The Georgian government has submitted a draft law On the Status of Protected Areas to parliament, which proposes changing the borders of the Gardabani Nature Reserve and expanding it.
The draft law aims to increase the reserve’s territory by 42.3 hectares, using land from the floodplain forest on the left bank of the Mtkvari River.
The explanatory note highlights that the area is a unique ecosystem, home to rare plants, including giant floodplain oaks with diameters exceeding 80 cm, elm, white poplar, and black poplar.
It also supports diverse fauna, including mammals protected by the “Red List,” such as lynx, otter, and Leliani’s cat.
The draft law notes that the territory is currently degraded and requires active restoration measures. The area is assigned IUCN category IV, which allows restoration work, maintenance of natural conditions under strict control, and rehabilitation of wildlife near urban areas like Rustavi.
The proposed changes do not require additional state budget funding. The new territory will be managed by the Tbilisi National Park Administration, with works financed through the agency’s existing annual budget.
This initiative is part of the government’s 2025–2028 program, which aims to increase the total area of protected lands by 100,000 hectares by 2028.
The draft law was initiated by the Government of Georgia and authored by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
