Law of Georgia on System of Protected Areas (No. 136-IIS of 1996)

This Law establishes the system of protected areas of Georgia. It provides that the formation of the system of protected areas in Georgia serves the preservation of original natural and cultural environment and its individual components for future generations, and the ensuring of conditions for the mental and physical health of humans and the creation of one of the main bases for the civilised development of society. In Georgia, protected areas are established for protecting and restoring significant national heritage - unique, rare and distinctive ecosystems, plant and animal species, natural formations and cultural areas, and for ensuring their use for scientific, educational and recreational purposes and for the purposes of developing a saving economy for natural resources. The planning of the system of protected areas in the territory of Georgia, the selection of categories of protected areas and the establishment and functioning of each protected area have the following goals: a) the guaranteed long-term protection of the bio-geographic units of Georgia to ensure the continuous development of natural processes; b) the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, landscapes and living organisms; c) the protection of the genetic pool of endangered wild animals and plants included in the Red List of Georgia, and the preservation of biological diversity; d) the preservation of unique and rare organic and inorganic natural formations; e) protection against human-induced impacts on territories within active zones of erosion, mudflows, floods, torrents, avalanches, landslides, as well as areas of surface and ground water formation, drainage and discharge; f) the preservation and restoration of sceneries characteristic of historical and cultural landscapes and architectural and archaeological complexes; g) the creation of appropriate field conditions in areas of invaluable and irreplaceable objects in order to carry out educational and scientific research; h) the ensuring of favourable conditions in the natural, historical and cultural environment for recreation, health care and tourism purposes; i) the facilitation of the protection, restoration and development of traditional economic activities and folk arts in order to preserve the original historical and cultural environment; and j) the promotion of the saving economy of areas used for agricultural, industrial, transport and energy purposes, and of natural resources. The Law is divided into 25 articles.