For my first report as an ambassador I wanted to write about my country. I am from Georgia and our country is famous for its nature. It has a great variety of climate zones, for example, mediterranean and subtropical. Also, it has variety of natural landscapes, at the seaside and in the high mountains, forests, as well as deserts and glaciers.

Last summer I visited Kolkheti National Park, which is located in west Georgia. I have never been there before and I was fascinated by the beauty of the whole park. Paliastomi Lake, the Black Sea east border zone, unique swamps and forests are especially interesting there. The national park was established in 1999 to protect and preserve the wetland ecosystems of international importance in Kolkheti. The importance of the Kolkheti lowland for the ecology of Georgia is invaluable. It is kind of barrier that protects the land from entering the Black Sea thanks to a strip of several meters of dunes.

Kolkheti lowland is among the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world. It is globally distinguished by the unique habitats. The landscape is represented by wetland habitats, such as: live sphagnum peatlands, relict forests, natural freshwater lakes, rivers, coastal dunes, wetland meadows. The Kolkheti lowland is home to dozens of species of animals, insects, birds, especially migratory birds.

Destruction of the wetlands is a highly sensitive topic, because they are unique ecosystems. Moreover, it is one of the main mechanisms in the fight against climate change. Wetlands are important for climate change mitigation as they include many essential functions: water accumulation and purification, groundwater renewal, protection from flood and storm, precipitation stabilization, erosion control, prolonged retention of carbon, nutrients, precipitation and pollutants and etc. According to the Ramsar Convention, in wetlands, especially in swampy peat soils, the supply of carbon is almost twice that of the world’s forests.

Why are wetlands endangered?

There are several reasons why wetlands are endangered. These include: pollution, drying and drought.

Our rivers and pools are home to many species. They need a clean slate to save and multiply. general, water pollution involves the discharge of substances into reservoirs as a result of human activities in such concentrations that their natural decontamination can no longer take place and there is a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Pollution of rivers, lakes, swamps and other water bodies can be caused by wastewater from rainwater runoff, agricultural lands or settlements, faulty sewage systems and others.

Historically, some wetlands, such as swamps, have been considered useless space. Due to human intervention many swamps have either already disappeared or are on the verge of extinction. Georgia is no exception. Our country acceded to the Ramsar Convention in 1996. In the last century, it was believed that swamps should be dried for agricultural use or to set up a farm. That is why at first tea, citrus fruits and cereals were planted in these places. And in the 90s the process of re-wetting the territories began. As a result, hectares of unusable lands have emerged.

To sum it all, I think that it is important to fully understand the ecological and environmental importance of the wetlands, also the touristic potential they have and take measures to protect these unique habitats from further damage and pollution in order to preserve them.

References: https://nationalparks.ge/en/site/kolxetinp/natureCulture