Public awareness raising seminars on Forest Biodiversity and Climate Change issues in Syunik marz (13-15/05/10)

Through the dates of May 13-15, 2010, seminars on Forest Biodiversity and Climate Change issues were organized for secondary schools teachers and schoolchildren in Goris and Kapan towns. Seminars were conducted in the frames of the "Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia" UNDP/GEF Project.

41 teachers from 26 secondary schools of Goris and Kapan towns and other neighboring communities participated in the seminars. Vulnerability of Syunik forest biodiversity to climate change and corresponding adaptation measures, as well as expansion of protected areas network in the region were particularly discussed.

Invited teachers actively participated in the seminars. They discussed new data and information available in the distributed seminar materials, and drafted brief pilot action plans on adaptation to climate change impacts for different age schoolchildren groups.

57 students from two schools of Goris and Kapan towns participated in specially designed awareness raising seminars. They presented their knowledge on forests, discussed seminar materials related to forest biodiversity and climate change. They also developed the list of subjects they are interested in for future discussions. Schoolchildren were assigned to draft essays on topics of their interest. The best papers will receive acknowledgement awards.

Both audience groups found facilitation and continuity of similar capacity building events as very important. Based on the results of the seminars and suggestions brought by students and teachers, the future awareness raising curricula for schools will be elaborated. These will also serve as basis for future awareness raising events, such as practice sessions and opportunities to better explore the forests, for Syunik community members on local forests biodiversity and related problems.