2019 Progress to Protect Borjomi National Park, Republic of Georgia

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2019 Progress to Protect Borjomi National Park, Republic of Georgia

Working with national park rangers and local communities, we are protecting one of the world’s last bastions for intact forests and wildlife in the Caucuses.

Our Manager of Security and Logistics - Greg Brown - made three missions to Borjomi in 2019 and Executive Director Jeff Morgan reviewed progress in January 2020 with Park Director and Ranger Teams.

Key Accomplishments over the past year includes:

- Deployment of Global Park Defense systems including over 100 cellular Trailcams for real time surveillance of roads, trails and rivers

 - Supported rangers with GPS units and equipment including 30 pairs of boots and 30 backpacks.

 - Funded rollout of SMART Patrol Systems

 - Achieved first Arrests and Prosecution of 4 illegal hunters, including weapon confiscations - a first in the parks history.

 - Developed master plan for three (3) new Tourism Trails in the newly added Nedzvy Reserve

 - Funded education for the children of Borjomi head Ranger killed in a forest fire.

 - Funded scientific studies and mapping for possible expansion of the national park

As well, professional video, drone and photographic documentation of the national park’s stunning mountains, forest, and alpine meadows.

Deploying Cellular Trailcameras provides 24/7 real-time surveillance of roads, trails and rivers used by wildlife poachers and illegal loggers. 

Over the coming years, our goal is to achieve “No Cut, No Kill” protection inside Borjomi National Park amd work with the government to expand the national park to include critical wildlife habitats and Georgia’s last major intact forests.

Over 100 cellular trailcams have been installed for real time surveillance of roads, trails and rivers. Rangers have been supplied with new GPS units and SMART Patrol Systems. Global Conservation has also funded scientific studies and mapping for possible expansion of the national park. A master plan for a tourism trail system was developed for local tour operators to grow trekking operations.

The Agency of Protected Areas (APA) signed an agreement with Global Conservation in 2018 to deploy Global Park Defense systems, technology and training to make more effective the only 76 rangers working across over 200,000 acres of mountainous and difficult terrain to stop the killing of wildlife and illegal logging.

Partnering with the Caucus Nature Fund (CNF), Global Conservation has focused on deployment of Global Park Defense, while CNF has invested heavily to improve park infrastructure, Ranger facilities and providing 16 trucks for patrolling.

Borjomi National Park is the oldest and largest national park in the Republic of Georgia.  It is famous as the source of Borjomi mineral water sold throughout the world, and as a last refuge in the Caucuses Region for Georgia’s once rich wildlife including brown bear, wolf, red deer, chamois and lynx.

Remaining wildlife estimates are:

• Red deer about 700
• Brown bear about 135
• Chamois about 65
• Lynx about 40

Established as a Royal Hunting Reserve in the 1880s, it’s rich wildlife populations were decimated, and local communities continue to hunt in and around the national park, despite a nation-wide ban.

After a Lead Ranger was shot dead in the face by local villages hunting in the park, other rangers were injured and threatened, and a grenade was found in a ranger’s truck, the government of Georgia began to increase emphasis on Ranger Security, park and wildlife protection and law enforcement.

Despite laws against hunting, Georgia’s wildlife has continued to decline over the past ten years as the barks of poachers’ dogs and the crack of high-powered rifles still echo through these valleys.

The problem is aggravated by illegal logging, overgrazing by domestic livestock, and climate-change-induced forest fires.

Improved enforcement has nearly eliminated large-scale illegal clear-cutting, and growing eco-tourism helps provide local communities with alternative livelihoods.

Visitors come from around the world for Borjomis famous mineral waters, and for the incredible scenery, and chance to see wildlife in the national park while hiking, horseback riding, biking, or snowshoeing.

Large brown bear caught on Cellular Trailcam.  The next day, Wildlife Poacher caught in the same location on same Cellular Trailcam.

Illegal Loggers caught on Cellular Trailcam leading to arrest and confiscation of truck.

Five rifles and shotguns were confiscated from 4 hunters who were arrested including one Russian who escaped the country. All were fined 500GEL ($200) and rights to own a gun suspended for one year.

Local ranchers and shepards continue to graze cattle and sheep inside the national park.  We hope to phase out this practice in the coming years.

Over the coming years, our goal is to achieve “No Cut, No Kill” protection inside the park working with the government to expand park boundaries to include critical wildlife habitats and Georgia’s last major intact forests.          

With your support, we are protecting one of the world’s last bastions for intact forests and wildlife in the Caucasus.