At a plenary session, the Parliament of Georgia unanimously adopted, at III reading, the draft law on the Establishment and Management of the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Areas with 90 votes in favor.

Under the law, the Tsiv-Gombori National Park will be established on an area of 21,761 hectares within the administrative boundaries of the municipalities of Sagarejo Municipality, Gurjaani Municipality, and Telavi Municipality.

In addition, the following protected areas will be created: the Signagi Strict Nature Reserve on an area of 554 hectares; and the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape covering 17,562 hectares.

The draft law establishes the powers related to the management of these protected areas and defines the activities permitted within each category of protected territory.

Management of the Tsiv-Gombori National Park and the Signagi Strict Nature Reserve will be carried out by the Agency of Protected Areas.

The Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape will be managed by the Gurjaani Municipality within the scope of delegated authority.

The management of state forests located within the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape will remain under the responsibility of the National Forestry Agency.

As a consequence of the adoption of this law, amendments are also introduced to the Administrative Offences Code. Under these amendments, the Mayor’s Office of Gurjaani Municipality, or a person authorized by it, is granted the authority to draw up administrative offence reports for violations committed within the territory of the Tsiv-Gombori Protected Landscape.