ISSUE NO.1 2020

“Welcome to the first issue of the Sustainable Newsletter. Our goal in producing this bulletin is to keep Sustainable Caucasus stakeholders, partners, beneficiaries and interested third parties informed about our work and its progress. Every six months we will bring to your attention the latest news, key facts and developments of the Sustainable Caucasus programme. We hope you enjoy the newsletter and the information provided in this bulletin will be interesting and useful for you.”

Nina Shatberashvili Executive Director BACKGROUND

The Caucasus Network for Sustainable implementing other actions as appropriate. Development of Mountain Regions seeks to Sustainable Caucasus is the co-ordination promote sustainable mountain development unit of the Scientific Network for the by supporting regional cooperation, bringing Caucasus Mountain Region (SNC-mt). Since together key stakeholders and implementing its foundation, Sustainable Caucasus has innovative solutions on the ground. To defined the following key priorities in its work achieve its objectives, Sustainable Caucasus to enhance co-operation and partnership for looks to utilise a variety of activities targeted sustainable development of the Caucasus at sustainable development in the Caucasus region: mountain region including: capacity building, transforming and disseminating knowledge; ■ Strengthening the science-policy interface developing, analysing and monitoring relevant ■ Knowledge generation policies; supporting training and education; ■ Research for development raising awareness; enhancing stakeholder ■ Best practices and policy advocacy co-operation and experience sharing; ■ Higher education promoting and introducing best practices; and ■ Networking and membership

2 STRENGTHENING THE SCIENCE-POLICY INTERFACE

CAUCASUS MOUNTAIN FORUM The Caucasus Mountain Forum (CMF) is one by Ankara University, was organised within of SNC-mt’s flagship initiatives. The hope of the framework of the project “Strengthening achieving sustainable mountain development the climate adaptation capacities in the South in Caucasus regions is a major motivation for Caucasus” (SCAC), funded and supported organising biannual regional forums for different by the Swiss Agency for Development and stakeholders — especially for scientists working Cooperation (SDC) and the United Nations on the Caucasus mountain region. Environment Programme (UN Environment).

The Second Caucasus Mountain Forum (CMF) Together with a variety of parallel workshops was held in Ankara, Turkey on 30 October–1 and thematic sessions, the Caucasus Mountain November 2019 gathering about 200 regional Forum included three plenary thematic sessions and international participants from the on climate change, management of mountain Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, ecosystem services and sustainable tourism. , Iran, the Russian Federation, and Turkey, as well as Austria, Estonia, Germany, The last day featured a poster session and Italy, Norway, Ukraine, Slovakia, Slovenia, awarding of the top three poster authors Switzerland, and the UK. The Forum, hosted with certificates at the closure session of the

3 Caucasus Mountain Forum. (First place: Caucasian Mountain Forum were submitted Serkan Gul, Yusuf Kumlutas, and Cetin Ilgaz, by authors to the Ankara University Journal of second place: Filippo Favilli, Isidoro de Bortoli, Environmental Sciences for publication with third place: Khatuna Gigauri. 11 already published as of December 2019. Other articles was published in June 2020 The formal approval of the Caucasus Regional after completion of the ongoing evaluation Research Agenda (C-RRA) also took place at process. the Forum. The progress and effectiveness of decisions and resolutions will be assessed in The second Caucasus Mountain Forum the aftermath of the Forum, which takes place benefited from high visibility, being cited every two years, in order to reconfirm or select in the Report of Secretary-General of UN new thematic research areas, and to decide on Sustainable Mountain Development at on updates of and/or amendments to the the Seventy-fourth session of UN General document. Around 25 papers presented in the Assembly.

The CMF served as an important opportunity for scientists and practitioners to meet and exchange views on opportunities and challenges, and thereby seek to enhance (sub)- regional dialogue and contribute to the better coordination of sustainable development of the Caucasus region. The Forum’s overall goal and long-term objective is to support regional cooperation and joint research among the Caucasus scientists and thereby promote evidence-based decision-making for sustainable development.

4 NATIONAL INITIATIVE GROUPS: GEORGIA, ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN

In 2019, the first national workshops developing and planning regional dialogue and cooperation in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan took place, bringing together the scientists and practitioners working and interested in the fields of disaster risk management, climate change adaptation and overall sustainable mountain development. The meeting covered the overview of the

Caucasus Regional Research Agenda (C-RRA) and the introduction of the advocacy roadmap developed for strengthening the cooperation between academia and practitioners. The meeting resulted in the creation of National Initiative Groups (NIG) in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia responsible for strengthening advocacy of the science-policy interface, ensuring scientifically justified policy and

decision making and C-RRA promotion. Co- chairs have been voted in each country for the next two years and will follow critical topics from the Caucasus Regional Research Agenda selected for further work: ■ Georgia – Spatial planning and regional development ■ Armenia – Socio-economic and regional development ■ Azerbaijan – Natural hazards and biodiversity.

5 KNOWLEDGE GENERATION

THE CAUCASUS SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE The Caucasus Spatial Data Infrastructure geospatial data sharing platform has been set (C-SDI) platform has been developed in up using the GeoNode application. the frame of the “Supporting sustainable mountain development in the Caucasus” The Caucasus SDI platform aims at fostering (Sustainable Caucasus) project, funded better geospatial data discovery, visualization, by the Swiss National Science Foundation access and use for sustainable development and the Swiss Agency for Development and in the Caucasus region. Each participating Cooperation under the SCOPES programme, country has designated a focal point to help and coordinated by the University of Geneva. populate it with relevant geospatial data. To The GeoNode is managed by the Caucasus this end, some capacity-building material has Spatial Data Infrastructure (C-SDI) team and been developed and adapted with specific UNEP/GRID-Geneva. Caucasus examples.

In order to ensure the open access to and use Maps and layers as part of the Caucasus of geospatial data for visualizing, modelling Regional Research Agenda (C-RRA) and monitoring diverse geographical, illustrations are already online at the GeoNode ecological and similar events, an open source platform.

RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

THE CAUCASUS REGIONAL RESEARCH AGENDA 2020-2030 The Caucasus Regional Research Agenda current state of knowledge in core issue areas (C-RRA) development process followed to sustainable mountain development in the the example of the SNC-mt sister networks: Caucasus region, along with key challenges the Science for the Carpathians (S4C) and and opportunities and priority gaps for the International Scientific Committee on scientific research and development. Research in the Alps (ISCAR). The purpose of C-RRA elaboration was to establish a The priority research and development areas collaborative process for identifying the of the C-RRA are as follows: climate change

6 and biodiversity; forestry conservation (Academy of Science of the Republic of and development; water resources and Armenia) and prominent regional experts with management; land use and land cover backstopping from the University of Geneva change; natural hazards and risks; population and the SNC-mt Coordination Unit (secretariat) and cultural diversity; tourism and recreation; – the Sustainable Caucasus. socio-economic development and planning; and mountain cryosphere. The C-RRA document approved at the Second Caucasus Mountain Forum 2019 will help Thematic chapters were drafted by the leading scientists and other interested stakeholders to regional scientists, experts and practitioners gain insight into research needs and priorities from Ankara University, Malayer University, and undertake projects with colleagues , State University, from neighbouring countries to expand Institutes of of Academies of knowledge and exchange information for the Sciences of Azerbaijan and the Russian establishment of a shared, scientifically justified Federation, Khazar University (Azerbaijan), comprehension of sustainable development GeoGraphic (Georgia), and GeoRisk perspectives in the Caucasus ecoregion.

BEST PRACTICES AND POLICY ADVOCACY

SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE A key challenge for Caucasus Spatial Data The Caucasus SDI development besides Infrastructure (C-SDI) development and the establishment of the Caucasus GeoNode GeoNode population is the harmonisation of included the elaboration of the data national spatial data, therefore, significant management plan, selection of harmonised efforts were put into capacity building of spatial data collection approaches, and national partners. organisation of a necessary set of trainings and meetings at the national and regional The first, within the SCAC project, training levels. on the Caucasus Spatial Data Infrastructure (C-SDI) took place on 9 October 2019, in UNEP/GRID-Geneva and Sustainable Baku. More than 25 representatives from Caucasus started the promotion of scientific and educational institutions working Azerbaijan’s membership in the Group on in the field of natural disaster management and Earth Observations (GEO). The Institute data processing participated in the training. of Geography of National Academy of Experts spoke in detail about the relationship Azerbaijan (a member of SNC-mt) initiated between the use of various digital forms of data the process of inter-ministerial consultation processing and their binding to geographical of Azerbaijan membership in the GEO and coordinates. Training also focused on the currently AzerCosmos already requested importance of the spatial data infrastructure GEO Secretariat to provide membership approach for various sectors of the country forms to pursue further consultations. and for natural disaster management. 7 HIGHER EDUCATION PROMOTION

TEACHING-LEARNING PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT From 30 March – 1 April 2020 the first regional level in the South Caucasus. regional workshop on teaching-learning Distance-learning module for hazard practice improvement took place. Involving mapping: A growing number of courses national experts (Armenia, Azerbaijan, are offered as distance learning modules Georgia), a University of Geneva (UNIGE) worldwide. The advantages of distance team and Sustainable Caucasus members, learning include worldwide accessibility, the meeting evaluated progress and planned affordability, self-paced learning, diversity upcoming interventions, particularly the of high-quality programmes and value study of international and local teaching- added for employability. Based on a DRM learning practices. teaching review document prepared at the preselected South Caucasus universities, The workshop was dedicated to an in-depth distance learning usage throughout the assessment of national higher education region is rare. in DRM and Hazard Mapping in South Caucasus countries, and the development Participants learned about a two-part of a Distance Learning Module. distance-learning module composed of theoretical (context, concepts, definitions) In-depth assessment of national higher and practical (mapping concepts, tools, education in DRM and hazard mapping applications, practice). in South Caucasus countries: This assessment of DRM and hazard mapping Students will be able to understand key education at selected South Caucasus DRM concepts including national and higher education institutions identified a international DRM institutional contexts significant number of relevant courses and after the theoretical training (Part One). After teaching approaches, as well as indicators practical training (Part Two), students will be assessing the institutional environment, able to apply DRM concepts using GIS tools lecturer and administrative staff availability to produce disaster risk maps. The Distance and competences as well as budgetary Learning Module is free of charge and is conditions. Meeting participants reviewed primarily developed for current students the assessment report of teaching and interested in DRM issues, however, it will learning practices in these courses, also be open to a wider audience, including identified gaps and priorities for improving professionals, and will be deployed in existing courses and creating new ones and selected Caucasus universities in the discussed a short list of potential courses to academic year 2020-2021. be included in DRM higher education at the

8 CERG-C GRANT PROGRAMME AWARDS

Over the last 30 years, CERG-C has trained Merebashvili and Salome Gogoladze, both participants from more than 80 countries Ilia State University graduates who work at around the world. Since its inception in 1988, the Institute of Earth Sciences and Seismic the main focus of CERG-C (from the French Monitoring Centre of the University. They both title: Certificat de spécialisation en évaluation work at the Geology department, George as et management des Risques Géologiques et a junior specialist and Salome as a senior risques liés au climat / Specialization certificate specialist. for the assessment and management of geological and climate related risk) has been Both have been awarded a Geneva University to train scientists to reduce the impact of Grant that covers accommodation and study natural hazards. CERG-C programmes take a costs in Switzerland. The basic teaching is multidisciplinary approach to the assessment held at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. and management of risk from natural hazards, The training is made up of two parts: an merging ideas from disciplines such as the intensive seven weeks of lectures (including physical and social sciences, engineering, field immersion) and two weeks of validation, and . plus a personal dissertation based on research or an internship within a national or This year, the CERG-C programme will an international organisation. have two participants from Georgia: George

The essence of CERG-C programme is to train its participants on how to incorporate risk science into everyday reality in an attempt to reduce losses to an acceptable level. Another crucial component of this programme is training participants on how to communicate effectively with government agencies, media, public and private sectors before, during and after natural hazard events.

9 NETWORKING AND MEMBERSHIP

SUSTAINABLE CAUCASUS - SUPPORTER OF COVENANT OF MAYORS

The Covenant of Mayors for Climate & in the field of adaptation to climate change. Energy is a mainstream European movement Another Covenant of Mayors supporter from involving local and regional authorities, Georgia is the Energy efficiency Centre, voluntarily committing to increasing while the National Coordinators in Georgia energy efficiency and use of renewable are the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable energy sources on their territories. By their Development of Georgia, The Ministry of commitment, Covenant signatories aim to Environmental Protection and Agriculture of meet and exceed the European Union 20% Georgia. CO2-reduction objective by 2020. More than 300 municipalities in the Eastern A two-day communications workshop, Partnership region have signed up to the Advancing Covenant of Mayors in Eastern Covenant of Mayors, which has become the Partnership Countries took place in February most ambitious worldwide urban climate and 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. The Georgian energy initiative, bringing together more than participants of the conference included 7,700 signatories and representing over 240 representatives of the Georgia Energy million citizens. Municipalities play a key role efficiency Centre, Sustainable Caucasus, in making changes that have a direct impact Ministry of Economy and Sustainable on citizens. Development of Georgia and Ministry of Sustainable Caucasus became a supporter of Environmental and Agriculture of Georgia. the Covenant of Mayors in 2018, particularly

10 FUTURE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SCIENCE FOR THE CARPATHIANS NETWORK (S4C) AND THE SCIENTIFIC NETWORK FOR THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAIN REGION (SNC-mt)

The Science for the Carpathians Network The research agendas of both S4C and (S4C) and The Scientific Network for the SCN-mt contain many similar focus areas Caucasus Mountain Region (SNC-mt) both aimed at understanding the socio-ecological constitute networks of researchers working on systems of the respective mountain regions mountainous regions with similar aims: and their transitions. Both networks are ■ Following the tradition of counterparts from supported by and cooperate with the UNEP other mountain regions around the world; Office in Vienna, Secretariat of the Carpathian ■ Promoting research collaboration that Convention, which works on international generates knowledge on mountains mountain ecosystems. The aforementioned to support sustainable development, organizations are partners and have invested especially sustainable use of natural time and resources in the promotion of both resources; networks. ■ Exchanging knowledge and sharing best practices with other mountain regions; The objectives of cooperation between S4C ■ Fostering dialogue between research, and SNC-mt are the further exchange of policy and practice and addressing the information, experiences, success stories, needs of sustainable development of as well as elaboration, financing and mountain regions, linking scientists from implementation of joint activities, with the aim the Carpathians and Caucasus; to facilitate reaching the objectives of both ■ Enhancing and promotion and advocacy for S4C and SNC-mt networks. A Memorandum of Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD) Understanding between S4C and SNC-mt will at national, regional and international levels; be signed at the Forum Carpaticum. ■ Mining of indigenous local knowledge from the Carpathians and the Caucasus relating The details about Forum Carpaticum new to the sustainable use of natural resources dates are available here. under climate change.

11 SNC-mt ONLINE PLATFORM Scientific Network for the Caucasus Mountain in the process of collecting, providing, sharing Region (SNC-mt) is an open network and disseminating knowledge and information of researchers and other stakeholders concerning sustainable development of interested in disciplinary, interdisciplinary the Caucasus region. It serves as a tool for and transdisciplinary research on the communication of results, success stories, Caucasus region and academic collaboration. established tools and messages to scientists SNC-mt seeks to improve research and practitioners working on the Caucasus capacity for and within the Caucasus region region and the wider public. (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, the Russian Federation and Turkey) and to Currently, the SNC-mt platform hosts 517 link research to the needs of sustainable organizations; 1,406 registered and 188 development and environmental protection. self-registered users; 3,597 publications; 133 projects; 60 policies and and 39 The SNC-mt online platform plays a key role academic programmes.

UPCOMING EVENTS

CAUCASUS SUMMER SCHOOL (CSS) 2020 The organisation of the Caucasus Summer as the site for the Caucasus Summer School School is one of the main activities and 2020 with the topic: “National Disaster Risks traditions of Sustainable Caucasus and – Identification, Mapping and Assessment for SNC-mt. The summer school aims to Sustainable Mountain Development.” encourage global, regional and national knowledge exchanges and the identification The global spread of COVID-19 has been of suitable models and practices for improving developing rapidly over the last few weeks higher education, teaching and learning with numerous new cases raising significant practices in the Caucasus. concerns at a global level. To ensure the health and safety of all those around us, the organizing Caucasus Summer School 2020 will be committee of the Caucasus Summer School organised by Sustainable Caucasus, together is currently exploring the option of holding the with the Institute of Geography of the Russian Caucasus Summer School later in the year. Academy of Science and Ilia State University. The information on possible alternative dates The village of Anaseuli, Guria was selected will be shared later here.

12 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We extend sincere gratitude to our donors, who have supported us for years and play crucial role in our activity. Their support enables us to save human lives and elaborate successful programmes. Our special thanks go to our partners and friends, who make our work possible.

Contact us: Sustainable Caucasus Address: 3 Kostava I turn, II Entrance, Apt. 49 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: (+995) 32 2 921000 E-mail: [email protected] Connect with Sustainable Caucasus https://www.facebook.com/Scientific-Network- https://twitter.com/SNC_mt for-the-Caucasus-Mountain-Regions-221342668631999/