The Lagodekhi Reserve located in Kakheti, eastern Georgia, on the border to Azerbaijan, is one of the oldest preserved natural landscapes in Georgia. Almost one fourth of Georgia’s flora, up to 1500 species, can be found in this relatively small area of only 25 000 hectares. The Protected Area offers good opportunities for nature-based tourism and environmental education and a wide range of recreational activities.

As a result of the Soviet Union’s collapse and the transition from a planned to a market economy, the region has suffered a host of economic problems including the disruption of established trade patterns and rapidly decreasing production. The unemployment rate is high in Kakheti. Credit, investment and training are needed to stimulate the economy. The decayed agricultural infrastructure lends itself to subsistence rather than commercial agriculture. As a result of the depressed economy, the majority of the male population has become so-called "seasonal migrants" working in other countries.

The goal of the internship is to develop tourism and a monitoring system on mammal species with the Lagodekhi Protected Areas Administration. Interns will identify and draft a system of monitoring animals and create a database. In doing this, they will develop a training manual for rangers about collecting information on other animals and utilizing the monitoring system. Another task of the interns will be to make a contribution to the development of tourism management in the Protected Areas as it is believed tourism will bring benefits to the local economy through the creation of jobs and support small scale businesses.

Interns require knowledge of monitoring species and drafting a system plan as well as experience in tourism development. It is useful if they bring their own computers with them.

The scheduled time for the internship is between August and October 2012.

Training and preparation seminars prior to the internship will be held in English. The tandem will be formed by a French participant and a German/Swiss participant.