Conservation of cave-dwelling invertebrates

An animal species inventory is stated as one of the priorities in the section: “species and habitats” of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Georgia (NBSAP, 2005), but there are no special conservation measures, nor any legislation, established for hypogean species and cave habitats in Georgia. The following caves have status of Natural Monument: Bgheri, Didghele, Ghliana, Jortsku I, Khomuli, Melouri, Motena, Mukhura Spring, Nagarevi, Navenakhevi, Nazodelavo, Prometheus, Sakajia, Satsurblia, Solkota, Tetra, Toba I and Toba II, Tskaltsitela, Tsutskhvati caves. Besides, Sataplia I, II, III and IV caves are located at the Sataplia Strict Natural Reserve and are protected. Additionally, difficult access due to absence of roads and high altitudes to some massifs (Arabika, Bzipi = Bzybsky) in Apkhazeti, Racha, etc., ensures de facto protection of the cave-dwelling invertebrate species in several caves there.

There are no publications available on conservation status of the Georgian cave dwelling invertebrates, despite the fact that 53 local endemic cavernicolous species for a single cave were identified so far. In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, only two species are listed, and these under Data Deficient (DD) (IUCN, 2018). Beetles – Inotrechus injaevae and I. kurnakovi have critically endangered (CR) status in the Georgian Red List. Species described from Sapichkhia Cave near Kutaisi (Trapezicandona riongessa (Bronstein, 1947), Speocylops colchidanus (Borutzky, 1930) and Leucogeorgia longipes Verhoeff, 1930)) are likely extinct due to construction of the Rioni Hydroelectric Power Station near Kutaisi, in the early 1930s.