LEPL Agency of Protected Areas

Representatives of the territorial administrations of the Agency of Protected Areas presented the results of biodiversity monitoring and reporting.

A working meeting was held with the participation of representatives from the territorial administrations of the Agency of Protected Areas, where the updated 10-year biodiversity monitoring plan and the results of using the reporting tool for the implementation of management plans and annual action plans were discussed.

The standardized biodiversity monitoring system has provided systematic data collection and analysis across protected areas for five years now. Based on this five-year experience, the 10-year plan for 2020–2029 was updated, priority indicators were revised, the scope of action was expanded, and new protected areas were added.

As part of the monitoring plan, biodiversity research and monitoring are ongoing across 11 protected areas, where systematic observation is conducted on selected key indicators, including rare and vulnerable species. The updated approach contributes to a better assessment of the status of biodiversity and the effective planning of conservation decisions.

Interim evaluations of the implementation of management plans and annual action plans were also presented at the meeting. Special attention was devoted to the role of rangers in biodiversity monitoring, existing challenges, and the importance of SMART and SMART Survey as modern monitoring tools. The implementation of these systems is carried out with the support of the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF).