Algeti (138)
Georgia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Algeti
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.5500, Longitude: 44.5000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 to 2000
Area of KBA (km2): 133.09671
Protected area coverage (%): 42.91
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site lies in the basin of the upper Algeti river, on the wooded southern slopes of the eastern Trialeti range west of Tbilisi. The relief is rugged, with gorges of many rivers and cliffs. Forests are composed mainly of Picea, Abies, Quercus, Carpinus, Fraxinus and Betula. Meadows are also present.
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 site supports over 80 species, but a complete list has yet to be compiled. Among those known to occur are Accipiter gentilis, Otus scops, Coracias garrulus, Upupa epops, Dryocopus martius, Ptyonoprogne rupestris, Monticola saxatilis, Sitta krueperi and Lanius minor.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Forest | 84 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Main threats are the beetle Dendroctonus micans infesting Picea forests, and the chemical and biological control being used to combat this problem (`Other' threat); also the presence of human settlements and agricultural land breaking up the reserve area. The site was designated as a Zapovednik in 1965 with the primary aim of protecting forests of Picea orientalis and Abies nordmanniana on the eastern limit of their range in the Little Caucasus.