Measures of restoration of so called Sagorie forest in Mukhrani
The oak forest near Kutaisi is known to the population as Sagoria Forest. This truly unique area where endemic and red list species of Imereti oak is found has been under constant anthropogenic impact for the last decades. Illegal logging, waste pollution, and other factors that have affected the area for many decades have had a significant impact on the sanitation of the forest.
This process was preceded by the impact of many years of negative factors, such as illegal logging, waste pollution, disruption of the diversion canal in the area - partial flooding of the area and finally the world-famous pest beetle - the big oak beetle. This pest beetle rarely inhabits healthy trees and is mostly known for settling on already weakened trees.
Specialists have selected a set of measures to improve the sanitary condition of the Sagoria forest, including sanitary felling (to remove pest-damaged / populated trees from the grove), clearing debris, and reforestation to ensure the presence of young trees in the grove.
LEPL National Forestry Agency has been implementing these measures since 2018. For example, in 2018-20th 2.4 hectares of forest were planted. In order to increase the scale of forest restoration in 2019 two additional projects were prepared on a total area of 20.3 ha. Dried and deciduous trees were cut down from the grove and removed in accordance with the sanitary felling rule, as well as measures to promote natural regeneration were taken.
Measures are also planned for the current 2021 to ensure the improvement and sanitation of this truly unique grove.
