CAPACITY BUILDING OF IBA COORDINATORS AND CARETAKERS NETWORK
Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds implemented project “Capacity building of IBA Coordinators and Caretakers Network” during 2006. The project was supported by the Office of the Counsellor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ukraine, PIN-MATRA, MoU Ukraine – the Netherlands in the field of nature conservation.
The project was aimed at strengthening capacity of the existing IBA coordinators and caretakers network to conduct monitoring of IBAs and combat threats to birds and biodiversity. This overall project goal was reached by carrying out a mix of activities, including:
- training;
- sharing experience;
- learning from success stories;
- strengthening partnership; and
- preparing and disseminating IBA best practice guide.
Project activity was deeply integrated with the strategy of IBA Programme in Ukraine and closely linked with other USPB’s on-going activities. During the project period significant results were achieved, including:
- IBA coordinators and caretakers improved their knowledge and skills of conducting monitoring of IBAs, as well as planning, implementing and monitoring conservation projects, which was achieved due to:
- training workshop that was conducted for 45 IBA coordinators and caretakers from all over Ukraine (two-day event conducted with “training of trainers” approach);
- dissemination of training materials and information among other members of the IBA coordinator and caretaker network in the regions by participants of the training workshop;
- publication and dissemination of IBA Protection and Management Guide among all members of the IBA coordinator and caretaker network.
- IBA coordinators and caretakers shared experience, built effective partnerships, planned and implemented several conservation projects owing to provided training.
- Recent data on birds and threats was collected for priority IBAs due to competition for the best monitoring or site conservation report.
- Public awareness on conservation issues in priority IBAs has raised due to effective work of IBA coordinators and caretakers; publication and dissemination of the IBA Protection and Management Guide; publication and dissemination of the IBA Newsletter and two mini-booklets devoted to conservation of priority IBAs.
Experience gained during project implementation is important for planning further conservation activity of IBA coordinators and caretakers, especially within USPB’s IBA Programme in Ukraine.
Capacity building that was realised under the project allowed increasing motivation among IBA coordinators and caretakers; supporting closer communication between both USPB Secretariat and IBA Network and the Network members themselves; and contributing to satisfying information and skills strengthening needs of the Network members. All this impacts will result in more coordinated activity under the IBA Programme in Ukraine and within IBAs.