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Protected areas (PAs) cover more than 9% of the area of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. About 1.7 million hectares in the region have protected status. Of these, Armenia has more than 380,000 hectares, Azerbaijan more than 800,000 hectares, and Georgia almost 500,000 hectares.In the three countries combined, there are a total of 24 protected area complexes larger than 15,000 hectares. These larger PAs are the initial focus of the Caucasus Nature Fund, although we do not discount the importance of smaller PAs, including areas as small as 100 hectares that can have particular importance for a species or form part of crucial corridors connecting the larger areas.
Of the larger protected area complexes, there are already three (considering the South Armenian and Nachyevan PAs together) that are striking in size, as demonstrated by the following table:
| Protected Area (or group of PAs) | Country | Area (in hectares) |
| Shahdagh | Azerbaijan | 130.000 |
| Borjomi-Kharagauli | Georgia | 107,000* |
| Shikahogh/Zangezur, Arevik | Armenia | 66,000 |
| Ordubad, Zangezur | Azerbaijan (Nachyevan) | 71,000 |
* Includes 22,000 hectares at Ktsia Tabatskuri Managed Reserve, which will be added to Borjomi’s administration by 2013.
And if planned areas such as Khesvureti (which neighbors the existing Tusheti Protected Areas) and Svaneti can be brought on stream, two more very large protected area complexes will be created.
While most of the PAs in the region already existed in one form or another prior to the demise of the USSR, a number have been created, expanded or improved in recent years with international donor funds, including grants from Germany, Norway, the World Bank and others. These grants, however, did not assure long-term funding for ongoing operating costs.
The ecoregional plan for the Caucasus foresees the integration of the existing collection of individual PAs in the region into an expanded transboundary network of PAs and connecting corridors. In the three South Caucasus countries, various steps towards that goal have already been taken—including the creation of several new PAs in recent years. Important measures that remain to be taken over the next four to five years include creating the planned new PAs and improvement of the corridors connecting the PAs.
CNF Projects and Targets
Firefighting in BKNP
When part of the magnificent Borjomi forest caught fire from bombing during the 2008 Russian-Georgian conflict, CNF responded with a grant to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (BKNP) for mobile fire-fighting equipment and training. This proved prescient, enabling BKNP to put out potentially disastrous fires during the heat wave of 2010 with minimal damage.
When part of the magnificent Borjomi forest caught fire from bombing during the 2008 Russian-Georgian conflict, CNF responded with a grant to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (BKNP) for mobile fire-fighting equipment and training. This proved prescient, enabling BKNP to put out potentially disastrous fires during the heat wave of 2010 with minimal damage.
CNF is now working actively in five large PAs covering about 200,000 hectares. In Georgia, we support the operations of Bojomi-Kharagauli and Lagodekhi Protected Areas. In Armenia, we support the operations of Khosrov Forest, Shikahogh/Zangezur and Arevik Protected Areas. Click here for more information on these projects. We are also supporting development of management plans for two PAs.
While we have not yet established the partnership with Azerbaijan's government that would permit us to begin to work there, CNF continues to reach out to Azerbaijan as well.
Our goal within the next 3-4 years is to protect at least 500,000 hectares with CNF funds. Initially, we are targeting about 200,000 hectares in Armenia and 300,000 hectares in Georgia. If Azerbaijan partners with us, we will want to add at least an additional 300,000+ hectares there as well.
Protected Areas of Armenia and Georgia
The maps below show a more detailed picture of the protected areas of Armenia and Georgia.
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