David Songulashvili, along with the Kakheti State Representative, Mr. Giorgi Aladashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Regional Policy and Self-Government, Mr. Irakli Kadagishvili, and Chairman of the Agency for Protected Areas, Mr. Besik Kusidi, met with the rangers of the Batsara-Babaneuri Protected Areas in the Kakheti region.
Located within Akhmeta Municipality, the Batsara-Babaneuri Protected Areas span 11,461 hectares and are safeguarded by 17 dedicated rangers.
During the meeting, Minister Songulashvili expressed his deep gratitude to the rangers for their exceptional contribution to the protection/preservation of Georgia’s natural heritage.
The Minister emphasized the importance of establishing and managing protected areas using modern, efficient systems. He stressed that, alongside the expansion and development of these areas, it is a state priority to ensure that rangers are equipped with the necessary tools, work under proper conditions, and are guaranteed adequate protection.
Currently, Georgia’s protected areas are managed by approximately 500 rangers across 25 territorial administrations, collectively overseeing around 927,748 hectares. Ranger responsibilities include preventing poaching, combating both natural and man-made fires, monitoring biodiversity, and supporting visitors within the scope of their competence.
A point of particular pride was the recognition of Giorgi Abramishvili, head ranger of the Batsara-Babaneuri Protected Areas, who was named among the top 10 rangers globally in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Commission on Protected Areas’ “International Rangers” competition, earning the prestigious title of World Ranger in 2021.
The development of protected areas remains a top priority for the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. Over the past decade, Georgia has established more than 30 new protected areas, expanding the total protected territory by approximately 75%. Today, the country boasts 100 officially designated protected areas. In 2025, work commenced on creating a new protected area in the Gurjaani Municipality, Kakheti region.