Pskhu (133)
Georgia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Pskhu
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.4167, Longitude: 40.8167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 to 2400
Area of KBA (km2): 88.18768
Protected area coverage (%): 51.56
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The wooded basin of the upper and middle Bzyb river and its tributaries, all typical fast-flowing mountain rivers with many rapids. The valley lies between the Great Caucasus in the north, the Bzyb range in the south and the Gagra range in the west, towards which the valley widens. There are steep, in places precipitous, slopes on the left bank; the right bank is highly fractured by tributaries of the Bzyb. The forest is mainly of Fagus, Abies, Carpinus, Quercus, Alnus, with Rhododendron, etc. There is a long and continuing tradition of bee-keeping at this site (`Other' land-use).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The following refers to Pskhu-Gumista, i.e. sites 002 and 003 combined. The avifauna includes at least two of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Eurasian high-montane biome. A total of 142 species has been recorded at this site, including 86 passerines and at least 24 raptors. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aegypius monachus (non-breeding visitor), Falco naumanni (occurs on passage). Among breeding raptors are Gypaetus barbatus (2-3 pairs) and Aquila chrysaetos (up to 2 pairs), while Pernis apivorus, Neophron percnopterus, Circaetus gallicus (very rare), Circus cyaneus, C. pygargus, Aquila pomarina, Hieraaetus pennatus, Pandion haliaetus and Falco vespertinus pass through on migration. Other breeding species include six woodpeckers, Phylloscopus nitidus and Certhia brachydactyla.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 79 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threat comes from the use for grazing of the unprotected flower-rich alpine and subalpine meadows lying between the Pskhu and Gumista Reserves: the grazing animals have to be driven through the protected forest areas to reach the meadows; there is pressure from grazing on the forest edge; poaching is a problem in an area above the tree-line which is the habitat of such rare species as Tetrao mlokosiewiczi. This IBA, together with Gumista (site 003), lies within the Pskhu-Gumista Nature Reserve, which falls within the proposed Abkhazeti Protected Area, part of the Georgian protected-area system whose establishment is now under way.