Flora and Fauna Conservation in Machakhela National Park Georgia

Machakhela National Park, located near the Turkish border and 30 km from Batumi, serves as a critical refuge for unique biodiversity, particularly temperate rainforests with subtropical characteristics. These ecosystems, rich in tertiary relics such as Colchic boxwood, chestnut, and nut trees, harbor numerous endemic species like Quercus imeretina, Betula medwedewii, and Rhododendron ungernii, which are found nowhere else. The park's diverse topography and climate, influenced by montane barriers trapping sea humidity, have preserved a warm, humid environment since the late Tertiary period, acting as a shelter for hygrophilous relicts during ice ages. While trails are being developed, this recently established park offers unprecedented opportunities to witness its wet beauty and unrivaled biodiversity, including peat bogs and tropical habitats.

JGENTI, L., BOLKVADZE, G., IAKOBADZE, M., & DIASAMIDZE, I. (2022). Flora and Fauna Conservation in Machakhela National Park Georgia. The Eurasia Proceedings of Health, Environment and Life Sciences, 5, 35–39. https://doi.org/10.55549/ephels.32