Kakheti is one Georgian region that is economically dependent on agriculture. According to data from the Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy 2021-2027, 40.1% of Georgia’s agricultural lands are within Kakheti, where its largest areas are arable lands, pastures, and vineyards, making it the leading region in the production of cereals, livestock, and wine. In 2020, wine production in Kakheti alone accounted for 75.5% of all the wine produced throughout the country.

In comparison to Q1 2020, the GEO real property market contracted significantly by 45.5% in Q2 2020 (from 27,273 units sold in Q1 2020 to 14,855 in Q2 2020) while the annual decrease was observed at 53.6% (YoY) compared to Q2 2019.

In comparison to Q3 2019, the GEO real property market increased by 4.7% in Q4 2019. While the annual increase was observed at 3.0% (YoY) compared to Q4 2018. Tbilisi dominated the real property market with a 40.7% share in total sales in Q4 2019. The Tbilisi market was followed by Adjara and Kakheti, with a respective 12.4% and 12.2% of GEO sales.

In comparison with Q4 2018, the GEO real property market dropped by 15.2% in Q1 2019. While the annual increase was more pronounced at 3.7% (YoY), compared to Q1 2018. Tbilisi dominated the real property market with a 41.8% share in total sales in Q1 2019. The Tbilisi market was followed by Kakheti and Adjara, with a respective 12.6% and 10.9% proportion of GEO sales.

While listening to Wade Davis, who has been often described as “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity,” the subject of biosphere reserves came to my mind. This was partly because earlier this year I conducted a series of trainings on this issue with local municipality representatives in the Kakheti region, and partly because, as an economist, I see how valuable biosphere reserves can be to preserve cultural (and of course bio!) diversity.