DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INVENTORY, REPORTING AND MONITORING DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR SPECIALLY PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS

The GEF-funded project “Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity: Strengthening Azerbaijan’s system of protected areas through improved governance and management”, is currently being executed by the FAO and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR).   The project will contribute to strengthening the planning and management capacity of the system of Specially Protected Natural Areas (SPNAs) in Azerbaijan with a strategic focus on delivering project support to:   

• enhancing the financial sustainability of SPNAs;  

• building information management systems for SPNAs; and  

• establishing and administering buffer zones with more sustainable resource use in areas directly adjacent to SPNAs.  

The project will further deliver targeted planning and operational support to two SPNAs – Shirvan and Hirkan National Parks (NPs) – and their designated adjacent sanitary zones. The project objective is strengthening the effectiveness of Azerbaijan’s protected area system to deliver Global Environmental Benefits using a landscape approach to governance & management. 

Sustainera, with international partners, is deploying innovative strategies and tools to improve management and viability of the Protected Areas system. Also, we are designing participatory, user-friendly monitoring and information management platform for PAs system (PAMIMS).  As a part of the project, we analyze the current institutional and individual capacities (in each of the different responsible institutions and at the individual SPNA level) to collect, collate and manage this existing inventory, reporting and monitoring data.