index


  


The Caucasus region is rich in biodiversity and a global "hotspot" for conservationists. It boasts a wide variety of flora and fauna from both Asia and Europe, and it is home to numerous species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. However, Caucasian ecosystems and wildlife are under threat from a number of pressures arising from economic crisis and civil unrest. Georgia, situated in the heart of the Caucasus, has a key role to play in preserving this unique natural diversity.

In 1989, WWF established an office in Tbilisi, becoming the first international organization to focus on Georgia's environment. The most urgent task was to help the Government of Georgia to expand the country's network of protected areas, and WWF's Conser vation Programme for the Caucasus was launched in 1990. WWF is now the most active conservation organization in Georgia, with projects that include assisting the Government to raise funds for National Parks, developing conservation legislation and managem ent plans for new protected areas, promoting environmental education and sustainable development projects, and encouraging improved forestry practices.