Biodiversity

Kintrishi National Park is situated between the Black Sea and Adjara-Imereti mountain system. Mountains hold up  humid air of the sae and generate high humidity climate in Kintrishi area, and climate here is the determinant of unique floristic diversity, which is represented here.

The beautiful landscape of Kintrishi National Park is represented by: the mountainous relief, picturesque valleys of the river Kintrishi, small streams and jagged territories of narrow ravines.

Local flora and fauna is represented by numerous Georgian, the Caucasian and Adjarian local endemic and relict species.

Flora

About 92% of Kintrishi National Park is covered by forest. It should be noted that among the National Parks of Georgia, the largest area is covered by forest.

Kintrishi forest is characterized by a multitude of Adjarian endemics.

Understory is represented by Colchic type evergreen bushes and ferns.

In Kintrishi territory botanists rouse a special interest for: evergreen rhododendron bushes – Pontic rhododendron, the Caucasian rhododendron, blueberry, cherry laurel and azalea bushes.

Dendroflora of national park comprises 102 species. Here are 46 tree-plant species, 4 bushes and 8 liana species. A beautiful view is created by dwarf beech trees surrounded by beautiful lake Tbikeli.  The biggest area is covered by beech forest, relatively less – chestnut forest, and with small areas are represented: horn beam, oak, fir and spruce forests, lime, nut, alder, sage, laurel and rhohdodendron forests. Also several copies of yew grow in the national park, the age of which is more than 1000 years. 

Relict and endemic plants

Pontic oak, Medvedev birch, rhododendron ungernii, Pontic rhododendron, yew, Colchis capers, Broom, Caucasian persimmon,  chestnut.

From the “Red List” of Georgia here can be found: Imeretian oak, Pontic oak, Q.  hartwissiana, Colchic boxwood, yew, Medvedev birch, chestnut, arbutuswingnut, rhododendron ungernii.

Fauna

In Kintrishi National Park inhabit the following predators: Brown bear, whose population is quite stable. Here are rarely seen a wolf and lynx.

From ungulate animals there are roe, in the border of alpine and sub-alpine  zones there is the chamois.

From small mammals Kintrishi valley inhabitats are: moles, weasels, Caucasian (Persian) squirrels, rabbits, foxes, badgers, wild cats. The population of otter is not weel studied, although it has been seen before in the valley.

Rivers and ravines and rich in trout.  Salmon come from the Blcak Sea for spawning is rarely met in the river Kintrishi.

From amphibians there are: Caucasian Salamander, Asia Minor Newt, Common Toad, tree-frog, Asia Minor and marsh frogs. In Kintrishi National Park there are three species of lizards and several species of snakes:  common and water snakes, smooth snake and Caucasus viper.

Local orhithofauna is quite rich in birds of prey. In Kintrishi National Park there are: booted eagle, buzzard, hawk, falcon, hobby and common kestrel. Night predators are: horned owl, scopsow, eagle-owl. Other birds nesting here are: hoopoe, woodpecker, raven, blackbird, oriole and others.

As for insects, the information about them is very poor; however, according to the latest data here are revealed representatives of Carabidae and jumper families.

Endemic animals

There are 28 species of endemic small mammals in Kintrishi National Park: European hedgehog, Caucasian squirrel, gray rat and several species of bats.

From insects there are: Caucasain endemic beetle from jumper family - Cicindeladesertorum, and buzzing beetles Caucasian endemic - Carabus armeniacus subincatenatus, Carabus roseri Faldermann, Carabus septemcarinatus Motschulsky and Georgian endemic - Carabus ibericus chaudoirianus, Adjarian endemic subspecies-Carabus pushkini kintrishensis.

From the “Red List” of Georgia following species are spread: trout, Caucasian salamander, brown bear and otter, Cuacasian grouse and Caspian Snowcock, the Imperial eagle, peregrine, Asia Minor Newt. Caspian Snowcock, which has one of the important conservation status, draws special attention.