A new role for IUCN in the Caucasus
22 April 2011 | Article
IUCN has been present in the Caucasus since the mid-1990s when the first national NGOs joined as Members. Opened in October 2006, the IUCN office in the Caucasus is part of IUCN’s Pan-European region and one of three sub-regional offices. It has been responsible for the implementation of the Union’s programme in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and for liaison with Member organizations and Commission members in the region.
With its approximately 1,200 endemic plant species and more than 50 endemic animal species, the Caucasus has been listed as one of 34 global biodiversity hotspots. The region’s diverse and relatively healthy ecosystems now face multiple threats from unsustainable exploitation that might be further aggravated by climate change.
IUCN is changing its role in the Caucasus: Since January 2011 IUCN strengthens its support of nature conservation in the region through its new structure – the Caucasus Cooperation Centre. A Concept Paper outlines IUCN’s new role in the region. The new structure aims to make nature conservation in the region more effective by providing a range of services to all interested and engaged actors in the field. Services will be offered under two priority programme areas: Biodiversity Conservation (protected areas and species) and Natural Resources Management (forest and water), and include
- Access to global nature conservation knowledge
- Promotion of synergies among ongoing and planned activities via thematic networks
- Assistance in identifying gaps and trends in specific sectors
- Facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes
- Communication: global to local and local to global reach
The IUCN Caucasus Cooperation Centre has started its activities. Currently a forest governance study is conducted in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia outlining past activities, results and trends as well as actors and governance structures. This sector analysis will be discussed with a variety of stakeholders and will help to better allocate scarce resources and to facilitate synergies among ongoing and planned activities.
For more information, please contact Mr. Ramaz Gokhelashvili.
