The South Caucasian nation of Georgia is home to several protected areas, which receive protection because of their environmental, cultural or similar value. The oldest of these – now known as the Lagodekhi Protected Areas – dates back to 1912, when Georgia was part of the Russian Empire.
The total area of Georgia’s protected territories is 511,123 hectares, which amounts to approximately 7% of the country’s territory. There are 14 Strict Nature Reserves, 10 National Parks, 18 Managed Nature Reserves, 40 Natural Monuments and 2 Protected Landscapes in Georgia. Strict nature reserves comprise 140,672 ha, while national parks cover 276,724 ha. The total number of visitors in 2014 has exceeded 279,000.