Institute of Zoology Conference
Ilia State University held a closing conference of ISU Institute of Zoology's project "Contemporary Condition of Biodiversity of Vertebrates in East Georgian Highland". The researchers from the Institute of Zoology presented their reports. Alexsandre Bukhnikashvili reviewed the research as such; research that David Bekoshvili pesented dealt with the reptiles that are present in east Georgian highland and Gia Edisherashvili's research was about birds. In these reports the importances of the research project both, on the applied and scientific level was mentioned. In general review Alexsandre Bukhnikashvili said that according to existing literature in Borbalo Massif there are known 50 variety of vertebrates, 134 variety of birds, 14 variety of reptiles, 7 variety of amphibian, but according to the recently curried out research there was found 59 variety of vertebrates, 125 birds (32 new to the region), 13 reptiles (one new for the region) and 4 variety of amphibian (one new for the region). Speakers talked about those factors that caused decrease of the inhabitants on the above mentioned territory. These are: using territories for massive pasture, poaching and not organized tourism. On the conference participants presented the ways of dealing with the problems and future perspectives. Research group established certain territories that should be given status of protected areas; also one way of solving the problems is to widen the protected area in Khevi territory. According to researchers this will help to preserve Georgian fauna. It has to be mentioned that results of the research can be used on the scientific level in studying biodiversity of animals and for their protection.