Pristine Wilderness at Risk after Russian Bombing

Written by Foundation Georgia

Saturday, 23 August 2008 10:21

Forest fires, reportedly started by Russian bombing raids, risk endangering one of the last forest virgin forests and true wildernesses in Europe.

According to the Georgian Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, the fires started on August 15, after an attack of Russian military forces?€™ helicopters. WWF Caucaus reported that multiple fires affect a number of areas on both sides of the Mtkvari (Kura) river, including recreational areas around Borjomi and Bakuriani. The extent of the fires was reported as 200-250 ha, as of August 19. However, this may increase as the fires are not under control yet. There were also smaller fires within Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, the largest and oldest National Park of Georgia.

While National Park rangers and local fire-fighters have been active controlling the smaller fires within the National Park, according to WWF Caucasus, local resources and the support of Turkish fire-fighting aircraft have not been sufficient to control the larger fires in the immediate vicinity of the Park. These fires are still burning and may spread. Therefore, the forest ecosystems in and around the park remain in acute danger. The situation is complicated by the fact that the highway from Tbilisi to Borjomi was still under Russian military control on August 19, which limits access for fire fighters.

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is not only the largest and oldest National Park in Georgia and one of the oldest protected areas of the Caucasus. Its outstanding biodiversity value has also been acknowledged internationally: the Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, a joint effort of conservationists and scientists from throughout the Caucasus which was coordinated by WWF and published in 2006, identified the park and its surroundings as a Priority Conservation Area.

The area contains large continuous forest areas, including dark coniferous forests of global importance and pockets of pristine forest (an absolute rarity in Europe), and harbours a high number of endemic plants. It is also home to one of two remaining Red Deer populations of Georgia, to other large mammals (e.g. Brown Bear, Lynx) which have become extremely rare in other parts of Europe, and to endemic amphibians like the Caucasian Salamander. It is one of the most important remaining forest wildernesses in pan-Europe, and significantly contributes to the status of the Caucasus as one of 34 global biodiversity hotspots.

In addition, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and its surroundings are a major and much-loved holiday destination for Georgians. Supported by international donors, primarily by the German development bank KfW, the park has played a leading role in the development of eco-tourism in the southern Caucasus and has attracted an increasing number of foreign tourists over the last few years, giving hope for future economic benefits from tourism.

The ongoing forest fires in the Borjomi area, which are not under control yet, may lead to a major ecological (and economic) catastrophe in one of the outstanding wilderness areas of Georgia, and hence to the irreversible loss of a sizeable chunk of the natural heritage of Europe. There is an urgent need for all sides to take immediate measures to get the Borjomi forest fires under control.

Last Updated on Saturday, 13 June 2009 16:47