Pskhu-Gumista Strict Nature Reserve, Protected nature reserve in Sukhumi District, Georgia.

Pskhu-Gumista Strict Nature Reserve is a protected area in Sukhumi District, Georgia, covering diverse mountain and valley habitats. The reserve encompasses ecosystems ranging from coastal slopes to high alpine environments with varied plant and animal life.

The Russian Federation established the Pskhu-Gumista Reserve in 1941. In 1978 the protected territory was enlarged to take in the Bzyb River gorge and the Pskhu river gorge, adding the 27,334-hectare Pskhu section to the 13,400-hectare Gumista section. After Georgia re-established independence in 1991 the modern strict nature reserve was created; since the Abkhaz-Georgian war, de facto control has been held by the government of Abkhazia.

The reserve serves as a research center where scientists study and monitor the local wildlife and plant species. This work helps expand understanding of the mountain ecosystems found in the Caucasus region.

Access requires special permits and visitors must follow strict guidelines to protect the natural environment. Understanding these restrictions ahead of time helps you prepare properly for a visit that respects the reserve's conservation goals.

The reserve shelters rare animal species such as Caucasian Red Deer and West Caucasian tur, along with many plant species found nowhere else. These endemic plants are remnants of ancient forests that once covered much of the region.