Pshsav-Khevsureti National Park is located in the north-eastern part of Georgia, in the historical highland district called Pshav-Khevsureti, in Dusheti municipality. From west and east it is surrounded by Kazbegi and Tusheti National Parks, respectively.

Flora

With the total area of 75 936 hectare, Pshav-Khevsureti national park has one of the richest floral diversity in Georgia. Based on the conducted research, the area consists of 600 vascular plant species of 67 families. The proportional number of plant species endemism is particularly high. Out of 600 vascular plant species presented here, 212 are Caucasian endemic species. Out of 17 endemic plant genera of the Caucasus (icl. Vavilovia formosa and Agasyllys latifolia), seven genera can be found here (Shetekauri, S. (2017). Book: Flora of Tusheti, Pshavi and Khevsureti (The East Greater Caucasus)

Village Khone valley in the vicinity of mountain Tebulo (highest peak of eastern Caucasus) is especially rich with endemic Flora and Fauna. Out of 17 endemic plant species in the Caucasus, 6 can be found here: Sobolewskia caucasica (Rupr.), Trigonocaryum involucratum(4) (Steven), Mandenovia/Trigonosciadium  komarovii (5) (Manden.), Gadellia lactiflora(6), Pseudovesicaria digitata(1) (C.A.Mey.), Symphyoloma/Heracleum graveolens(3) (C.A.Mey).

Fauna

The region fauna is not well studied. According to the last data, in the area is described big, medium and small sized 52 mammals species. From ungulates, here live wild goat (Capra aegagrus)(ნიამორი), Caucasian endemic East Caucasian Tur (Capra cylindricornis)(აღმოსავლეთკავკასიური ჯიხვი), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra)(არჩვი ), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)(შველი) and wild boar (Sus scrofa)(გარეული ღორი).

From the predator mammals here live The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)(წავი), brown bear (Ursus arctos)(მურა დათვი), golden jackal (Canis aureus)(ტურა), wolf (Canis lupus)(მგელი) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)(ფოცხვერი).

From small mammals here live following Caucasian Endemics: Caucasian snow vole (Chionomis gud)(გუდაურის მემინდვრია) and Daghestan pine vole (Microtus daghestanicus)(დაღესტნური მემინდვრია), Radde’s shrew (Sorex raddei)(რადეს ბიგა) and Caucasian pygmy shrew (Sorex volnuchini)(მცირეკავკასიური ბიგა).

Birds (Ornithofauna)

According to existing data, 83 bird species are common in Pshav-Khevsureti. Among the diverse ornithofauna, first of all should be noted Caucasian Endemics: Caucasian grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi)(როჭო) and Caucasian snowcock (Tetraogallus Caucasicus)(შურთხი).

5 species of birds included in the Red List of Georgia, can be found in Pshav-Khevsureti. Among them, Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus)(სვავი) is globally threatened species included in the IUCN red list.

The area is rich of following birds of prey such as Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)(ბატკანკერძი), Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus)(ორბი), Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)(კირკიტა), Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)(ქორი), Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) (მიმინო), Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) (მთის არწივი) and others.

It is also noteworthy that in Pshav-Khevsureti you can find Caucasian chiffchaff (Phylloscopus lorenzii)(კავკასიური ყარანა), Green warbler (Phylloscopus nitidus), The red-fronted serin (Serinus pusillus)(თავწითელა მთიულა).

Other classes of Vertebrates

Information about other classes of vertebrates is relatively scarce. In Pshav-Khevsureti, there are at least 11 species of reptiles and 5 species of amphibians, and only two species of fish.

Butterflies

The following globally rare species of day butterflies have been recorded in the region: The Apollo (Parnassius apollo)(აპოლონი), The large copper (Lycaena dispar)(არაფარდი მრავალთვალა), The large blue (Maculinea arion)(არიონი) and Caucasian rare Endemics, Caucasian Apollo (Parnassius nordmanni)(კავკასიური აპოლონი).

This information is mostly based on Pshav-Khevsureti National Park Management Plan from 2014, by NAKRES. Photos by Gaga Shetekauri.