Tusheti National Reserve was established in 1980 with the aim to preserve ecosystem in Tusheti and conserve unique pine and birch groves. Together with Batsara and Babaneuli reserves it was joined in Akhmeta Reserve. Tusheti National Reserve was one of the youngest reserves in Soviet Union at that time.

In April 22, 2003, with the assistance from Global Environmental Fund and World Bank and support of Georgia’s Protected Areas Development Project the Parliament of Georgia adopted a new law “Concerning the Tusheti, Batsara-Babaneuri, Lagodekhi and Vashlovani Protected Territories Creation and Management.”

This law establishes the following as the types of protected territories in Georgia:

Today, there are the five categories of protected territories represented in Georgia and they occupy 462, 676.5 ha of land in total, which is approximately 6,6% of Georgia’s territory. 

In 2003 there were new protected territories established in Tusheti. Tusheti is located in north-east part of Georgia in Akhmeta District at the central part of Caucasus and expands over a range of high mountains (1500 to 4500 meters above sea level).

Protected territories in Tusheti include: Tusheti State Natural Reserve, Tusheti National Park and Tusheti Protected Landscape.
Tusheti National Reserve includes Pirikiti Alazani river, Gomertsi Alazani river and Chochrakhovani river gorges. It covers forests surrounding villages of Omalo, Dikhlo, Shenako, Kumalaurta and Khiso and forests located on each side of embankments of includes Pirikiti Alazani and Gomertsi Alazani rivers, starting from their confluence to Dagestani border. Total area of National Reserve is 10 694 ha.