Planting of Pterocarya fraxinifolia , one of the species of IUCN Red List, grown up on the basis of the Research Department of Conservation of Kolkheti mires and Water Eco-systems in the Nursery of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University Phytopathology and Biodiversity Institutes, in the territory of the National Park within the Municipality of Lanchkhuti in the direction to Supsa, has been started. The event involved the students from Rustaveli State University, staff of the nursery of the Institute, State Representative –Governor in the Municipalities of Lanchkhuti Mr. Merab Tchanukvadze and other representatives of administration, Mr. Aleksandre Khabeishvii, Director of the National Park, Mr. Aleksandre Sarishvili, Mayor of the Municipality of Lanchkhuti, Mr.Besik Tabidze, Chair of Sakrebulo and the representatives of various institutions.
Incorrect management of the relict forest of Kolkheti lowland, drainage, irrigation and melioration processes followed by the hard social-economic conditions made the woody plant species, such as: Pterocarya fraxinifolia, Quercus hartwissiana, Buxus colchica, These species face difficulties in Kolkheti Natonal Park territory too. The Department of Conservation of Colchian Peatlands and Water Eco-systems (Head of the Department, Chief Researcher Izolda Machutadze) of the Institute of Phytopathology and Biodiversity together with IUCN, the Department of Biology of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and the Scientists of the Natural History Museum of Fribourg, implements joint research projects in conservation of Relict woody spices.
Cultivated seedlings of Pterocarya fraxinifolia are planted in various sites of the preserved territories of Kollheti National Park, in order to study where and how well it can grow and the problems related to natural restoration of these species of the forest. The research results will serve as the basis for the implementation of the projects of Kolkheti Relict Forest rennaturalisation which will bring the ecological and social benefits. The project envisages involvement of the local population and cultivation of so called “Forest Plantations” for them. The objective of the scientific study is conservation, popularization and cultivation of plantations of the IUCN Red List species like Pterocarya fraxinifolia, Quercus hartwissiana, Buxus colchica, Ficus carica, Through the involvement of the Research Staff of the University the so called “Paludiculture”, ecologically and economically beneficial projects, adapted to the wet area, will be implemented in the territories adhered to the National Park of Lanchkhuti. These future programmers and activities are considered by 20-year management plans of Kolkheti National Park and Reserve Katsoburi. The plan of management is being implemented by Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University in the frame of the memorandum concluded with the Regional Administration of Guria and the Agency of Protected Territories.
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