Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands
The site consists of seven components and is 80 km long, located along the warm temperate and very wet eastern coast of the Black Sea. They offer a range of the most typical Korchi ecosystems, ranging from sea level to more than 2,500 meters above sea level. The main ecosystems are the ancient Korchi deciduous rain forests and wetlands, percolation swamps and other swamp types in the unique Korchi swamp area. The very wet broadleaved rain forests contain a highly diverse flora and fauna, with a very high density of endemic and relict species, including a large number of globally endangered species and relicts, which have survived the glacial cycles of the Tertiary period. The site has about 1,100 species of vascular and non-vascular plants, including 44 endangered vascular plants, nearly 500 vertebrates and a large number of invertebrates. The site also hosts 19 endangered animal species, including sturgeons, especially the critically endangered Colchicus colchicus. It is an important stopover for many globally endangered bird species migrating through the Batumi bottleneck.