The Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee reviewed, in the II reading, amendments to the Law of Georgia “On the Establishment and Management of the Kolkheti Protected Areas”.

The government’s legislative initiative was presented to by Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Zurab Ezugbaia.

The main objective of the amendments is to establish the Rioni Managed Reserve in Samtredia Municipality for the protection and reproduction of sturgeon species. The Rioni River is one of the few rivers in the world where sturgeon spawning grounds are still preserved and where the species continue to reproduce in their natural habitat.

The reserve area will cover 554 hectares and include the section of the Rioni River where sturgeon spawning takes place.