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Regional Workshop on
Strengthening MEA synergies and indicators
in NBSAPs for countries of Central Asia, Eastern Europe, South
Eastern Europe and Southern Caucasus
Workshop Report
30th-31st March 2016
Ramada Hotel, Podgorica, Montenegro
Page | 2
SUMMARY The “Regional Workshop on Strengthening synergies and indicators in National Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plans (NBSAPs) for countries of Central Asia, Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe and Southern
Caucasus” was held from the 30th
to 31st March 2016 in the Hotel Ramada, Podgorica, Montenegro. The
overall objective of the workshop was to strengthen capacity for indicator development across the countries
of the region as part of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) updating process. This
workshop was organized as one of the activities of the project “Strengthening MEA synergies and indicators
in NBSAPs for the Pan-European region”, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
This project is funded by the European Commission’s Thematic Programme for Environment and Sustainable
Management of Natural Resources including Energy (ENRTP) fund, with contributions from UNEP
(Environment Fund) and aims to explore the opportunities to produce a suite of common indicators, first at
the sub-regional level, and subsequently across the Pan-European region, and to support countries in
developing and producing indicators. The project activities have included two sub-regional workshops; one
with countries of South Eastern Europe, and the other with countries of Central Asia, Southern Caucasus and
Eastern Europe. This regional workshop aimed to consolidate the results of these workshops, and focus on
support and capacity needs identified.
The workshop brought together 18 delegates from eleven countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Slovenia, Serbia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Participants
included representatives from government Ministries, national environmental agencies and research centers.
Representatives from the UNEP Regional Office for Europe (UNEP ROE), UNEP Programme Office in Vienna
(UNEP ROE-Vienna) and UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) also participated in the
workshop and contributed their expertise.
The programme of the workshop consisted of a mix of presentations, interactive group work and training
exercises, designed to promote the development of indicators and the information systems as part of the
NBSAP updating process. The work largely focused on protected areas extent and management, which had
been identified across all sub-regions as a common indicator need.
On the first day, participants were introduced to a framework for information systems that are necessary for
the production of indicators. Participants first identified different users of indicators, and the uses for which
they needed indicators, and the key questions that the indicators would help to answer. Thinking specifically
about protected areas extent and management, they then wrote down the most important indicators for
their country, and identified the datasets underlying these. This was then followed by a session looking at
data collection and management, in which participants identified key challenges and successes both from a
technical perspective, and from an organizational perspective.
The second day started with a presentation and an exercise around communicating indicators, and then a
short presentation and discussion on indicator fact sheets. Participants then completed a self-assessment of
capacity for information systems in their country, which helped identify strengths and weaknesses. In small
groups, they then developed a role-play in which they aimed to get financial support from a Minister or a
funding institution for an indicator and its information system. A representative from UNDP then gave a
short presentation on a project that looked at ‘cataloguing’ actions in NBSAPs, and then a representative
from the Ramsar Secretariat presented on the importance of wetlands for NBSAPs. The next session looked
at ecosystem services, providing a brief introduction and then exploring the support that countries require in
order to incorporate ecosystem services into their NBSAPs. Finally, countries then identified their next steps
under the project. The workshop was closed by Jan Dusik, Director, UNEP Regional Office for Europe, Fiona
McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator and Mr. Andrej Lakić, Head of the Division for International Cooperation
at Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism.
Page | 3
Contents
SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
1. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1. “Strengthening MEA synergies and indicators in NBSAPs for the Pan-European region”
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4
1.2. Workshop Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 4
2. DAY 1..................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1. Welcome and Introductions .............................................................................................................................. 4
2.2. Introduction to the NBSAP Forum .................................................................................................................. 4
2.3. Project and Workshop Overview ..................................................................................................................... 4
2.4. Why do we want indicators: Part 1 ................................................................................................................ 5
2.5. Why do we want indicators: Part 2 ................................................................................................................ 6
3. DAY 2.................................................................................................................................................................................. 76
3.1. Communicating with Indicators.................................................................................................................... 76
3.2. Fact Sheets ............................................................................................................................................................. 87
3.3. Information System Capacity ......................................................................................................................... 87
3.4. Getting support for indicators ....................................................................................................................... 87
3.5. NBSAP Tagging Project ..................................................................................................................................... 87
3.6. Ramsar Convention & NBSAP synergies ................................................................................................... 87
3.7. Ecossytem Services Information and NBSAPs ........................................................................................ 87
3.8. Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................................... 98
4. ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................................................................118
4.1. Annex 1: Agenda ................................................................................................................................................118
4.2. Annex 2: Final List of Participants .......................................................................................................... 1311
Report prepared by: Sarah Ivory. For further information, please contact Sarah Ivory
([email protected]) or Maria Morgado ([email protected]).
Page | 4
1. BACKGROUND
1.1. “Strengthening MEA synergies and indicators in NBSAPs for the Pan-European region”
Introduction
The project “Strengthening MEA synergies and indicators in NBSAPs for the Pan-European region” is a three
year project funded by the EC and UNEP that aims to strengthen NBSAP implementation through improving
synergies between Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs), the reporting process and developing
effective indicators in Pan-Europe, with a transboundary focus in the sub-regions of South Eastern Europe,
Eastern Europe (including Russia), Southern Caucasus, and Central Asia. The project aims to explore the
opportunities for harmonising biodiversity indicators and responding to common support needs, firstly
within each sub-region through two sub-regional workshops held in 2015, and then across the four sub-
regions together, through this regional workshop.
1.2. Workshop Introduction
This is the third workshop under the abovementioned project, bringing together all four sub-regions, and
with three objectives:
1. Share experience and develop capacity and collaborations on developing NBSAP-relevant
indicators and information systems for common subjects.
2. Draft a Technical Publication of Examples and Lessons for NBSAP Impact Indicators and
Information Systems, focusing on common NBSAP subject areas.
3. Plan further technical support by the project to participating countries for 2016, including
ecosystem services information and indicators.
The workshop agenda can be found in Annex 1 to this report. The participants list can be found in Annex 2.
2. DAY 1
2.1. Welcome and Introductions
The workshop was opened on the morning of the 30th
March 2016, by Philip Bubb of UNEP-WCMC. Ana
Vukoje of UNEP Regional Office for Europe (UNEP ROE) also welcomed participants and expressed
appreciation for their participation in the workshop. Participants then introduced themselves and stated
their personal expectations for the workshop. These included:
- Learning from and sharing with other countries in the room
- Identifying synergies between sectors
- Having a participatory workshop
- Learning about developing good indicators
- Learning about information system methodologies and frameworks
2.2. Introduction to the NBSAP Forum
Cristina Supples of UNDP gave a brief introduction to the NBSAP Forum, including the various forms of
support it provides for countries in updating and revising their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action
Plans (NBSAPs). She also demonstrated the Forum’s website, and highlighted a number of common gaps
and challenges in countries’ NBSAPs to date.
2.3. Project and Workshop Overview
Page | 5
Philip Bubb gave a brief overview of the project and the workshop, including its
objectives and agenda. He also described the technical report that will be
produced using the results of the workshop, which aims to demonstrate key
lessons, challenges and successes relating to the different components of an
information system, and to which it is hoped that countries will provide input,
including short case studies to highlight their experiences.
2.4. Why do we want indicators: Part 1
Philip Bubb gave a presentation which provided an introduction to determining
the purpose of indicators. He explained several key concepts, including the
definition of an indicator, and what makes a successful indicator. He highlighted a
number of examples of protected area indicators provided by countries in the region, and also the
relationship between data, measures, statistics and indicators.
He then introduced the framework of functions and activities of a national biodiversity information system,
shown below.
Next, he introduced a proposed structure for the project’s technical report, which would be based on this
framework.
In country teams, participants then identified some of the main uses and users of information on protected
areas, and the key questions to which indicators would help respond.
Page | 6
Some examples are shown in the following section (2.5).
2.5. Why do we want indicators: Part 2
Philip Bubb of UNEP-WCMC then introduced the Biodiversity Indicator
Development Framework, shown to the right, which consists of ten steps
which help support the definition, selection and production of successful
indicators. He also highlighted a number of resources available to support
countries in developing biodiversity indicators.
The ‘purpose’ steps of the Biodiversity Indicator Development Framework
allow countries to define their information and indicator needs, which will
guide and direct the design of an information system. The information system
itself allows the fulfilment of the step ‘Develop Monitoring and Reporting
Systems’, which underpin the continued production of any indicator.
Again in country teams, participants then revisited the key questions of the indicator users that they had
defined in the previous exercise. They then identified the indicators relating to protected area (PA)
coverage and management that would respond to these questions, and the data required by these
indicators.
Some examples of indicator users and uses, their key questions, the indicators that respond to these key
questions and their underlying data required are given below:
State
Nature
Protection
Reporting What is the
extent of
Protected Areas?
Coverage of
Protected Areas
by category
Extent of Protected
Areas
Categories of Protected
Ministry for
agriculture
and water
Making action
plans and
taking
measures
How many species
of animal and plant
are protected in the
PA?
Number of
species in
Protected Areas
Results of surveys and
species counts
Protected area data
Local
communities To understand
impacts of PAs
on local
communities
(and raise
How do protected
areas affect local
communities’
livelihoods?
Protected area
extent and
location by
category
Protected area extent
Protected area categories
Local communities and
village locations
USER USE KEY QUESTION INDICATOR DATA
Page | 7
2.6. Indicators need data!
Brian MacSharry then gave a presentation on data collection and data management. The ideal situation is
that each stage should build upon the preceding stage; data collection should be done in a manner that
facilitates easy management of the data; the management of the data should allow for concise analysis of
the data; and this in turn should allow for clear communication of the analysis. All of this should help derive
an indicator or indicators to answer a key question. Data standards are essential to ensure that all data
collected, especially if collected by different agencies or organizations, is consistent and interoperable. Two
important parts of data management is quality control and version control.
Participants then worked in small groups to identify some of the key challenges around data management,
focusing on both technical aspects and organizational aspects. Some answers provided are included below:
Technical Challenges
- Defining data collection protocols and systems
- Taking into account local specificities in methods
- Having technical staff who know the data and context
- Computerisation
- Database design and populating
- Defining a baseline
- Interoperability
- Confidence and representativeness of data
- Interpreting data
- Dealing with old, archived data
Organisational challenges
- Using public and private institutions
- Accessing data
- Having just one responsible institution with a mandate
- Resources
- Longevity and sustainability of projects
- Cooperation between the data producer and the user
- Communicating between sectors
- Engaging stakeholders
3. DAY 2
3.1. Communicating with Indicators
Sarah Ivory gave a short presentation that offered some
‘top tips’ for communicating with indicators, and
showed some examples of different ways in which
protected areas indicators have been presented by
countries.
Participants then worked in small groups to choose an
indicator and to sketch its presentation, and write a
short interpretation. They then presented these back to
the rest of the group, explaining why they had chosen to
present it as they had.
Page | 8
3.2. Fact Sheets
Sarah Ivory then gave a brief presentation on indicator fact sheets. She outlined the potential contents of a
fact sheet and highlighted their usefulness. Participants then looked at a template fact sheet and had a
short discussion in plenary on whether they used them already, their value and any additional fields that
they included beyond those presented on the draft template.
3.3. Information System Capacity
Philip Bubb then introduced an exercise in which participants considered each of the elements of an
information system, and assessed the extent to which these were present in their country, noting whether
they were ‘full’, ‘partial’, or ‘absent’. The aim of this was to help identify strengths and weaknesses, and to
prioritise elements for development and improvement.
3.4. Getting support for indicators
Participants then worked in small groups to
carry out a role-play exercise. Each group
was asked to come up with a situation in
which they, as technical experts or civil
servants, were looking to secure funding and
support for the development or
strengthening of an information system for a
specific indicator. Groups thought about how
they would argue the case for this support,
and what actually needed to be done to
achieve their goal of a produced indicator.
Each group performed their role play in front
of the rest of the participants. In each group, some members were playing the role of the minister,
institution or funder whose support was needed, while others were playing the role of those requesting the
support and putting the case forward. Overall, groups concluded that this was a useful exercise to help
better think through the arguments and justification for investing in indicators.
3.5. NBSAP Tagging Project
Heena Ahmed of UNDP presented a project which aims to analyse the actions included in NBSAPs, in order
to better understand their relevance and contribution to the Aichi Targets and SDGs, as well as considering
the different groupings of actions by type and by geographic region.
3.6. Ramsar Convention & NBSAP synergies
Tobias Salathé of the Ramsar Secretariat gave a presentation to highlight the importance of wetlands for
NBSAPs. He discussed the value of Ramsar sites as protected areas, and also how Ramsar is promoting and
facilitating the identification of synergies between the different MEAs. In addition, Tobias introduced the
Ramsar Strategic Plan, and Parties’ national reporting obligations. Finally, he highlighted the wetland-
related indicators that are helping track progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
3.7. Ecosystem Services Information and NBSAPs
Philip Bubb then gave a short introduction to ecosystem services. He highlighted how the concept of
ecosystem services is integral to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, and explained how different
types of services are classified as provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services. He explained
how ecosystem functioning supports the delivery of ecosystem services, and the important difference
Page | 9
between stocks and flows. Ecosystem services can be measured in different ways, and Philip highlighted
the difference between measuring ecosystem state, functioning, service, benefit and value.
He highlighted available resources and sources of support, in particular the Sub Global Assessment Network
(SGA Network). The SGA Network runs a number of workshops around the world, and supports
practitioners conducting ecosystem assessments at sub-national, national and regional scales. The diagram,
shown below, shows the steps in an ecosystem assessment, the first of which is a scoping stage which is
integral to the design of the assessment.
Participants then worked in country teams to identify any capacity or other support needs relating to
ecosystem services, to which UNEP and UNEP-WCMC could potentially aim to respond, either through the
current project or through future projects.
- Methods of assessment and systems of assessment
- Increasing capacity for data collection, processing and analysis
- Training on ecosystem assessment methods
- Training on GIS mapping
- Assessing protected area ecosystem services and functioning
3.8. Next Steps
Country teams then worked for half an hour to consider their next steps. They were asked to define:
- Key learning/message from this workshop for colleagues
- Next steps on indicators and information systems
- Ideas and input for the technical report and guidance for developing biodiversity indicators and
information systems
Some responses are given below.
Key Learning and Messages for this workshop:
- Why we need indicators
- Most countries have similar problems and expectations
- Step by step identification of indicators from target
- Examples from other countries
Page | 10
- Methodology of communication to non-specialists
- Report of guidelines for each country for process of targets and indicators and strategy
- Importance of collective work
- Shared lessons from different levels of development
- Synergies among Conventions
- Method of indicator selection
- The importance of thinking about ‘what, where, why, how’ when defining and indicator
Next steps for indicators and information systems
- Give a seminar to colleagues
- Report – develop indicators according to socio-economic conditions
- Develop regional indicators according to national differences
o Distribution of key and endangered species
- Training in collection and dissemination of data and information systems
- Include different stakeholders
Guidance:
- Examples of good practice
- Sub-regional common indicators
- Share information on indicators on PAs and networks for implementation of NBSAPs
- Continue development of indicators with stakeholders
3.9. Closure of the Workshop
The workshop was closed by Jan Dusik, Director of the Regional Office for Europe of UNEP, Fiona McCluney,
UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro and, on behalf of the Montenegrin government, Mr. Andrej Lakić,
Head of the Division for International Cooperation at Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism.
Finally, Philip Bubb expressed his gratitude to all those involved in organizing and hosting the workshop, as
well as to all participants for their active participation and great work over the two days.
Page | 11
4. ANNEXES
4.1. Annex 1: Agenda
Day 1: Wednesday 30th March
Time Session Objectives
08:30 Welcome and introductions Welcome from hosts, participants and resource
people get to know one another and their
motivations for the project
09.20 NBSAP Forum introduction Raise awareness of the NBSAP Forum website &
resources
09:30 Project and workshop
overview
Participants understand the aims of the project and
the workshop
09:50 Why do we want indicators?
Part 1.
Learn what is an indicator;
Learn steps & skills in definition of uses and
information needs for indicators.
Introduce framework of information management
system.
11:00 Break & group photo
11.30 Why do we want indicators?
Part 2.
Introduce Biodiversity Indicator Development
Framework.
Learn steps & skills in ‘Determine indicator use’,
including communication products.
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Indicators need data! Develop knowledge of data production, management
& availability requirements.
15:30 Break
15.50 Communicating with
indicators
Develop knowledge & skills in communicating
indicator results
17:00 End of Day
Page | 12
Day 2: Thursday 31st March
Time Session Objectives
08:30 Overview of Day 2 Feedback from Day 1 & Explain Day 2
08:40 Fact Sheets Bring together the Day 1 knowledge & skills; learn
the use of Indicator Fact Sheets.
09.45 Information System Capacity Learn a method to assess capacity needs for
information system & indicator development
10.30 Break
10.50 Getting support for
indicators
Develop skills & confidence in requesting
institutional and financial support for indicators
12.30 Ramsar Convention & NBSAP
synergies
Promote awareness of synergies for wetland-
related issues and NBSAP revision and
implementation, including indicators and
ecosystem services.
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Ecosystem Services
Information & NBSAPs – key
knowledge and support
Introduction to ES concepts & info needs for
assessments & indicators.
Raise awareness of relevant capacity support
materials and organisations.
Identify priorities for possible project support on
ecosystem services.
15:30 Break
15.50 Next steps Choosing country & project next steps
16.40 Evaluation Forms & Closure
of Workshop
Complete evaluation forms.
Words of thanks and closure from host, organisers
and participants.
17:00 End of Day
Page | 13
4.2. Annex 2: Final List of Participants
NAME COUNTRY DESIGNATION CONTACT DETAILS
1 Mr. Ermal
Halimi
Albania Expert at Biodiversity and
Protected Areas Directorate,
Ministry of Environment
Tel: +355 4 22 249 85
E-mail: [email protected]
2 Mr. Gagik
Manucharyan
Armenia Head of Environmental
Protection Policy
Department, Ministry of
Nature Protection – CBD NFP
E-mail: [email protected]
3 Mr. Aram
Aghasyan
Armenia Head of the Department of
Specially Protected Nature
Areas, Ministry of Nature
Protection
Tel: +374 10 58 06 99
E-mail: [email protected]
4 Ms. Arzu
Samadova
Azerbaijan Lead advisor of Protection of
Biodiversity and
Development of Specially
Protected Nature Areas
Department
E-mail: [email protected]
5 Ms. Gunel
Gurbanova
Azerbaijan Biologist-Engineer of
National Monitoring
Department on Environment
E-mail: gunel-qurbanova-
6 Mr. Dejan
Radosević
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Biodiversity expert E-mail:
7 Mr. Stjepan
Matić
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Institute for Protection of
Cultural, Historical and
Ecological Heritage
E-mail: [email protected]
8 Ms. Andrijana
Kasić
Croatia Expert Associate in Services
for Strategic Affairs in Nature
Protection, Ministry of
Environmental and Nature
Protection
Tel: +385 1 486 61 86
E-mail: [email protected]
9 Ms. Snežana
Prokić
Serbia Head, Office for Ecological
Networks
E-mail:
10 Mr. Sashko
Jordanov
Macedonia Head of Unit for the
Protection of Natural
Heritage, Nature Department
Email: [email protected]
11 Mr. Isuf Fetai Macedonia Junior Associate for GMO,
Nature Department
Email: [email protected]
12 Ms. Laurentia Moldova Professor, Dr. habilitatus of
Biology. Deputy Director of
Tel: +373 22 24 16 23
Page | 14
Ungureanu Institute of Zoology from the
Sciences Academy of
Moldova
E-mail: [email protected]
13 Ms. Victoria
Nistreanu
Moldova Dr. of Biology, Associate
Professor. Head of laboratory
of Mammalogy, Herpetology
and Paleozoology, Institute
of Zoology from the Sciences
Academy of Moldova
E-mail: [email protected]
14 Robert Bolješić Slovenia Secretary, Counselor to the
Government, Ministry of
Environment and Spatial
Planning
Tel: +386 1478 7478
E-mail: [email protected]
15 Ms. Firuza Raufi Tajikistan Senior researcher of
Research Laboratory of
Nature Protection (RLNP)
E-mail: [email protected]
16 Mr. Sukhrob
Irgashev
Tajikistan Senior researcher of
Research Laboratory of
Nature Protection (RLNP)
E--mail: [email protected]
17 Mr.Nodir
Nodirov
Uzbekistan Head of Division of the State
Biological Inspection
State Committee for Nature
Protection of the Republic of
Uzbekistan
18 Mr. Ivan
Belikov
Uzbekistan Head of working group
“Ecoinfomprogonosis”
Deparment
State Committee for Nature
Protection of the Republic of
Uzbekistan
E-mail: [email protected]
19 Mr. Tobias
Salathe
Ramsar Senior Adviser (Europe)
Ramsar Convention
Secretariat
Tel: +41 22 999 01 73
E-mail: [email protected]
20 Ms. Christina
Supples
UNDP Global NBSAP Support
Project Manager and NBSAP
Forum Moderator. UNDP –
Global Environment Facility
Tel: +1 303 513 4543
E-mail: [email protected]
21 Ms. Heena
Ahmed
UNDP Junior Consultant E-mail: [email protected]
22 Mr. Pier Carlo
Sandei
UNEP ROE -
Vienna
Programme Officer
United Nations Environment
Tel: + 43 1 26060 57 96
E-mail:
Page | 15
Programme - Vienna Office [email protected]
23 Ms. Amina
Omićević
UNEP National Officer in BiH E-mail: amina.omićević@unep.org
24 Ms. Ana Vukoje UNEP ROE -
Vienna
Consultant
United Nations Environment
Programme - Vienna Office
Tel: + 43 1 26060 87 13
E-mail: [email protected]
24 Mr. Philip Bubb UNEP-
WCMC
Senior Programme Officer
Ecosystem Assessment
E-mail: [email protected]
25 Mr. John
Tayleur
UNEP-
WCMC
Senior Programme Officer
Ecosystem Assessment
E-mail: john.tayleur@unep-
wcmc.org
26 Ms. Sarah Ivory UNEP-
WCMC
Programme Officer
Ecosystem Assessment
Tel: +44 0 1223 814722
E-mail: [email protected]
27 Mr. Brian
McSharry
UNEP-
WCMC
Senior Programme Officer
Protected Areas Programme
28 Ms. Oksana
Lipka
WWF Coordinator of Climate and
Energy Programme
WWF Russia
Tel: +7 495 727 09 39
E-mail: [email protected]
