Gazelle Reintroduction Project in Georgia

On October 21st, 2013, through the initiative of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan together with WWF, completed the second stage of BMZ funded project on Reintroduction of Gazelles to their historical habitats in Caucasus. The project aimed to improve the ecosystem biodiversity in Iori-Mingechauri transboundary priority conservation area through the rehabilitation of floodplain forest, improvement of PAs management system and reintroduction of extinct gazelle.

The implementation of the project was planned in two stages. The first one was implemented in Azerbaijan, in 2012-2013; that time a few gazelles were transported from Shirvani National Park to adjacent steppes of Mingechauri (historical habitat of gazelles) and were let off in the nature. In order to monitor these individuals, they were equipped with a special sensor collars.

This time in the course of the second stage the gazelle reintroduction is being implemented on Vashlovani PAs, which represents one of the best examples of biodiversity restoration in the region. Shalva Amirejibi, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia and Rati Japaridze, the Chairman of the Agency of Protected Areas, attended the mentioned event. As in Azerbaijan, reintroduced gazelles in Georgia are equipped with sensor collars as well.

It is remarkable that Gazelle Reintroduction Project to their historical habitats on Vashlovani PAs has been implemented through the support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Environment of Turkey since 2009. However in the recent years large part of gazelles transported from Turkey have died due to the obstacles associated with adapting to the new environment and overtime the need for the re-implementation of the project has emerged.

Project title: Improvement of ecosystem biodiversity in a transboundary Priority Conservation Area, Iori-Mingechauri

Brief description: The improvement of ecosystem biodiversity in Iori-Mingechauri transboundary priority conservation area through the rehabilitation of floodplain (Tugai) forest, improvement of PAs and pasture management system and reintroduction of extinct Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) on local level.

Implementation date: July 1st, 2012 – June 30th, 2015 

Countries: Georgia and Azerbaijan

Donor: BMZ and WWF Germany

Name of Project Implementer: WWF  Caucasus Office together with WWF Germany

Intended outcome: In autumn, 2013, 30 gazelles will be reintroduced from Azerbaijan (Shirvani National Park) in Georgia (on Vashlovani PAs).