Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2022, in Georgia. Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve lies in eastern Georgia in Kakheti, set on the Iori Plateau between the Alazani River to the north and the Iori River to the south, close to the border with Azerbaijan. The landscape runs from uplands south of Dedoplistskaro at 1,001 metres down to 90 metres in the Eldari Lowland. Part of the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot, it is regionally important for arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The reserve’s purpose is to conserve connected dryland and riparian systems while supporting sustainable rural development, prioritising sustainable water use and stronger rangeland management.