Institute of Phytopathology and Biodiversity

Department of Kolkheti Mire and Water Ecosystem Conservation

Department of Kolkheti Mire and Water Ecosystem Conservation is carrying out a research of the unique habitats and species of Kolkheti, percolation bogs - Ispan and Imnati - Sphganum dominated mires.

Because of the unique location, Kolkheti has a special legend on the world map of the wetlands. As a wonderful phenomenon of its own, it has become a wonder for the whole world – it feeds the percolating type peat bogs with only atmospheric rainfall. This is how it attracted the attention of the scientists and environmentalists from around the world. 

Scientists from University have been exploring the wetlands of Kolkheti for over a couple of decades. Hans Joosten, extraordinary Professor University of Greifswald, Germany, Secretary General of the International mire conservation group has made a special contribution to the current research. Prof.  Joosten is a Honorary Doctor of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University.

The initial scientific research in the Kolkheti lowland ecosystem was carried out in 1929. In 1999-2005, Georgian, Dutch and German scientists continued the research. The findings by Hans Joosten, John Couwenberg, Jeni Schulz, Matthias Krebs, Izolda Machutadze, Amdreas Haberl, Marine Kahrman proved that Ispani 2 Sphganum mire (Kobuleti) and Imnati (East Paleastomi Lake, Central Colchis) - are the world's unique percolate type Pphagnum  mire. 

The Academic Council of the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University established Department of Kolkheti mire and water ecosystem conservation at the Institute of Phytopathology and Biodiversity in 2014 having taken into account the significance of the scientific research carried out.

Research studies have been conducted in different directions in the wetland habitats   of Kolkheti. The sphagnum peat bogs in the world's unique hydrological regime stand as important research object for hydrological studies. Colchis itself is a special place for zoologists and botanists as a natural environment for the relict (cyanusic) flora and fauna. The wetland is a location which attracts attention of the pallinologists, climatologists, archeologists, geologists and historians.

Department of Kolkheti mire and water ecosystem conservation The cooperates with various scientific institutions around the world:

  • International Organization for CABI Combat Biological Method (Switzerland, Deleume)
  • World Environmental Union IUCN Red List (Switzerland, Gland)
  • UNESCO - Scientific Organization of Environmental Protection (Switzerland, Gland)
  • International mire conservation group (Germany, Greifswald)
  • Greifswald scientific center of mire (Germany, Greifswald)
  • Greifswald University (Germany, Greifswald)
  • Micchael Zuccow Foundation for Nature Conservation (Germany, Greifswald)
  • Wetlands International (Netherlands, Wahleningen)
  • Ramsar Convention (Switzerland, Gland)
  • World Bank
  • Global Environmental Fund -GEF

Back