Five days training in Kolkheti National Park
November 1, 2021
In the month of September, SABUKO started the preparation process for 5 days training to be conducted within the ‘Joint Monitoring for Environmental Protection in BSB countries’ project for volunteers on the topic of biodiversity monitoring. The training set dates were postponed several times due to Covid -19 regulations and ongoing election processes in the country. However, we were lucky to get permission to hold training on the territory of Kolkheti National Park, in the city of Poti, using territory of administration. The training took place from 5th of October to 9th. Trainers, Kolkheti National Park’s administration personnel and SABUKO staff, all together designed, planned and organized orientation and training programs.
The training was attended by stakeholders from various universities and vocational schools, colleges, as well as young people living in the vicinity of the Kolkheti National Park, specifically on the shore of Paliastomi Lake.
Physical distancing and other Covid-19 restrictions set by nationally and locally all over the world to save the society from the spread of the virus had a significant impact on young people as they are more sensitive towards interaction and social activities.
This training was generally focused on the acquisition of new skills and knowledge in the field of nature conservation. Despite differences, such as age, experience, education, etc, training gave everyone a great understanding of the knowledge and skills they need to perform monitoring or conservation related activities. Hands-on training enhanced their confidence which will in future improve their overall performance. The presence of trainers, rangers, biodiversity specialists of Kolkheti National Park, researchers and experts made the discussions even more interesting for the participants of the training. Volunteers were able to witness different perspectives on the topic and listen to real cases, which made them think deeply and make connections.
The training covered the following topics: the importance of Black Sea Basin countries’ cooperation; the importance of biodiversity; invasive species and their monitoring; the importance of biodiversity monitoring and data-based policies; use of drones in biodiversity monitoring; different scientific monitoring methods and approaches in general.
At the end of the training, participants were given certificates of participation in the training and branded products.
