Heavy snowfall caused extensive damage to Tbilisi’s National Botanical Garden; garden was temporarily closed to visitors

Georgia’s National Botanical Garden has been temporarily closed to visitors. According to Tbilisi City Hall, the decision was to ensure maximum safety on the grounds.

The administration has reported that the heavy snowfall has caused some of the most extensive damage in the garden’s long history. The severe snowstorm has taken a significant toll on both the garden’s unique collections of trees and plants, as well as some important exhibits.

“Remarkable specimens of rare woody plants have been damaged, posing a serious challenge to the garden’s ecosystem.

According to specialists, the current situation requires particular attention and a lengthy restoration process. At this stage, the garden’s administration and relevant services are fully mobilised and operating in emergency mode. Work is underway to clear the affected areas, assess the risks, and develop additional preventive measures to ensure the safe movement of visitors.

Given the scale of the damage, the garden’s specialist departments have been invited. Experts are systematically assessing the harm caused and drawing up a detailed plan of restoration measures.

As the administration has stated, it will take significant time and resources to fully address the aftermath of the disaster.

The temporary closure is a precautionary measure designed to ensure that safety procedures can be carried out without interruption. Once that work is complete, the areas in which movement is currently restricted will gradually return to their normal operating regime,” reads the statement issued by Tbilisi City Hall.