Western Caucasus
The Western Caucasus, extending over 275,000 ha of
the extreme western end of the Caucasus mountains and located 50 km
north-east of the Black Sea, is one of the few large mountain areas of
Europe that has not experienced significant human impact. Its subalpine
and alpine pastures have only been grazed by wild animals, and its
extensive tracts of undisturbed mountain forests, extending from the
lowlands to the subalpine zone, are unique in Europe. The site has a
great diversity of ecosystems, with important endemic plants and
wildlife, and is the place of origin and reintroduction of the mountain
subspecies of the European bison.