The Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee reviewed in the first reading the draft laws submitted by the Government of Georgia through legislative initiative procedures — “On the Establishment and Management of the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Areas” and “On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia”.

The draft laws were presented at the committee session by Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Zurab Ezugbaia.

 

According to the draft law, the Tsiv-Gombori National Park will be established on 21,761 hectares within the administrative boundaries of the municipalities of Sagarejo, Gurjaani, and Telavi. In addition, the Signagi Strict Nature Reserve will be created on 554 hectares, and the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape on 17,562 hectares.

 

According to the presenter, the LEPL Agency of Protected Areas will manage the Tsiv-Gombori National Park and the Signagi Strict Nature Reserve, while the Gurjaani Municipality will manage the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape within the framework of delegated authority.

 

The management of state forests included within the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape will continue to be carried out by the LEPL National Forestry Agency.

 

As a result of the draft law “On the Establishment and Management of the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Areas”, amendments will also be introduced to the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia, granting the Gurjaani Municipality City Hall or a person authorized by it the authority to draw up administrative offense reports within the territory of the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape.

 

The draft law is scheduled to enter into force on June 1, 2026, while the provisions related to the establishment and functioning of the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape will take effect from January 1, 2027.

 

During the discussion of the draft law, the presenter noted that the effective date of the law would be changed from June 1, 2026, to July 1, 2026. This amendment will be reflected during the second reading of the draft law.

 

Committee members also supported in the second reading the draft law “On the Establishment and Management of the Egrisi National Park”, according to which the Egrisi National Park will be established within the territories of the municipalities of Tsalenjikha, Chkhorotsku, and Martvili, with a total area of 37,074 hectares.

 

One of the main goals of establishing the Egrisi National Park is the protection and preservation of unique geomorphological formations. The designated territories of the national park are important for biodiversity conservation. Twenty-six vertebrate species found in the area are included in the Red List of Georgia. The park will also protect chestnut forests, habitats of local endemic plants, boxwood groves of the Colchic forests, and forests preserved in the areas surrounding Mount Migaria and Mount Jvari.

 

At the committee session, members also reviewed in the first reading and supported, together with accompanying issues, amendments to the Law “On Water Resources Management”, which provide for postponing by one year the entry into force of certain provisions of the law — from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2027.