Prepared for the UNDP/GEF Project Expansion and Improved Management Effectiveness of the Ajara Region’s Protected Areas. This is due to their upstream/downstream geographical status, and their sharing of river basins and water bodies with common problems. Downstream water pollution from Georgian WWTPs sited close to the border. Specifically, untreated and partly-treated wastewater effluent from the Georgian Gardabani WWTP is a serious source of pollution in the Kura River dowmstream in Azerbaijan, w'hich flows into Mingecevir Reservoir.