Investigation and conservation of the cave dwelling invertebrates, their habitats and education of local communities on the cave conservation in Racha karst massif, Georgia, Caucasus
The main goal of the project is to explore caves in Racha region biologically and ecologically and to educate local people on the importance of cave-dwelling invertebrates.
There are the following aims:
- To assess conservation status of local-endemic, cave-dwelling invertebrates according to the IUCN categories and criteria;
- To give natural monument status to some caves with diverse invertebrate taxa;
- To organize seminars and excursions for local people to educate them about the importance of cave biodiversity and conservation;
- To detect invertebrate communities in poorly investigated caves;
- To describe new species of the cave-adapted invertebrate taxa.
Conservation status of eight single cave inhabitant species in Racha karst massif has not been assessed yet. Therefore, risks of extinctions of these taxa need investigation. Cavernicolous species are especially prone to extinction due to human activities since its sensitivity to any disturbance of the cave environment. Besides, Usholta Cave fauna is under threat of extinction taking into account mining in manganese quarry close to this cave. This cave is still poorly investigated. In the frame of the project above mentioned conservational problems will be solved and based on the planned educational activities anthropogenic pressure on the caves within this region will be decreased