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Today, Goderdzi Alpine Botanical Garden located at 2000 meters from sea level was officially opened. The project aims to collect local plant species, conserve and preserve endangered species, support eco-education, and restore the subalpine forest line, stimulating the development of the local rural tourism sector.  The main backer of the Goderdzi Alpine Garden is the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) through the Mercy Corps Georgia implemented Alliances Caucasus Programme (ALCP). The project was supported by the private sector stakeholder Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC/Shuakhevi HPP and the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic. The garden is being developed with the backstopping of Munich and Lautaret Botanic Gardens.

,,Years ago, when the development of Goderdzi Alpine Garden was commenced through the Alliances Lesser Caucasus Program, we, as representatives of Private sector supported this initiative and signed a memorandum with Batumi Botanical Garden and made a significant financial contribution of  100 000 USD to fund the infrastructural part of the development of Alpine Garden. This is our small contribution towards the conservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity including some endangered species of Adjara while also providing an opportunity to promote livelihood sustenance for the communities living in the Adjara mountains. Goderdzi Alpine Botanical Garden will assist the creation of an additional market for local products acting as an incentive for local residents to advance their economic activities. Thus, the project achieves a dual purpose that of environment protection, wherein rare species, eco-system of diverse Adjarian nature are being preserved and at the same time, Alpine Garden becomes a regional center for tourism, education, and research.’’ – stated Prashant Joshi, CEO of Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC.

„We started the development of Goderdzi Alpine Botanical Garden together with Batumi Botanical Garden in 2015 and this process is still in progress. The idea of Alpine Garden was active for years, but the development and implementation of this idea started with the support of the Alliances Caucasus Programme. Market analysis undertaken at the beginning of the program demonstrated the immense potential of rural tourism in the direction of local economy developing and increasing benefits for small farmers. Goderdzi Alpine Garden is a unique project as it aims not only to develop rural tourism, rural and agricultural development, and improvement of local rural residents but also implies reasonable conservation and preservation of environmental values of highland Adjara” – stated Helen Bradbury, team leader of Alliances Caucasus Programme.

,,We can easily say that establishment of Goderdzi Alpine Garden of Batumi Botanical Garden is one of the effective ways to preserve and protect rare species of highland Adjara subalpine and alpine florist diversity. The mission of Alpine garden was clearly distinguished from the beginning which aims at gathering local highland species in Alpine garden, registering them, and utilizing for scientific, educational, and informative purposes. The goal of the garden is to ensure the conservation and preservation of plants that are under threat of extinction. Important infrastructural project and organization of other organization issues implemented from the start of the project till today are a good demonstration of how private-public sector co-operation and support can act as the foundation of preservation and development of environmental protection.“ – mentioned Irakli Archaia, Director of the Batumi Botanical Garden.

The event was attended by Governor of Ajara Tornike Rijvadze, CEO of AGL Prashant Joshi, The Swiss Ambassador to Georgia Patric Franzen, Team Leader, Alliances Caucasus Programme Helen Bradbury, the director of Batumi Botanical Garden Irakli Archaia, and representatives from the Adjarian government and NGO sector.