LAYERS OF THE COLCHIC FOREST

The forest of Chokhatauri forms distinct ecological niches through its vertical layers — from ground cover to canopy.

Entering the forest of Chokhatauri is one of the most vivid botanical experiences available — each step takes you into a new layer, and each layer opens a new world.

The four vertical layers of the Colchic forest operate simultaneously but at different timescales. The ground cover is the first to dry in summer heat and the first to leaf again in autumn. The shrub layer — rhododendron, cherry laurel, ivy — is the forest's "first floor," where most bird species forage and nest.

The understorey — hornbeam, box, wild apple — is the most shaded part of the forest. It is here we find the oldest individual trees — some more than a century old. Finally, the canopy layer — beech, oak, linden — is the forest's "ceiling," where wind, light, and leaves resonate together.

These four layers collectively form a climate buffer — temperature inside the forest always differs from outside by several degrees. This microclimate is critical for many species, particularly amphibians and fungi.

Interesting fact

Colchic forest biodiversity is four times greater than comparable European forests — a consequence of the forest's long history of survival through the ice ages as a glacial refugium.

Chokhatauri forest — vertical structure

IUCN Red List – Colchic Forest Ecosystem Assessment
WWF Caucasus Programme – Forest Biodiversity Report