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Conservation of Five Rare and Endangered Plants in Georgia

Region: Caucasus, Georgia
Author: Marina Eristavi/NGO-Wild Plant Conservation Center
Consortium Member: Horizonti
Status: Needs Funding Budget: $2640 Collected: $6 Needs: $2634
Goal: The goal of the project is to conserve five species of rare and endangered herbaceous plants of the Red Data Book of Georgia, and to develop a strategy for their protection.
Comment: Without efforts to preserve endangered plants, part of the unique genetic heritage of species growing in the Caucasus may disappear.
Donor: Timothy Douglas, Washington DC [May 2001]

Project Need:

Recently, activities aimed at the preservation of rare and endangered wild plants of the Caucasus (Georgia in particular) have ceased due to the complicated social and ecological situation in this region. As a result, part of the unique genetic heritage of rare and endemic species growing in the Caucasus may disappear. At present various commercial structures in Georgia are actively engaged in the exploration of vegetative resources (decorative, herbaceous, edible etc.) directly from ecosystems. This is another reason for an urgent need to resume work on the preservation of genetic diversity and variety of species in Georgia's plant kingdom.

Project Goals:

The main objective of the project is the conservation of five species of rare and endangered herbaceous plants of the Red Data Book of Georgia and the development of a strategy for their protection. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Institute of Botany of Georgia has been informed of this project and they provided consultations for the organizers of this project.

The plants selected for the project are :

The main objectives of the project are to create a sample plantation of the above plants; to create an assortment of seeds; to study the population conditions; and to develop a conservation strategy for the above plants. It has to be emphasized that for the conservation of rare species the main attention should be attracted to the problems of breeding. The selection of species is based on the existing research data describing their ecological condition and the natural condition of plots for their introduction so that they are the most favorable for the vegetation of Georgia. Research data shows the immensely reduced population of the species.

Expected Outcomes of Project

Plants gathered during expeditions will be transplanted to the plots. If any of the species are in a critical state, only seeds will be collected for future sowing. Thus, small plantations (from 10 to 20 sq. meters) sufficient for ensuring the regeneration and study of the plants will be grown. Sample plantations will be grown and an assortment of different samples of seeds (belonging to rare and endangered species of the Red Data Book of Georgia) will be gathered to safeguard their conservation.

Implementation of this project will be conducted by two members of the Center of Conservation of Wild Plants--Marina Eristavi and Tsira Pantsulaia. Marina Eristavi is a botanist with a professional interest in the taxonomy of Liliaceae and Iridaceae families' species. Tsira Pantsulaia is a biologist, specialized in the embryology of plants. She studies the process of seed-forming and plant reproduction.

Project duration: two months. Project activities will take place in Spring.

Budget

Expedition of 2 persons 1 day- 20 USD. 65 days x 20 USD $1300
Car rental $700
Film, development, printing $400
VF Administrative Cost (10%) $240
Total $2640