Protected Areas Policy and Geopolitics in Georgia: Convergence of Ecological Governance and Spatial Strategy

Abstract

The history of the protection of natural areas in Georgia dates back centuries. As early as the 12th century, Queen Tamar issued royal decrees aimed at safeguarding specific natural territories. Five hundred years later, Vakhtang VI’s “Collection of Laws” identified the Korugi territory as a protected area, where logging and unregulated access were prohibited and the site was guarded. In mountainous regions, so-called “Khati forests” functioned as strictly protected sacred reserves. The first official state reserve was established in 1912 in Kakheti with the foundation of the Lagodekhi Reserve. During the 20th century, the network of reserves and protected areas gradually expanded throughout the territory of Georgia (BUDE, Protected Areas of Georgia, 2007). Following the restoration of independence, the policy of protected areas acquired new significance, shifting toward sustainable development, tourism, local community involvement, and alignment with international standards. The geopolitical dimension of this process is particularly important. Protected areas are no longer perceived solely as instruments of environmental protection; they have become mechanisms of spatial management and determinants of state interests. Georgia’s geographical location at the crossroads of Eurasia, where ecological, economic, and political boundaries intersect, makes nature conservation closely linked to territorial strategy. The interplay between ecological governance and geopolitics has become especially evident in recent years, as the state has introduced new formats, including geoparks, into the framework of protected area policy. As an international instrument, geoparks integrate the conservation of natural and cultural heritage with education, sustainable tourism, and geopolitical identity. In this way, ecological governance in Georgia is gradually transforming into a spatial strategy that intertwines environmental, economic, and diplomatic interests. Analyzing these processes provides insight into how protected area policy has evolved into a key aspect of geopolitical thinking, demonstrating how environmental protection goals intersect with state representation and regional dynamics. This paper examines the theoretical foundations of this convergence and its impact on contemporary nature protection policy in Georgia.