Integrated Hotspots Management and Saving the Living Black Sea Ecosystem - HOT BLACK SEA
Black Sea Seabirds Project
Transcript of Black Sea Seabirds Project
FINAL REPORT
Covering the project activities from 16/04/2012 to 16/04/2014
Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast (Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey)
Data Project
Grant agreement reference: 07.020400/2012/617393/SUB/D2
Project start date: 16/04/2012
Project end date: 16/04/2014
Total budget 239.541€
EC contribution: 215.141€
(%) of eligible costs 89,91%
Data Beneficiary
Name Beneficiary Doğa Derneği
Contact person Ms. Ayşe Sargın
Postal address Kızılay Mahallesi - Menekşe 2 Sokak - 33\5
Çankaya/Ankara Turkey
Telephone +90 312 481 25 45
Fax: +90 312 481 25 09
E-mail [email protected], [email protected]
Project Website http://dogadernegi.org/karadeniz-deniz-kuslari.aspx
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. LIST OF KEY-WORDS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................... 3
1.1 Key-words ................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. 3
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 4 3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT ....................................................................................................................... 2
3.1 Description of Project Management ......................................................................................... 2 3.2 Organigramme of the Project Team and the Project Management Structure ...................... 2
4. RESULTS AND OUTCOMES ................................................................................................................... 11 4.1 Action A.1: Training on Standard boat-based and land-based survey methods ................. 11 4.2 Action A.2: Training on GIS methods and seabird database ............................................... 11 4.3 Action A.3: Training on Marine IBA data analysis-Black Sea Marine IBA Workshop ..... 12 4.4 Action B.1: Standardised boat-based surveys in some sectors of the coast within territorial
waters in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey .................................................................................... 12 4.5 Action B.2: Identification, survey and assessment of colony and sites using land-based
observations .................................................................................................................................... 14 4.6 Action B.3: Collection of supporting data for Marine IBAs/SPAs: Oceanographic,
meteorological, biological and fisheries data ............................................................................... 17 4.7 Action C.1: Creating a GIS database for seabirds in the Black Sea ..................................... 18 4.8 Action C.2: Production of a preliminary Marine IBA inventory for southern Black Sea
coast ................................................................................................................................................ 18 4.9 Action C.3: Production of After-project conservation plan .................................................. 19 4.10 Action D.1: Media Work ....................................................................................................... 20 4.11 Action D.2: Organisation of Project Launch and closing event -DD and BSPB ................ 21 4.12 Action D.3: Project dissemination through New Media ...................................................... 22 4.13 Action D.3: Production of Layman’s Report ....................................................................... 23
5. REMARKS AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 23 6. ANNEXES ................................................................................................................................................... 27
Annex 1: Photo and Picture Gallery of Project Implementation ............................................... 27 Annex 2: Kick Off Meeting Programme ...................................................................................... 30 Annex 3: Kick Off Meeting – List of Participant ........................ Hata! Yer işareti tanımlanmamış. Annex 4: Kick Off Meeting Press Release .................................................................................... 32 Annex 5: Kick Off Meeting Press clippings ................................................................................. 33 Annex 6: The Black Sea Seabirds Project On Internet Media ................................................... 35 Annex 7: Training on Standard boat-based and Land-based Survey Methods Agenda .......... 37 Annex 8: Project Poster designed for MED MPA Forum 2012 .................................................. 38 Annex 9: GIS Methods and Data Management Training Report .............................................. 39 Annex 10: Layman’s Report ......................................................................................................... 44 Annex 11: Technical Report .......................................................................................................... 44
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1. LIST OF KEY-WORDS AND ABBREVIATIONS
1.1 Key-words
Black Sea Basin
Seabirds
Yelkouan Shearwater
European Shag
Puffinus yelkouan
Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii
Marine IBAs
EU Birds Directive
Natura 2000
1.2 Abbreviations
BSBP Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds
ESAS European Seabirds at Sea (boat based survey method)
DD Doğa Derneği (coordinating beneficiary)
GIS Geographical Information System
HOS Hellenic Ornithological Society (associated beneficiary)
Marine IBAs Marine Important Bird Areas
SPA Special Protected Area (Natura 2000)
SOR Romanian Ornithological Society (associated beneficiary)
PMG Project Management Group
SPA Special Protected Area (Natura 2000)
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2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Project « Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird
Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast » is implemented by the Doğa Derneği (DD) in
collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), Bulgarian Society for the
Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR), in the Southern
Black Sea during the period 16/04/2012 to 16/04/2014 with a total duration of 24 months. The
Black Sea Seabirds Project aims to create the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird
Areas (IBAs) focused on two species; Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) and
Mediterranean Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii). The Black Sea project also aims
to train staff and volunteers from Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey on seabird research and
conservation methods. The present final report refers to the period from the 1st up to and
including the 24th
month of project implementation.
A management and coordination mechanism was set up in the form of a Project
Management Group (PMG), established during the initial stage of the project, and that
ensured coordinated, synchronized and effective implementation of the project and its actions
through regular communication and meetings. This PMG is comprised of the Project
Manager, DD Conservation Manager, HOS Conservation Manager, BSPB Conservation
Manager, SOR Conservation Manager and relevant personnel of the associated beneficiaries.
The project was formally launched with a “Kickoff Meeting” (Action D2) which was
held in İstanbul/Turkey on the 5th of July, 2012. 48 participants attended the Kickoff
Meeting, including the Director General of Doğa Derneği, Conservation Managers and staff
of associated beneficiaries, (HOS, BSPB and SOR), a representative of the Commission on
the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, the Country Programme Officer of the
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, representatives from Ministry Of Forestry and
Water Affairs and Ministry of Environment and Urbanism, NGO co-workers and
academicians. On the same day, a press conference gathered 15 journalists from different
media groups, and a press-release was produced by DD and sent to all Turkish press. This
meeting was then subsequently reported in more than 20 newspapers and internet portals –
please find enclosed in the Annex a programme of the meeting, list of participants, press
release as well as some of the press clippings about the meeting.
Parallel to the kickoff meeting, a technical meeting with the steering committee and
project staff was also held on the 5th
of July. A roadmap for the project has been drawn with
the contribution of partners.
Three trainings have been implemented during the project with the participation of 50
people including project staff, NGO representatives and volunteers from Turkey, Bulgaria and
Romania. Trainings have achieved all the foreseen objectives, namely the preparation and
operation of seabird survey tools (protocols, datasheets, and manuals), preparation and
implementation of theoretical and practical training in seabird survey methods.
37 pilot standardized boat-based surveys were conducted within territorial waters of
the three countries from January to November of 2013. Boat based observations were carried
using standardised methods implemented by the European Seabirds At Sea (ESAS). This
methodology was adapted to project needs. Project volunteers and staffs were confident with
ESAS Methodology. Transects were devised based on the most efficient use of resources,
manpower and logistics.
Identification, survey and assessment of the colony and sites using land-based
observations supplemented the data collected from boat-based observations (Action B1). All
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Mediterranean shag colonies along the Black Sea Coast of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria
have been surveyed by the project research team with the assistance of Conservation Directors
of project partners.
In addition, coastal counts were undertaken to record the number of birds and were
particularly important to allow a better understanding of Yelkuans shearwater's behavior,
whose highest number observed in Romania and Bulgaria. All marine bird species have been
recorded, including their time of sighting, direction and distance from the shore and
behaviour. Data collected from this action was stored in the GIS database created for this
purpose.
Standardized data collection sheets were adapted to project needs and distributed to
local ornithologists for use during sea-watching observations. These data sheets included
information such as distance from shore, the behaviour of birds (rafting/flying/feeding)
number of birds, time of day etc.
Supporting data, oceanographic and biological, was collected during 2013 in order to
carry out the analysis data and modelling to identify Marine IBAs. They were downloaded
from specific web sites and converted into a proper format to be used in GIS environment.
Then, they were spatially and statistically analysed along with the seabird data collected to
finally identify optimal marine areas for Mediterranean Shag and Yelkouan Shearwater.
The existing DD website (www.dogadernegi.org), which currently receives over
20,000 visitors/year from 50 countries, is hosting pages for the Black Sea Seabirds Project
(http://dogadernegi.org/karadeniz-deniz-kuslari.aspx) (Action D3). There is an interactive
banner which links to the project’s main web page. The project page has promoted the project
objectives and the expected outcomes, and contains information on the project actions, the
partnership and the seabirds in English and Turkish. Publications, news and social media links
photos are uploaded on the web page.
People who are interested in the project received updates on project news. A Facebook
page, a twitter account and a YouTube channel dedicated to the project has been created and
the press releases, events, videos, photos and news are being posted on a regular basis.
DD Conservation Manager participated at the Meeting of The Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) Working Group on Environmental Protection in İstanbul, on 11-12
October 2012 and presented there the Black Sea Seabirds Project.
Project Manager has delivered a speech about the actions and objectives of the project
on 20th
of October, at the 14th
Bird Conference/Turkey, which was held in Erzurum Province
at the North East Turkey.
A presentation of the project aims, activities and expected results was presented to the
Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) of Bulgaria on 18th
October 2012 in Sofia by
Anna Stenava (Project Administrator-BSPB) mainly from the “Natura 2000” secretariat, ten
representatives of MOEW have been participated.
The same presentation was presented to the BSPB’s members and volunteers in the
regional office of BSPB in Varna. During the meeting, the opportunities for volunteering for
the project have been presented.
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Doğa Derneği attended workshops and poster sections on the 2012 MEDPAN Forum
which was held from 25 to 28 November in Antalya, Turkey and organized with the
collaboration of "The network of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MedPAN) and its
partners, the General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection (Turkey) and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP). A poster about The Black Sea Project has been
presented.
DD, BSPB and SOR staff kept in touch with the local authorities by visiting them at
their offices during the survey trips. The project staff also informed the relevant ministries
about the progress of the work.
DD and project partners worked very closely with their national administrations and
BSC. Local Directorate of Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in Sinop-Turkey takes part
for the Actions B1-B2 and B3. The Local Directorate has put a fieldwork assistant in charge
for ESAS Surveys and colony surveys. DD has also contributed to the Red data book of Black
Sea, which is a publication prepared for BSC, based on the seabirds data that is collected
through project activities. Raw data set, generated by surveys are available upon request to
national and international administrations, NGOs and academicians.
Since the marine SPA’s are already designated in Romania, the Romanian team had
engaged in the further step, which was creating the management plan. SOR is actively
involved in the communication with the Ministry of Environment for preparing the
management plan for the Marine SPA with the methods derived/adopted from the capacity
building component of the project.
In Bulgaria, the data gathered during the project was used by BSPB during the process
of actualization of Natura 2000 Standard Data Forms, implemented by the Ministry of
Environment and Water of Bulgaria in April 2014.
In reply to the invitation of the River Basin Directorate for the Black Sea Region
(BSBD) in Varna, on April 16th
and 17th
BSPB has presented the standardized ESAS
methodology, as well as the project activities, aims and results during a workshop with the
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), dedicated to the integrated
monitoring. The accent of the meeting was the European Marine Strategy and the need of
further planning, monitoring and reporting of the status of marine habitats, flora and fauna,
and designation of marine IBAs in Bulgarian Black Sea waters according to the prescriptions
of the EC. Consequently, this meeting has resulted in further collaboration with BSBD on the
elaboration of monitoring schemes for marine birds under the Marine Strategy Framework
Directive.
Conservation Manager of Doğa Derneği gave a speech about the Black Sea Seabirds
Project on CBD AG meeting and MISIS Project workshop.
Closing meeting was held in Burgas/Bulgaria on March 20 and 21, 2014 with the
participation of project staff, academics, volunteer and press members. A field trip has been
organized to the recently discovered Mediterranean Shag breeding site near Burgas.
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2.(a) TIMETABLE FOR EACH STAGE OF THE ACTION SHOWING MAIN DATES AND ACHIEVED RESULTS FOR EACH STAGE
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4
Activity
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A1. Training on Standardised
boat-based and land-based
survey methodologies
6-7
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A2. Training on GIS methods
and seabird database
3-4
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A3. Training on Marine IBA data
analysis – Black Sea Marine IBA
Workshop
B1. Standardised boat-based
surveys in some sectors of the
coast within territorial waters in
Romania. Bulgaria and Turkey
B2. Identification, survey and
assessment of colony and sites
using land-based observations
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B3. Collection of supporting data for Marine IBAs/SPAs:
Oceanographic,
meteorological…
C1. Creating a GIS database
for seabirds in the Black Sea
C2 - Production of a
preliminary Marine IBA
inventory for southern Black
Sea coast
C3 - Produce After-project
Conservation Plan..
D1. Media work
D2. Organisation of Project
Launch and closing event
5
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E1. Project Management
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3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
3.1 Description of Project Management
DD has overall responsibility for the Management of the Project. DD has employed a
Project Manager for the project who works closely with DD’s conservation manager, who
also has experience in directing projects. The close working relationship which DD has with
the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, BirdLife in the UK) is beneficial, as the
Project Manager and the project itself receive support from the expertise within the RSPB on
project management and communications related work. The overall Project is overseen by all
beneficiaries represented on a Steering Committee for the Project.
The steering committee, composed of one manager from each partner (DD, BSPB,
SOR and HOS), and the project manager, evaluates the success or otherwise of Actions.
There were only minor changes in the executive project management structure during
the reporting period… However it should be noted that Mr. Matis Attila replaced Ms. Lavinia
Raducescu on the position of the SOR Project Administrator in June, 2012.
In July 2012, Sebastian Bugariu (SOR) was replaced by Emil Todorov at the position
of Asst. Researcher, who has prior experience in field work. Communication officer Alida
Barbu no longer works for the project.
In Romania, Communication officer Teodora Ivanova from BSPB left the project in October
2012 for maternity leave.
Project Administrator and Communication Assistant of DD - respectively Hasan
Gumus and Yucel Sonmez - are replaced with Ayse Sargin and Derya Engin in 2013.
3.2 Organigramme of the Project Team and the Project Management Structure
The current structure of the Project Management Group (PGM) and the project team is
given in the Organigramme on the following page below.
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Steering Group
DD, BSPB, SOR and
HOS, plus project
manager
Project Manager
Hayri Dagli (DD)
Project Administrator P/T
Ayse Sargin
Communications assistant
P/T – Derya Engin
Conservation manager P/T
Sureyya Isfendiyaroglu
DD BSPB
Project Administrator P/T –
Anna Staneva
Communications assistant
P/T – Teodora Ivanova
Conservation manager P/T
Stoycho Stoychev
Asst Researcher P/T
Minko Madzharov
SOR
Project Administrator P/T
Ciobanu Geolea Antoaneta
Communications assistant
P/T – Marin Valentin
Conservation manager P/T
Ciprian Fantana
Asst Researcher P/T
Emil Todorov
HOS
Project Administrator P/T
–Jakob Fric
Communications assistant
P/T – Roula Trigou
Conservation manager P/T
–Thanos Kastritis
GIS trainer P/T –
Aris Manolopoulos
Seabird surveys trainer P/T –
Danae Portolou
Marine IBA trainer P/T –
Jakob Fric
Project Management
Group (PMG)
PROJECT
ORGANIGRAMME
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4. RESULTS AND OUTCOMES
4.1 Action A.1: Training on Standard boat-based and land-based survey methods
Description: The action involves the preparation of standardized protocols surveys of
seabird distribution and abundance at sea by means of European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) and
coastal counts methods as well as protocols for the Mediterranean Shag (Phalacrocorax
aristotelis) colony surveys. The protocols were prepared on the basis of protocols developed
by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) in the framework of a privately funded project
“Survey and Conservation of Seabirds in Greece” and a LIFE project “Concrete conservation
actions for the Mediterranean Shag and Audouin’s Gull in Greece, including the inventory of
relevant marine IBAs”, LIFE07 NAT/GR/000285, and adapted to the needs of the current
project.
The methodologies produced were presented to the 25 participants of project staff and
volunteers from Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania at a training seminar which took place in
Istanbul on the 6th
and 7th
July 2012. The seminar included theoretical training in all
aforementioned methods and their demonstrative implementation on the ferry boat in
Bosporus for ESAS method and for coastal counts and Shag colony surveys methods.
The action was implemented by HOS project staff in cooperation with DD. The action
has achieved all the foreseen objectives, namely the preparation and operation of seabird
survey tools (protocols, datasheets, and manuals), and preparation and implementation of
theoretical and practical training in seabird survey methods.
No difficulties have been encountered during the implementation of the action.
The action has been completed. After the training, the capacity raised in these training
had kept on collecting data in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. Additional volunteers to
participate the surveys were trained by the training participants during the ESAS surveys prior
to and during the data collection process. Technical support in survey methods and data
collection is provided by the HOS in the framework of actions B1, B2 and B3.
4.2 Action A.2: Training on GIS methods and seabird database
Description: A series of lessons on GIS, statistical and GIS data analysis, as well as
on the ESAS database have been prepared and presented at the 2nd
project’s workshop that
took place in Istanbul on the 3rd
-4th
November 2012. The training workshop was attended by
24 participants of the project staff, academicians, NGO Representatives and volunteers from
Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. Additionally, data managers from each project partner were
provided additional training in setting up and operation of the database. The action was
implemented by HOS project staff in cooperation with DD. The action has achieved all the
foreseen objectives, namely the preparation and operation of data management tools
(protocols, database), preparation and implementation of GIS and data management training.
No difficulties have been encountered during the implementation of the action.
Technical support in data management is provided by the HOS in the framework of
action C3.
The implementation of the 2nd
project’s training seminar has been delayed in regard to
the initially foreseen implementation period in order to allow for the first survey data to be
collected in the Black Sea in order to increase the output of the training seminar by using
actual data from the Black Sea.
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The action has been completed.
4.3 Action A.3: Training on Marine IBA data analysis-Black Sea Marine IBA Workshop
Description: The training for Marine IBA data analysis has been implemented on
30th, 31st of October and 1st of November2013 (3 days). The training workshop was attended
by 24 participants of the project staff, academicians, NGO Representatives and volunteers
from Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.
The action has been completed. Technical support on Marine IBA data analysis is
provided by the HOS in the framework of action C3.
4.4 Action B.1: Standardised boat-based surveys in some sectors of the coast within
territorial waters in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey
Description: Pilot standardized boat-based observation transects were conducted
within territorial waters of the three countries during 2013 (Figure 1). Boat based observations
were carried using standardised methods implemented by the European Seabirds at Sea
(ESAS) programme for recording seabirds at sea to allow the data collected to be incorporated
into the wider European database. This methodology has been adapted to project needs.
Project volunteers and staffs were confident with ESAS Methodology. Transects were devised
based on the most efficient use of resources, manpower and logistics. Boat-based transects
recording distribution, behaviour and movements of all seabirds present with special emphasis
on recording sightings of the target Puffinus yelkouan and Phalacrocorax aristotelis.
Figure 1 Boat-based transects carried out during 2013 by each country
Turkey:
ESAS field surveys were carried out during 17 trips from Zonguldak, a city in the
Black Sea region, to Evpatoria and Sevastopol (Ukraine) from March to November of 2013
using the RO RO Ships and covering a distance of 435 Km approximately. Since the duration
of each trip took around 16 to 17 hours, census was stopped at night and restarted at sunrise.
For this reason the map shows discontinued red lines, where gaps indicate sleep time.
7 volunteers joined ESAS surveys, having the opportunity to practice their knowledge that
they gained at trainings.
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Bulgaria:
The surveys were planned twice per month from February to June, and once per month
during the rest of the year, so the valuable and detailed data about the distribution, activity
and behaviour of the two target species could be collected during the whole year, but
especially in the breeding season. As conducting the boat-based surveys depends extremely
on weather conditions in the sea and boat availability, the research initiated in January 2013
with the first sailing along the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast and finished in October. A
total of 22 boat-based trips were conducted between January 2013 and April 2014, within
which 9 along the northern Bulgarian coast and 13 along the southern Bulgarian coast
(including one trip to Istanbul), up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.
In Bulgaria the surveys were divided into two areas: boat-based survey along the
southern coast between Bourgas and Rezovo (around 70 km distance, up to 12 km from the
coast), and boat-based survey along the northern coast between Kavarna and Tiulenovo
(around 40 km distance, up to 8 km from the coast). The two areas were chosen according to
historical data about wintering, nesting, feeding or migrating birds from the two target
species, as well as according to the suitability of the habitat.
Within the most important findings of the boat-based surveys was the confirmation of
nesting Shags on the southern coast, as before these studies the only breeding Shags in
Bulgaria were known from the area of Cape Kaliakra in the north. The first attempts of
nesting birds (1-2 pairs) were observed in March 2013. In the consecutive 2014, during the
International Mid-winter Counts in mid-January, and afterwards through coastal counts and
ESAS surveys, the BSPB team confirmed the presence of nesting Shags on the eastern side of
the small Islands of St. Peter and St. Ivan, situated in front of the bay of Sozopol. The definite
number of 11 nesting pairs was registered in the beginning of April 2014, when the project
team reached the islands through a small boat. These observations confirmed the new and
second for Bulgaria breeding colony of Shags.
The data gathered during the boat-based surveys was used by BSPB during the process
of actualization of Natura 2000 Standard Data Forms, implemented by the Ministry of
Environment and Water of Bulgaria in April 2014.
All data have been collected in the standardized forms and consecutively entered into
the ESAS database. GIS maps were produced based on the collected data.
It was very hard to find available study boats in Bulgaria during the winter season.
There were no line boats/ships, and the fishermen ones were in most cases inappropriate for
the bad weather conditions in winter. This is the reason that it was very difficult to provide
regularity in the boat-based surveys – something that the standardized methodology can
compensate up to certain point.
Romania:
The observations were conducted starting with April and finishing in November 2013,
with 7 boat-based surveys in total.
The area covered by the boat surveys is presented in figure 2 in red. With the boat
surveys SOR covered all the Romanian shore: Constanta-Vama Veche – Constanta (1 day)
and Constanta-Sfantu Gheorghe (Sulina)–Constanta (2 days).
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The data was collected using the methodology described by HOS/BirdLife partner in
Greece – ESAS census method and were included in the GIS database created in Action C1.
Figure 2 Coastal counting points and boat-based transects cover during the monitoring activities by the SOR team
4.5 Action B.2: Identification, survey and assessment of colony and sites using land-
based observations
Description: This action supplements the data collected from boat-based observations
(Action B1) to establish the main colonies and rafting/foraging sites. The majority of the
onshore breeding sites were already known, and these were re-surveying in Bulgaria, with a
single breeding site of shag, and Turkey with several breeding areas for shag along the
Turkish Black Sea coast. In order to know fully the number of pairs of this specie, direct
counts and mapping of apparently occupied nests were performed in Bulgaria and Turkish
Black Sea coast.
At selected study colonies, coastal counts were undertaken from 2012 until 2014
through almost 60 vantage points (Figure 3) along the southern Black Sea coast. All marine
bird species were recorded, including their time of sighting, direction and distance from the
shore and behaviour. Data collected from this action was stored in the GIS database created
for this purpose.
Standardised data collection sheets was adapted to project needs and distributed to
local ornithologists for use during sea-watching observations. These data sheets include
information such as distance from shore, direction and behaviour of birds
(rafting/flying/feeding) number of birds, time of day etc.
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Figure 3 Vantage points in each country (Romania in black, Bulgaria in yellow and Turkey in red color)
Turkey:
All European shag colonies along the Black Sea coast of Turkey has been surveyed by
DD research team during 2012 and 2013. We have identified 47 key locations and confirmed
the breeding at 45 of them, whereas two of them were used for only wintering. The breeding
range of Shags are wide, covering a large area beginning from Kıyıköy in Thrace extending to
Hopa, which is the eastern most district located at the Georgian border. Our efforts also
focused on identifying possible breeding sites in the range states. However our work in Black
Sea has revealed no new yelkouan shearwater colonies. In Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria
there are no confirmed breeding records of yelkouan shearwater and our efforts have failed to
find any breeding colony in Black Sea.
A further survey was carried out in order to find out the maximum number of
individuals and breeding success of European shags. The colonies with the greatest number of
pairs were in Zonguldak with 152, followed by Haydarpaşa with 88 and Şile with 53 breeding
pairs.
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Figure 4 European shag colonies surveyed by the DD team
In addition, from March of 2013 until January of 2014 we conducted regular coastal
counts in Kırklareli, Zonguldak, Sinop, Giresun, Trabzon and Artvin provinces of Turkey
(Figure 4), trying to cover the coast from west to east. In 2013, 12 days with many sessions of
coastal counts were carried out and 2 days in 2014. These surveys were carried out by DD
research team and their volunteers using the standardised data collection sheets. Then, data
collected was integrated into the GIS database.
Bulgaria:
The surveys were planned twice or once per month during the whole project period.
The research was initiated in November 2012 and finished in December 2013. In Bulgaria the
surveys were divided into two areas: coastal counts along the northern coast between Kaliakra
and Shabla, and coastal counts along the southern coast between Bourgas and Rezovo making
a total of 41 locations. In 2012, 2 surveys were done and 35 in 2013, from January until
December. The two areas were chosen according to historical data about wintering, nesting,
feeding or migrating birds from the two target species, as well as according to the suitability
of the habitat.
Within the most important findings of the coastal counts in Bulgaria was the
observation of certain displacement to the north of the Kaliakra Shag colony. The number of
the breeding pairs was counted, obtaining 26 pairs… There were also observed congregations
of tens and hundreds of Shags in the south during the winter time, and flocks of tens and
hundreds of Yelkouans were registered feeding and migrating in March and April along the
southern coast (mainly close to the border with Turkey).
Data were collected in the standardized forms and inputted into the GIS database.
Romania:
The land-based counts were conducted in Romania starting with November 2012 and
finishing in November 2013, twice per month in the winter and once per month starting with
spring. The SOR team used the standardized data collection sheets that included information
such as distance from shore, the behaviour of birds, number of birds, time of day etc. Data
collected were included in the GIS database created in Action C1.
17
SOR has conducted 5 coastal counts sessions in 2012, and 30 in 2013 from 12
observation points, shown in figure 2. Most of the sessions were done in the winter season
(November 2012-March 2013) with the main purpose to register the movements of European
Shags. No significant movements were found, except two observations of solitary birds at
Vama Veche, near the border with Bulgaria. The coastal counts done in April 2013 were very
successful for the Yelkouan Shearwater movements within the Romanian Black Sea waters.
At the beginning of May a total of 7527 individuals were registered near Vadu, Constanta
County. The previous two weeks, in the same area, the maximum numbers were around 1000
individuals. Since May of 2013, no Yelkouan was counted during the coastal counts.
4.6 Action B.3: Collection of supporting data for Marine IBAs/SPAs: Oceanographic,
meteorological, biological and fisheries data
Description: From the beginning of the project a series of relevant oceanographic,
biological, meteorological, and fisheries datasets were identified on the basis of conclusions
of the 1st project training. Following that biological and oceanographic data were extracted
from environmental satellite images and related models including sea surface temperature,
chlorophyll-a, and bathymetry. These variables were chosen taking into account previous
works carried out by other partners such as Greece, Portugal and Spain, where this
environmental data has been shown to be useful in predicting seabird distribution at-sea.
Fisheries data could not be used because of the fact that this prey species do not have
commercial value and no published information exists.
Project team has also wanted to benefit from the MISIS Project findings, SOR had a
meeting with MISIS and National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore
Antipa “Constanta (www.rmri.ro) at the beginning of the project, where they evaluated
potential collaboration and data exchange. The supporting data hold by the Institute is from
few sampling points in Black Sea, which were not fitting our large scale research
requirements and needs. SOR seabird experts helped MISIS project several times with bird
expertise.
Satellite data was download from specific websites and converted into appropriate
format for Geographic Information System (GIS) environment (ArcGIS 10) using a free open-
source geoprocessing toolbox named Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools (Roberts et al., 2010)1
and later georeferenced.
This supporting data together with the seabird data collected during the project, were
analysed using different GIS techniques combined with MaxEnt program (Phillips et
al., 20062; Elith et al., 2011
3), a software for species habitat modelling, to identify optimal
marine areas.
We have acquired datasets from accountable open access sources:
1 Roberts JJ et. al (2010). Marine geospatial ecology tools: an integrated framework for ecological geoprocessing
with ArcGIS, Python, R, MATLAB, and C++. Environmental Modelling & Software 25: 1197-1207. 2 Phillips, S. J. et al. (2006). Maximum entropy modeling of species geographic distributions. Ecol. Model. 190:
231-259. 3 Elith, J., et. al. (2011). A statistical explanation of MaxEnt for ecologists. Diversity and Distributions17:43–57.
18
- Sea Surface Temperature: Terra MODIS (http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/). 11µ daytime,
monthly and 4-kilometer of resolution.
- Chlorophyll-a: Aqua MODIS Chlorophyll concentration (http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/).
Monthly and 4-km resolution.
- Bathymetry: GEBCO (www.bodc.ac.uk)
Through the Bathymetry, Distance to the continental slope was calculated and used in the
models along with Distance to the coast derived from coast line data.
4.7 Action C.1: Creating a GIS database for seabirds in the Black Sea
Description: The GIS Database designed for Marine IBA Management which was
developed by the HOS in the framework of afore mentioned projects “Survey and
Conservation of Seabirds in Greece” and “Concrete conservation actions for the
Mediterranean Shag and Audouin’s Gull in Greece, including the inventory of relevant marine
IBAs”, was translated into English, customized and adapted to the need of the Black Sea
Birds Project. This Database is completely compatible with the databases that Birdlife uses
for data provision in the other European Countries. The GIS database has been used for all
seabird data collected during this project. This database has allowed for spatial analysis within
a GIS environment and enabled the data manager to monitor and plan the spatial coverage.
Moreover this database is a strong, user friendly tool to provide instant feedback to volunteers
and to produce reports for increasing the motivation of the volunteers.
The system operates on Microsoft Access and can easily export data to ESRI ArcGIS
and Google Earth. The central database was set up at Doğa Derneği and project beneficiaries
installed and worked on the same system. The data collected in the course of the project were
made available to all parties. The project partners sent the data to DD every month. DD
brought them together and shared with the parties after all the data sets were brought together.
Currently, the database contains all the data collected so far by the three countries and will
continue being managed by DD in order to store more data in future surveys and to be shared
with stakeholders.
4.8 Action C.2: Production of a preliminary Marine IBA inventory for southern Black
Sea coast
Description: Following the BirdLife’s International “Marine IBA Toolkit”, the
seabird hotspots identified during the project were classified under Seaward extensions to
breeding colonies, coastal congregations of nonbreeding seabirds for Mediterranean Shag
and High seas sites and migration bottlenecks for Yelkouan Shearwater.
All the sets of data collected from a range of actions B1, B2 and B3 relating to the
distribution and behaviour of all seabird species were analysed and statistically modelled
considering the environmental layers previously cited. This complex process is explained in
detail in the Technical Report (Annex 11) containing a site description, ornithological
importance, threats to the site and proposed management measures along with the relevant
maps.
19
The list of hotspots are considered as only preliminary, and not a complete and final
inventory of Marine IBAs due to this being really only the first step in a long road.
4.9 Action C.3: Production of After-project conservation plan
We have conducted a small workshop with participation of the SOR, DD, HOS, BSPB
prior to the project meeting on 30th
of March 2014.
All the partners were satisfied with the achievements of the project, although the scope
of the project was significantly shorter than the other IBA projects, that were funded under the
framework of LIFE already concluded in Portugal, Greece and Malta yet the achievements
were remarkable with limited amount of resources. The participants pointed out the further
data collection on Yelkouan shearwater movements as a priority.
Conservation Priorities:
The majority of the Marine IBA’s are identified on Turkish coasts. Official letter shall
be sent to relevant government institutions in Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania emphasizing the
significance of the sites.
DD will continue to work with local partnerships established through the project
period. DD has initiated contact readily with Şile and Perşembe Municipalities. DD aims to
work with municipalities in order to prevent the local tourism developments harm the habitats
for seabirds.
In Romania through the project has been identified the main areas used by
the Yelkouan Shearwaters and the period when the species is more likely to appear in
Romanian waters. However due to the large surface of ROSPA Marea Neagra (ROSPA0076)
the monitoring of the species has to continue in the next period in order to reveal that the
areas identified through the project are a regular stop over and feeding areas for the species
and to identify new potential important areas for the species. These type of data is very
important for the development of the management plan of ROSPA0076 “Marea Neagra” as
well the potential threats for the species (petroleum drilling). SOR is intending to participate
actively in the development of the management plan of the site facilitating the access of the
custodian of the site to the data obtained through the project and participating in the public
debates for the development of the SPA management plan. In the same time SOR is working
to secure funding for the continuation of the monitoring of the species in the site.
SOR and the National Institute for Marine Research and Development agreed to sign
memorandum for collaboration, based on common monitoring efforts and data exchange. The
basic future actions that were foreseen are: the Institute can offer SOR’s experts on their
research ship for survey the seabird distribution during their expeditions. SOR can offer the
Institute with seabirds data and expertise of different projects and actions
BSPB has identified Kaliakra and Burgas as the Mediterranean shag IBAs in Bulgaria,
as their national priorities. BSPB will focus their research effort on Kaliakra IBA and improve
their understanding on seasonal movements of yelkouan shearwaters, as significant
congregations of this species is recorded here regularly. BSPB will actively continue
cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) and the River Basin
Directorate for the Black Sea Region (BSBD) for conservation for the management and
conservation of these IBA’s.
20
Funding:
The partnerships can be funded from different funding bodies:
Bulgaria- Romania- Turkey:
The partners will unite under the scope of birdlife partnership to design a project for whole
Blacksea involving the missing partners such as GSCW from Georgia in order to expand the
coverage.
Bulgarian-Romania:
The Partners will seek opportunity to formulate a joint project from Norwegian Donors.
Bulgaria- Turkey:
There’s an opportunity to receive funding from Bulgaria- Turkey Cross- Border program.
4.10 Action D.1: Media Work
Description: A Project media plan has been developed at the beginning of the project.
The Media plan (as well as other communications actions) is focusing on the key messages,
disseminating awareness on the importance of the Black Sea for seabirds, EU legislation on
Marine Special Protection Areas and the importance and relevance of the work carried out by
this project and its outcomes.
Journalists have been invited to join the researchers at sea and at study sites for special
features. Press releases accompanied with good quality photos and where possible video
footage has been issued during planned events/activities such as the Project Launch and
interesting outcomes of certain actions as the project progresses. Project launch and key
project progress, findings and results have been disseminated through press releases and
feature articles.
As part of the project branding, a logo has been developed and displayed during press
conferences, Project Launch and other media and public events as well as on other
communications material. The project acronym “Black Sea Seabirds Project” is used in all
communications along with the project logo.
The key target audiences are decision takers, stakeholders (such as mariners and
fishermen) as well as the general public who are not currently aware of the importance of the
Black Sea for all seabird species.
One of Turkey’s largest media agencies called "Communication Partner" has accepted
to collaborate with DD for Black Sea Seabirds Project. During the reporting period 2,563,185
people are estimated to have been informed about the project, seabirds and their conservation,
via the information material available on the internet and media, according to DD’s external
media agency, Ajans Press. The advertisement value equivalency of the project press
coverage in two years is calculated as high as 391.020,52 $. These news clips covered an area
of 2.250,68 st*cm in newspapers and magazines. Additionally, more than 70 articles in local,
national and international media (followed by over 15.000 posts to online media) have further
supported project communication and dissemination.
21
In Bulgaria:
One press-release on the Project Launch event, the project aims and activities has been
distributed within national and local media in Bulgaria. At least 10 publications were
published in on-line media. All news were published on BSPB’s official web site
(www.bspb.org).
One presentation of the project aims, activities and expected results was presented to
the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) of Bulgaria on 18th October 2012 in Sofia.
Ten representatives of MOEW have been participating, mainly from the “Natura 2000”
secretariat.
The same presentation was presented to the BSPB’s members and volunteers in the
regional office of BSPB in Varna. During the meeting, the opportunities for volunteering for
the project have been presented.
Between November 2012 and April 2014 the project aims, activities and ongoing
findings have been presented in more than 50 on-line publications, especially in local media
from Bourgas and Varna, as well as in national information agencies. These were results of
two press-releases: one about the start of the boat-based surveys, released on 23.01.2013, and
another about the first documented nesting of Shags on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea
coast, released on 16.03.2013.
Four articles about the project activities and success were prepared for the BSPB’s
magazines “Za pticite” and the English language magazine “Neophron”.
The Closing Event was presented with interviews for one television, 2 national radios
and one on-line media, as well as a press-release was published in one newspaper and at least
5 on-line media.
In reply to the invitation of the River Basin Directorate for the Black Sea Region
(BSBD) in Varna, on April 16th
and 17th
BSPB has presented the standardized ESAS
methodology, as well as the project activities, aims and results during a workshop with the
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), dedicated to the integrated
monitoring. The accent of the meeting was the European Marine Strategy and the need of
further planning, monitoring and reporting of the status of marine habitats, flora and fauna,
and designation of marine IBAs in Bulgarian Black Sea waters according to the prescriptions
of the EC. Consequently, this meeting has resulted in further collaboration with BSBD on the
elaboration of monitoring schemes for marine birds under the Marine Strategy Framework
Directive.
4.11 Action D.2: Organisation of Project Launch and closing event -DD and BSPB
Description: A project launch at a high profile venue has been organised on the 5th
of
July 2012, in İstanbul. During the launch, DD, along with the project partners, presented this
new project showing what actions and results are foreseen. The event was attended by Project
Partners, representatives from the Government and other invited decision makers,
representatives of other environmental NGOs and the University, as well as other local
stakeholders and members of the public. 49 participants attended representing government,
NGOs, media and interested individuals at the event. Attendees and others informed about
22
Marine SPAs and the Natura 2000 network and the work planned to be undertaken through
this EU Funded project.
As the organizer of the meeting, Director General of Doğa Derneği, opened the
meeting, welcomed the participants and thanked all the attendees for their attention and
participation. He also thanked project partners and EU for their unsparing support and
cooperation for the project. Following the opening speech, Mr. Jose Tavares (Country
Programme Officer, RSPB) presented an overview of the current situation of Marine
Important Bird Areas and Seabirds in Europe. Ms. Valeria Abaza (Pollution Monitoring and
Assessment Officer, Black Sea Commission) presented the current situation with respect to
pollution in the Black Sea. She also informed the participants about actions agreed upon under
the Bucharest Convention to reduce nutrient pollution in the Black Sea. DD Conservation
Manager presented the framework for the project implementation, in-kind contributions by
the project partners, roles and responsibilities of major project stakeholders, the performance
indicators, administrative guidelines and project reporting system. Each Conservation
Manager of the partner organizations had 15 minutes to introduce their organizations
including their mission, priorities, specific working fields, methodologies, success stories and
their role in Black Sea Project. All participants expressed appreciation towards Doğa Derneği
for its excellent hospitality, meeting arrangements and professional expertise.
A Report of the successful Project Launch has been prepared after 15 days and
published on project website. Report includes list of attendees, the presentations made,
objectives and outcomes of the event.
Closing meeting was held in Burgas/Bulgaria on March 20 and 21, 2014 by BSPB in
collaboration with DD. The closing event consisted in 3 main parts: 1) technical meeting of
the project team 2) press-conference and 3) closing meeting for the wider audience. A field
trip to the project area and the newly discovered Shags colony around Sozopol was also
organized at the end of the Closing Event. The aim of the field trip was to present to the
participants of the meeting some key facts about the specifics and challenges of marine
conservation actions in Bulgaria. More than 30 persons participated it he Closing Events,
including representatives from local media, the Ministry of Environment and Water of
Bulgaria, the Institute of Oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Science, NGOs, the
project staff and volunteers. The Event was presented in the local and national media via on-
line newspapers, television and radio interviews.
4.12 Action D.3: Project dissemination through New Media
Description: People who are interested in the project has received updates on project
news. A Facebook page dedicated to the project (currently with 565 fans) has been created
and the press releases, events, videos, photos and news are being posted on a regular basis.
(https://www.facebook.com/BlackSeaSeabirdsProject). According to Facebook official
statistics, content of the project reaches around 3000 people, weekly.
Project and training videos have also been uploaded on YouTube for followers.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGKW6ysU8BA&feature=plcp)
Information about the project has been uploaded on BSPB’s official Facebook profile
and on the local profile of BSPB’s Office in Varna, as well as it was distributed within
BSPB’s members via e-mail and newsletter.
23
The Facebook page and the YouTube channel, as well as the website, are also
referring people to the project Twitter website that posts updates on the project progress and
information about the birds. (https://twitter.com/Blackseaproject)
Figure 5 Black Sea Seabirds Project-Facebook Statistics
4.13 Action D.3: Production of Layman’s Report
A layman’s report outlining project objectives and achievements as well as the
methods and results of the research is prepared. The report is written and designed in a
manner and language that can be easily understood by anyone, from the public at large and
relevant organizations. The layman’s report is attached as a separate annex to this report
(Annex 10). It is printed in colour and distributed to project partners BSBP, SOR and HOS to
be shared with the officials working on Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
implementation in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. Print copies of the technical report (Annex
11) is shared with the officials working on MSFD implementation in Turkey as well as the
Permanent Secretariat of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against
Pollution in Turkey, as attached to an official letter by DD outlining the significance of the
project. Electronic copies of the technical report and layman’s report are also shared with the
Permanent Secretariat and participants of the kick-off meeting of the project through e-mail.
Layman’s report is also shared with relevant NGOs in Turkey in print copies and through e-
mail.
5. REMARKS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Project has achieved its targets perfectly. The project has managed to bring “The Marine
Protected Areas Concept” to national agenda in Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. The project
team has involved the decision-makers, technical staff from governmentinstitutions,
academicians and NGO representatives and shared their findings with them. Scientific
publications such as Red Databook of Black Sea were prepared based on the data collected in
the project. The project findings had been disseminated to a wider audience by effective use
of press, internet press and other online media such as Facebook and twitter, reaching
24
significant number of people improving the public awareness on the species through enhanced
media coverage.
The trainings received good attraction. The concepts introduced and practiced during
the trainings were pioneering approaches that were new to the local academia. European
Seabirds At Sea (ESAS) and coastal count methodologies were practiced widely in Black Sea
and these efforts initiated the very first ESAS Database, whose content was made available to
wider public. The future capacity to generate more data was developed and still in place.
DD, BSPB and SOR staff kept in touch with the local authorities by visiting them at their
offices during the survey trips. The project staff also informed the relevant ministries about
the progress of the work. Project team has also wanted to benefit from the MISIS Project
findings. SOR had a meeting with MISIS and National Institute for Marine Research and
Development “Grigore Antipa “Constanta (www.rmri.ro) at the beginning of the project,
where they evaluated potential collaboration and data exchange.
The implementation of the project in Bulgaria aroused the attention of two main
national institutions – the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) and the River Basin
Directorate for the Black Sea Region (BSBD), which is also coordinated by the MOEW.
In the beginning of the project, upon an invitation from the “Natura 2000” secretariat
of MOEW, a presentation about the project aims, activities and expected results was presented
on 18th
October 2012 in Sofia by the BSPB’s Project Administrator. The project aim to define
preliminary marine IBAs along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast provoked a brainstorming
discussion and BSPB was requested to regularly inform the Ministry about the project results.
In April 2014, as part of a continuous collaboration, BSPB supported the process of
actualization of Natura 2000 Standard Data Forms, implemented by the MOEW, analyzing
and resuming the data on marine bird species (especially the two target species) and their
habitats within the SPAs, gathered during the project.
In early 2014, a process of collaboration between BSPB and the River Basin
Directorate for the Black Sea Region (BSBD) has initiated. The focus of this collaboration
was the actual discussion on the European Marine Policy on national level. On April 16th
and
17th
2014, in reply to the invitation of the BSBD in Varna, BSPB has presented the
standardized ESAS methodology, as well as the project activities, aims and results during a
workshop with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), dedicated to
the integrated monitoring. The accent of the meeting was the European Marine Strategy
Framework Directive and the need of further planning, monitoring and reporting of the status
of marine habitats, flora and fauna, and designation of marine IBAs in Bulgarian Black Sea
waters according to the prescriptions of the EC. Consequently, this meeting has resulted in
further communication between BSPB and BSBD on the elaboration of monitoring schemes
for marine birds under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. During series of meetings,
it was agreed that the adapted standardized methodology and the data generated during the
project will be made available upon request to national and international administrations, as
well as that BSPB will collaborate with other research institutions as the Institute of
Oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Science for the forthcoming implementation of the
seabirds monitoring schemes. Ideas on common projects were discussed. The further
collaboration with MOEW on the future designation of marine IBAs continues.
There were also outstanding ornithological contributions of the project in Bulgaria.
These are:
25
- The confirmation of new and second for Bulgaria breeding colony of Shags - on
the southern coast, as before these studies the only breeding Shags in Bulgaria
were known from the area of Cape Kaliakra in the north.
- The definition of the number of the breeding pairs of the Shag colony close to
Cape Kaliakra: 26 pairs.
- The registration of regular almost year-round presence of feeding and migrating
Shearwaters along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and identification of certain
“feeding” areas.
- The collection of interesting facts about the seasonal movements of the Shags.
The breeding inventory of Mediterranean Shag was the very first complete inventory
to cover the whole shoreline of the Southern Black Sea Coast. The figures collected in the
project was also used in the European Red list of Birds, Birds in Europe 3, which will be the
official Red list of EU member states.
DD and project partners worked very closely with their national administrations and
BSC. Local Directorate of Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in Sinop-Turkey took part
in the Actions B1-B2 and B3 of the project. The Local Directorate had put a fieldwork
assistant in charge for ESAS Surveys and colony surveys. DD has also contributed to the Red
data book of Black Sea, which is a publication prepared for BSC, based on the seabirds data
that is collected through project activities. Raw data set generated by surveys are available
upon request to national and international administrations, NGOs and academicians. Doğa
Derneği attended workshops and poster sections on the 2012 MEDPAN Forum which was
held from 25 to 28 November in Antalya, Turkey and organized with the collaboration of
"The network of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MedPAN) and its partners, the
General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection (Turkey) and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP). A poster about The Black Sea Project has been presented.
The majority of the Marine IBAs are identified on Turkish coasts. Official letters
pointing out to the significance of the sites, along with Technical Report produced within the
project are sent to relevant government institutions in Turkey responsible for the
implementation of Marine Strategy Framework Directive, as well as the Permanent
Secretariat of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution in Turkey.
DD will continue to work with local partnerships (particularly Şile and Perşembe
Municipalities) established through the project period as well as with national administration
in order to prevent the potential harm of the local tourism developments to the habitats for
seabirds.
Although the ferry and network was limited in Black Sea and the methodology itself
required discipline, the teams had managed to conduct 37 survey trips with the volunteers.
During ESAS surveys the teams had covered a distance accounting 2,428 km in total. The
dataset collected was used to generate the very first distribution model for Yelkovan
Shearwater. These models are key tools to delineate international offshore protected areas in
Black Sea under the Scope of Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The Romanian partner,
SOR has incorporated the inventory data in to the official management plan of the marine
SPAs. Since all member states are obligated to protect the Annex I species of the Birds
directive the recently discovered Mediterranean Shag Breeding site in Burgas, Bulgaria will
have to be revised based on the Marine IBA methodology.
26
In Romania through the project the main areas used by the Yelkouan Shearwaters and
the period when the species is more likely to appear in Romanian waters have been identified.
However due to the large surface of ROSPA Marea Neagra (ROSPA0076) the monitoring of
the species has to continue in the next period in order to reveal that the areas identified
through the project are a regular stop over and feeding areas for the species and to identify
new potential important areas for the species. These types of data are very important for the
development of the management plan of ROSPA0076 “Marea Neagra” as well the potential
threats for the species (petroleum drilling). SOR is intending to participate actively in the
development of the management plan of the site facilitating the access of the custodian of the
site to the data obtained through the project and participating in the public debates for the
development of the SPA management plan. SOR is actively involved in the communication
with the Ministry of Environment for preparing the management plan for the Marine SPA
with the methods derived/adopted from the capacity building component of the project. In the
same time SOR is working to secure funding for the continuation of the monitoring of the
species in the site.
SOR and the National Institute for Marine Research and Development agreed to sign
memorandum for collaboration, based on common monitoring efforts and data exchange. The
basic future actions that were foreseen are: the Institute can offer SOR’s experts on their
research ship for survey the seabird distribution during their expeditions. SOR can offer the
Institute with seabirds data and expertise of different projects and actions.
The comprehensive threat assessments conducted also revealed the need for some
rapid responses such as the future campaign of the Romanian Partner against the offshore oil-
drillings. The future actions resulting from the project findings are all in line with the
Bucharest convention and the datasets will definitely contribute to future integrated coastal
management initiatives as stated in Black Sea Strategic action plan.
DD and project partners SOR, DD, HOS, BSPB conducted a small workshop prior to
the project meeting on 30th
of March 2014 to evaluate project results. All the partners were
satisfied with the achievements of the project, although the scope of the project was
significantly shorter than the other IBA projects, that were funded under the framework of
LIFE already concluded in Portugal, Greece and Malta yet the achievements were remarkable
with limited amount of resources. The participants pointed out the further data collection on
Yelkouan shearwater movements as a priority.
DD, BSBP and SOR are considering future follow-up projects in various possible
schemes of cooperation. DD, BSBP, SOR are considering to unite under the scope of BirdLife
partnership to design a project for whole Black Sea involving the missing partners such as
GSCW from Georgia in order to expand the coverage. BSBP and SOR are considering
seeking an opportunity to formulate a joint project from Norwegian Donors. For BSBP and
DD, there is an opportunity to receive funding from Bulgaria- Turkey Cross- Border
program.
Until new funding is available for wider multi-partner follow-up projects, DD will
continue data collection on Yelkouan shearwater movements as a basis for preparation of the
inventory of Marine IBAs through its newly initiated Marine Program, building on the
experience of this project. In the meantime, the data and the results of the surveys as well as
the outputs of the project are available for the wider public, academics and relevant national
and local administrations in Turkey and in partner countries. DD will also continue lobbying
27
and advocacy targeting local and national administrations for the further dissemination of
project results in order to influence policies and programs relevant to conservation of these
habitats in the Black Sea in cooperation with project partners.
6. ANNEXES
Annex 1: Photo and Picture Gallery of Project Implementation
Figure 6 Kick Off Meeting, July 2012 © DD-TR
Figure 7 Technical Meeting , July, 2012 © DD-TR
Figure 8 Theoretical Training, June 2012 © DD-TR
Figure 9 Boat based Training, June 2012 © DD-TR
28
Figure 10 Esas Survey, February 2013 © BSPB-BG
Figure 11 Yelkouan Shearwaters , February, 2013 © DD-TR
Figure 12 Common Dolphins, February 2013 © /DD-TR
Figure 13 Coastal Counts, March 2013 © DD-TR
Figure 14 ESAS Survey, April 2013 © DD-TR
Figure 15 Coastal Counts, February 2013 © SOR-RO
29
Figure 16 Coastal Counts, February 2013 © SOR-RO
Figure 17 Colony Survey, January 2013 © /BSPB-BG
Figure 18 ESAS Survey, January 2013 © /BSPB-BG
Figure 19Field Trip, March 2014 © /BSPB-BG
Figure 20Training- Marine IBA Identification
Figure 21Closing Event, March 2014 © BSPB-BG
30
Annex 2: Kick Off Meeting Programme
MEETING PROGRAMME
PRESS CONFERENCE
Audience: Journalists
10:00- 11:30 Press Conference
10:00-10:30 Refreshments
10:30-11:30 Press release
Audience: Project Team Members
08:30- 12:00 Technical Meeting
08:30-12:00 Technical Meeting for project team
12:00-13:00 Lunch at the Hotel (Elite world Hotel)
KICK OFF MEETING
Audience: Decision makers, NGO representatives, Government officials, Academicians
and project volunteers
12:30-13:00 Registration
13:00-13:40 Opening Remarks
13:00-13:15 Engin Yılmaz – Director General, Doğa Derneği
13:15-13:30 Cem Kıraç- Ministry Of Transport, Maritime Affairs And Communications
13:30-14:30 Presentations -Marine IBA’s, Conservation and Black Sea
13:30-13:50 Jose Tavares-RSPB-Marine important Bird Areas A global and European perspective
13:50-14:10 Valeria Abaza- Black Sea Commission- Actions agreed upon under the Bucharest
Convention
14:10-14:30 Süreyya İsfendiyaroğlu- Doğa Derneği- Black Sea Seabirds Project Presentation
14:30:15:00 Coffee Break
15:00-16:00 Partner Presentations
15:00-15:15 Stoycho Stoychev-Conservation Manager, BSPB
15:15-15:30 Ciprian Fantana -Conservation Manager, SOR
15:30-15:45 Thanos Kastritis- Conservation Manager, HOS
15:45-16:00 Süreyya İsfendiyaroğlu- Conservation Manager, Doğa Derneği
17:00-19:30 Cocktail on a boat ( from Kabataş)
(Shuttle from hotel to boat)
15
Annex 3: Kick Off Meeting – List of Participants
BLACK SEA SEABIRDS PROJECT KICK OFF MEETING
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Project reference No: No.07.020400/2012/617393/SUB/D2
Meeting Venue and Date: İstanbul/Elite World Hotel 05/07/2012
No Name Organisation E-mail address Telephone
1. Stoycho Stoychev BSPB +359 888 601 801
2. Anna Staneva BSPB
3. Minko Madzharov BSPB + 359 889660571
4. Neli Mutafova Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria
+359 887 229 560
5. Ciprian Fantana SOR [email protected] 031 425 56 57
6. Sebastian Bugariu SOR [email protected] 031 425 56 57
7. Alida Barbu SOR [email protected] 0040 756 727 274
8. Matis Attila SOR [email protected] 031 425 56 57
9. Lavinia Raducescu SOR [email protected] 0040 722 74 64 76
10. Thanos Kastiris HOS [email protected]
11. Jacob Fric HOS [email protected]
12. Duygu Tuna Min. of For.and Water Affairs [email protected] 5305467857
13. Veli Mutotova Min. of Envir. and Urbanism 5467834524
14. Ahmet Taşar Yıldız Min. of For.and Water Affairs 5556799056
15. Jose Tavares RSPB
16. Engin Yılmaz Doğa Derneği [email protected]
17. Evrim Tabur Doğa Derneği [email protected]
18. Süreyya İsfendiyaroğlu Doğa Derneği [email protected]
19. Hayri Dağlı Doğa Derneği [email protected]
20. Yeşim Erbaşol Doğa Derneği [email protected]
21. Yücel Sönmez Doğa Derneği [email protected]
22. Seçil Sönmez Translation Services [email protected]
23. Dilek Şahin İKGT [email protected] 0538 645 98 67
24. Tansu Tuncalı İKGT [email protected] 0505 700 34 11
25. Akdoğan Özkan İKGT [email protected] 0532 673 24 44
26. Onur Başkurt Karaman Üniversitesi [email protected] 0539 621 94 92
27. Şebnem Samsa Çanakkale Üniversity [email protected] 0530 8758511
28. Hamdi Kılıç On Dokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi [email protected] 0506 298 11 62
29. Yiğit Sayın On Dokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi [email protected] 0546 782 75 67
30. Merve Önal Zonguldak University [email protected] 0537 423 68 78
31. Sezgin Bozkaya Zonguldak University
32. Tayyibe Ünver WWF Turkey [email protected] 5334118397
33. Fatoş Çırnaz Turkish Green Party [email protected] 5363970646
34. Seda Takmaz İstanbul University [email protected] 5364220506
35. Zeynep Şebnem METU [email protected]
36. Gonca Kuru Maltepe University [email protected] 5362740755
37 Yeliz Yımaz Istanbul Technical University [email protected] 5063466306
38. Nuray Gündoğdu Faruk Yalçın Zoo [email protected] 5553119411
39. Yücel Yılmaz Faruk Yalçın Zoo
40. Serap Santur Faruk Yalçın Zoo
41. Ekin Göktaş Faruk Yalçın Zoo
42 Koen Brouwer Faruk Yalçın Zoo
43. Canan Atay İKGT [email protected] 5323318811
44. Şebnem Samsa İKGT [email protected] 5308758511
45 Öznur Halilcikoğlu İstanbul University [email protected] 5446878795
46 Elif Eda Kandemir Dokuz Eylül University [email protected] 5308842851
47 Ezgi Nuibert İTU [email protected] 5467586984
48 Ümit İlban TRT [email protected] 5307772277
49 Özcan Yüksek Atlas Publishing [email protected]
32
Annex 4: Kick Off Meeting Press Release
Press Release 04.07.2012
This Document is translated by Emre Özsahin:
4 countries following shearwater
Istanbul’s shearwater, great inspiration for poems as a bird, brought four countries together, due to its
fast diminishing population. Civil Society Organizations, that are Birdlife partners from European Union
member countries such as Greece, Bulgaria and Romania and also Nature Society from Turkey have come
together for a project called “Preparing a Stock for Essential Living Environments for Birds in Southern
Black Sea Region”.
Southern Black Sea coasts, the region where the project is focused on, hosts shearwater (Puffinus
yelkouan) and European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii) populations that are congregating in
these areas. Recently, the extinction status of shearwater breed is updated to be “Vulnerable”.
These birds are also located in countries such as Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. However for the
first time, these species in marine realms are going to be searched for identification of Marine SPA’s in
Southern Black Sea Coats according to Key Biodiversity Areas (ODA) and Important Bird Area (OKA)
identification methodology. This project will also allow researchers, academicians and volunteers from
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey to enhance their knowledge and experience in bird research and
identification of priority sites.
Nature Conservation NGO’s from four different countries will hold the most extensive research in bird
conservation in Southern Black Sea Shore Region. The project, which is supported by the European Union
due to its outstanding importance, will explore the breeding, rafting and feeding areas of marine birds and
map those territories.The Conservation director of Bulgaria Society for Protection of Birds, Stoycho
Stoychev, expressed his opinions about this project “This project with multinational participation, will
improve the regional cooperation and indentify the marine IBA’s in Bulgaria and Romania. According to our
national legislations this sites will be proposed as Special Protected Areas, SPA’s.”
The director general of the Doga Dernegi, Engin Yilmaz, pointed out that “The global collapse of fish
populations throughout the world influenced the population trends of other species as well as sea birds
negatively. For this reason, identification and conservation of Key Biodiversity Areas and Important Bird
Areas play a vital role. There’re coastal or marine protected areas in Turkish part of Black sea and the
legislations, that should provide a basis to the mechanism should be improved. This circumstance reveals
the importance of this project in terms of conserving the marine ecosystems for endangered species. As
Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, we have to first improve our knowledge on endangered species,
then determine possible threats and solve them. I hope that this great unity will accomplish this goal.
However, primarily as people of Istanbul, the more essential thing is to preserve and support marine
ecosystems, which is the habitat for species like yelkouan shearwater and European shag. Otherwise, we
will remember yelkouan shearwaters only from nostalgic poems as an extinct bird species.”
33
Annex 5: Kick Off Meeting Press clippings
Press Clipping 1 Hürriyet - 12.08.2012
Press Clipping 2 Eko IQ - 01.08.2012
Press Clipping 3 Vatan - 06.07.2012
Press Clipping 4 Evrensel - 27.06.2012
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Press Clipping 5 Taraf - 07.07.2012
Press Clipping 6 Cumhuriyet - 06.07.2012
Press Clipping 7 Belde Gazetesi - 28.06.2012
Press Clipping 8 Yeni Şafak Cumartesi - 14.07.2012
Press Clipping 9 Hürriyet - 12.08.2012
Press Clipping 10 Yeni Mesaj - 27.06.2012
35
Annex 6: The Black Sea Seabirds Project On Internet Media
Media: Date: The name of network: Title and the link of the news:
İNTERNET 12.02.2013 KERASUSHABER.NET Doğa Doğa Derneği, Karadeniz Deniz Kuşlarının Peşinde
İNTERNET 12.02.2013 GAZETEARENA.COM Doğa Doğa Derneği, Karadeniz Deniz Kuşlarının Peşinde
İNTERNET 12.02.2013 SONDAKİKA.COM Karadeniz Deniz Kuşları Projesi
İNTERNET 12.02.2013 VİRAHABER.COM ‘Karadeniz Deniz Kuşları’
İNTERNET 12.02.2013 BEYAZGAZETE.COM
Doğa Derneği'nce Başlatılan Proje Kapsamında Tepeli
Karabatak ve Yelkovan Kuşlarının Yaşam Alanlarının Bilimsel
Olarak Haritalandırılması ve Korunmaya Alınmaları
Hedefleniyor
İNTERNET 13.02.2013 İLKHABERGAZETE.COM Kuşlar Korunuyor
İNTERNET 13.02.2013 TURKSESİGAZETESİ.COM KARADENİZ’E DENİZ KUŞLARI PROJESİ
İNTERNET 13.02.2013 KAPTANHABER.COM KARADENİZ DENİZ KUŞLARI HARİTALANDIRILIYOR
İNTERNET 13.02.2013 HABEROFİS.COM
Doğa Derneği'nce Başlatılan Proje Kapsamında Tepeli
Karabatak ve Yelkovan Kuşlarının Yaşam Alanlarının Bilimsel
Olarak Haritalandırılması ve Korunmaya Alınmaları
Hedefleniyor
İNTERNET 14.02.2013 DENİZHABER.COM.TR Karadeniz Deniz Kuşları Projesi başlıyor
İNTERNET 14.02.2013 BYEGM.COM.TR KARADENİZ’E ‘DENİZ KUŞLARI PROJESİ’
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 DHA.COM.TR Deniz kuşları sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 HABERFX.NET KARADENİZ'DEKİ DENİZ KUŞLARI SAYILIYOR
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 HABER3.COM Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 AKTİFHABER.COM KARADENİZ'DEKİ DENİZ KUŞLARI SAYILIYOR
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 HABERLER.COM Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 TELEHABER.COM Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 SONTİRAJ.COM Karadeniz’deki kılavuz kuşlar tek tek sayılacak
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 AKDENİZGAZETE.COM Karadeniz'in kuşları sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 2HABER.COM Karadeniz’deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013
YEŞİLMAVİKARADENİZGAZETE
Sİ.COM Karadeniz’deki Deniz Kuşları Bilimsel Metotlarla Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 DAHAİYİYAŞAM.COM Sayılacak Kadar Tükendiler!
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 HABERTAKİP.COM Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013
HABERİNYERİİ.BLOGSPOT.CO
M Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 BURSADABUGÜN.COM Deniz kuşları koruma altında
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 DÜZCEHABER.COM Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 16.02.2013 YENİ.HABERLER.COM Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 17.02.2013 HABERHİLAL.COM Karadeniz'deki deniz kuşları sayılıyor!
İNTERNET 17.02.2013 BULTURK.ORG Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 18.02.2013 AYDİNDERE.COM Doğa Derneği,Karadeniz Deniz Kuşlarının Peşinde
İNTERNET 18.02.2013 RİZENABIZ.COM UÇUN KUŞLAR UÇUN DOĞDUĞUNUZ YERE
İNTERNET 19.02.2013 GEZGİNDERGİ.COM Doğa Derneği,Karadeniz Deniz Kuşlarının Peşinde
İNTERNET 19.02.2013 HOPAM.COM Doğa Derneği,Karadeniz Deniz Kuşlarının Peşinde
İNTERNET 19.02.2013 GUNDEM.COM Deniz kuşlarının sayımına başlandı
İNTERNET 21.02.2013 ZAMAN.COM.TR Deniz kuşlarının haritası çıkarılıyor
İNTERNET 21.02.2013 YURTGUNDEMİ.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası çıkarılıyor
İNTERNET 21.02.2013 BASINOZETİ.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası çıkarılıyor
İNTERNET 21.02.2013 NEFIUS.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası çıkarılıyor
İNTERNET 21.02.2013 GAZETEDENOKU.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası çıkarılıyor
İNTERNET 21.02.2013 MANSETTENHABER Deniz kuşlarının haritası çıkarılıyor
İNTERNET LİMİTSİZENERJİ.COM
Doğa Derneği Karadeniz’deki Deniz Kuşları Hakkındaki En
Kapsamlı Çalışmayı Yürütüyor
İNTERNET BUGÜN.COM.TR Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
36
İNTERNET F5HABER.COM Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET KONYAHABERLERİ.CO Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET SAKARYAPOSTASI.CO Karadeniz'deki Deniz Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 23.02.2013 TRAKUS.ORG Deniz kuşlarının haritası
İNTERNET 22.02.2013 NTVMSNBC.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası
İNTERNET 22.02.2013 DUZPORT.COM Karadeniz’deki deniz kuşları sayılıyor!
İNTERNET 26.02.2013 BİTKİBLOG.COM Haritasız Yol Bulan Deniz Kuşları
İNTERNET 22.02.2013 BİYOLOJİSİTESİ.NET Deniz kuşlarının haritası
İNTERNET BARIŞGAZETESİ.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 GAZETEA24.COM Karadeniz'in kuşları sayılıyor
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 HABERCİNİZ.BİZ Karadeniz'in Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 HABERLER.COM Karadeniz'in Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 SİFALİSAGLİK.NET Haritasız Yol Bulan Deniz Kuşları
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 HABERCUK.COM KARADENİZ'İN DENİZ KUŞLARI GÖZLEM ALTINA ALINDI
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 VİRAHABER.COM "Karadeniz Deniz Kuşları" Trabzon'da
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 SONDAKİKA.COM Karadeniz'in Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 MYNET.COM Karadeniz'in Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 SONDAKİKA.COM Karadeniz'in Kuşları Sayılıyor
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 TAKVİM.COM.TR Kuşbakışı Karadeniz
İNTERNET 28.02.2013 TRTTURK.COM.TR Karadeniz'in kuşları sayılıyor
İNTERNET SUALTIGAZETESİ.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası
İNTERNET CREWLAND.NET Deniz Kuşlarının Haritası Çıkarılıyor
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 10MARTHABER.COM Karadeniz'in kuşları sayılıyor
İNTERNET 27.02.2013 61HABER.COM KARADENİZ'İN KUŞLARI SAYILIYOR
İNTERNET 06.03.2013 DAGMEDYA.NET Doğa Derneği Karadeniz’de deniz kuşları çalışmaları yürütüyor
İNTERNET 05.03.2013 KARADENİZGAZETE.COM.TR BİR GARİP KUŞ SAYIMI!..
İNTERNET 07.03.2013 NAVİGAMAGAZİN.CO Teknenizde araştırmacılara yer verir misiniz?
İNTERNET 03.03.2013 GUNCEL-HABER
Doğa Derneği, Karadeniz'deki deniz kuşlarının haritasını
çıkarıyor
İNTERNET 06.03.2013 TRT.NET.TR Hafta Ortası
İNTERNET 03.03.2013 KKYD.ORG.TR Deniz kuşlarının haritası
İNTERNET 08.03.2013 GELBALDER.ORG Teknenizde araştırmacılara yer verir misiniz?
İNTERNET 08.03.2013 NAVİGAMAGAZİN.CO Teknenizde araştırmacılara yer verir misiniz?
İNTERNET 21.02.2013 HABERGEC.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası çıkarılıyor
İNTERNET 21.03.2013 YENİSAFAK.MOBİ Onca sorun varken 'kuş saymak' da neymiş?
İNTERNET 13.04.2013 YENİSAFAK.COM.TR Yelkovanlar alıp başını gitmesin diye sayıyorlar
İNTERNET 29.03.2013 YOUTUBE.COM Doğa Derneği Karadeniz Deniz Kuşları Projesi
İNTERNET 11.03.2013 RSFMRADIO.COM Deniz kuşlarının haritası çıkarılıyor
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Annex 7: Training on Standard boat-based and Land-based Survey Methods Agenda
TRAINING AGENDA
(July 6-7, 2012) İstanbul/ Pera Museum
Audience: NGO representatives, Government officials, Academicians and project volunteers
1st Day (06/07/2012)
09:00-12:00 European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) method for recording seabirds at sea + ESAS data entry (theoretical training) (Pera Museum-Oditorium)
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-19:00 Field training on coastal counts and visiting the shag colony (Riva- İstanbul)
2nd Day(7/07/2012)
9:00-12:00 Field training on boat counts
12:30-13:30 Lunch
38
Annex 8: Project Poster designed for MED MPA Forum 2012
39
Annex 9: GIS Methods and Data Management Training Report
GIS METHODS AND DATA MANAGEMENT TRAINING
TRAINING REPORT
3rd and 4th of November 2012 at Fatih University, İstanbul, Turkey
Trainers:
Jakob Fric
Aris Manolopoulos
Overview of the Project: The Project « Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast » is implemented by Doğa Derneği in collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR), in the Southern Black Sea during the period 16/04/2012 to 16/04/2014 with a total duration of 24 months. The Black Sea Seabirds Project aims to create the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas (IBAs) for two seabird species; Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) and European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii). The Black Sea project also aims to train staff and volunteers from Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey on seabird research and conservation methods.
Objective of the Training: Mapping species can be used as a practical management tool as well as for interpretation and promoting public understanding of nature conservation.
40
The training programme is designed to deliver a new and unique training package to participants (prospective and existing) enabling to use ArcGIS software to map, record and manage seabirds data. HOS data management and GIS experts have provided a theoretical and practical training in GIS, statistical and GIS data analysis and spatial management of collected seabirds that will assist in setting up database and GIS tools for effective data management. A specially designed European Seabirds at the Sea (ESAS) database which was developed by the HOS in the framework of afore mentioned project “Survey and Conservation of Seabirds in Greece” and “Concrete conservation actions for the Mediterranean Shag and Audouin’s Gull in Greece, including the inventory of relevant marine IBAs” was translated into English and adapted to the need of the current project. The training workshop was attended by 24 participants of the project staff, academicians and volunteers from Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. Additionally, data managers from each project partner were provided additional training in setting up and operation of the database. The action has achieved all the foreseen objectives, namely the preparation and operation of data management tools (protocols, database), preparation and implementation of GIS and data management training. No difficulties have been encountered during the implementation of the action. The implementation of the training has been delayed in regard to the initially foreseen implementation period in order to allow for the first survey data to be collected in the Black Sea
Conclusion (Learning/Feedback) The training was fruitful as the participants interacted and participated enthusiastically in knowledge & experience sharing. They appreciated all the theoretical information shared with them and were especially eager about the practical sessions that they felt brought clarity to the concepts that had been introduced in the course of this training. They admitted that these two days helped in boosting their confidence to use GIS Methods and to manage data in an effective manner.
41
Photos:
42
GIS METHODS AND DATA MANAGEMENT TRAINING
AGENDA
(November 4-5, 2012) İstanbul/ Fatih University
Audience: Project Partners, NGO representatives, Academicians and
volunteers
1st Day (04/11/2012)
09:00-12:00 Introduction to GIS and GIS for seabirds
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-18:00 Managing and handling of observation datasets
2nd Day(5/11/2012)
9:00-12:00 General concepts of ESAS data analysis
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-18:00 Interaction of geographic datasets and GIS with ms access databases
43
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
N. NAME ORGANISATION E-MAIL ADDRESS COUNTRY
1 Cem Dalyan İstanbul Uni. [email protected] İstanbul*
2 Nilüfer Araç WWF [email protected] İstanbul*
3 Ozan Arif Kesik Fatih University [email protected] İstanbul*
4 Süreyya
İsfendiyaroğlu
Doğa Derneği sü[email protected] İstanbul
5 Derya Demiroğlu [email protected] Samsun*
6 Dilek Şahin İKGT [email protected] İstanbul*
7 Evrim Tabur Doğa Derneği [email protected] İstanbul*
8 Azize Atar Bilim University [email protected] İstanbul*
9 Ferdi Akarsu Doğa Derneği [email protected] Antalya*
10 Hakan Tabak [email protected] İstanbul*
11 Melek Erdal İTU [email protected] İstanbul*
12 Tuğçe
Küçükkurtoğlu
İTÜ [email protected] İstanbul*
13 Seda Yazgan Lets do it Turkey [email protected] İstanbul*
14 Serhat Ertuğrul İstanbul University [email protected] Ankara*
15 Hamdi Kiliç 19 Mayis University [email protected] Samsun
16 Aylin Akkaya İstanbul University [email protected] İstanbul
17 Elif Esen İTU [email protected] İstanbul
18 Emil Todorov SOR [email protected] Romania
19 Cristian Domsa SOR [email protected] Romania
20 Vladimir
Mladenov
BSBP [email protected] Bulgaria
21 Minko
Madzharov
BSPB [email protected] Bulgaria
22 Anna Stenava BSPB [email protected] Bulgaria
23 Emil Todorov SOR [email protected] Romania
24 Thanos Kastiris HOS [email protected] Greece
44
Annex 10: Layman’s Report
Separately attached.
Annex 11: Technical Report
Separately attached.