Union Géographique Internationale

International Geographical Union

COMMISSION C04.25: ANALYSE DES PAYSAGES

COMMISSION C04.25: LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS

Critical Areas in a Landscape: From Theory to Mapping and Management

International Conference

May 4-6, 2005
Geographical Society of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia

Conference Statement

We, the representatives of different research and practical organizations based in 12 countries and bringing together the experience of landscape-related work on four continents[1], have met for three days of intensive professional discussions in Tbilisi, Georgia[2] and agreed on the following:

I. Shared Vision of Our Purpose and Objectives

  • Landscape approach is a fertile crossroads for scientists, practitioners and policy-makers for devising spatial-temporal tools, integrating physical/natural, economic and socio-cultural dimensions,promoting and communicating land/ecosystem and natural hazard management solutions for sustainable development at a ground level.

II. Commonality and Diversity of Our Approaches

  • Commonalities: Inherent acceptance of transdisciplinary approach; consciousness of spatial impacts and scale for effective solutions; interest in results on the ground (at a concrete site, in a specific region or country).
  • Diversity: Physical/biological vs. social/aesthetic focus on landscapes (‘geosystems’– ‘paysages’); different phases in the economic development and natural resource managementdetermine a diversity of strategies (pre-emptive conservation vs. maintenance vs. restoration); different geographical contexts favor different levels and scope of landscape applications (mountains vs. plains; boreal vs. subtropical, etc.); different groups are advanced in different levels/scales of analysis (ecoregional/strategic planning, local/operational/site-level planning, etc.); varying level of consideration of time dimension (‘snapshot’series vs.geodynamic process vs. biotic succession vs. historical/climatic trends, etc.).

III. Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

  • Existing experiences from a large number of development projects in landscapes with different economic history and systems for government and governance provide a valuable resource for comparisonsand synthesis, and development of improved, flexible (easily adaptable)and replicable tools/techniques.
  • Strengthening the ‘human capital’ of landscape analysis practitionersis crucial for improvements in forestry, agriculture, urban and regional planning, wildlife management, etc.
  • There is a fast-growing political and economic demand (from politicians, industry, private sector, international and intergovernmental organizations such as World Bank, Global Environment Facility, WWF, IUCN, European Commission, etc.) for robust and ‘objective’ landscape-level solutions in management of e.g. ‘critical forests’ (high conservation value forests/HCVF), urban/suburban ‘green spaces’, etc.
  • Many countries are increasingly interested in aligning their land/ecosystem management practices with the requirements of new legislation and international agreements/processes (Convention on Biological Diversity, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, European Landscape Convention, EU/Natura-2000, voluntary forest certification, etc.).
  • Conditions are mature for rapid progress in development and strengthening of landscape applications in specific regions (e.g. Carpathians, Caucasus), especially in the view of individual governments’ interest in EU accession (e.g. Ukraine, Georgia).
  • A crucial challenge is translating the increased scientific knowledge of landscapes into the pragmatic and implementable guidelines and regulations at national/subnational levels(e.g. in landscape-ecological forest inventory and forest management planning).
  • Effective communication of the results of landscape analysis and planning to end-users (government agencies, companies, communities, etc.) requires an emphasis on development of easily understandable map products, such as ‘semaphore’-type maps. Prospective end-users should be consistently included in the mapping/planning project cycle, starting from the design phase.
  • Strengthening the understanding of landscape contributions to socioeconomicwelfare and development of specific areas and regions and its incorporation in economic decision-making processes requireadditional special efforts in devising ‘landscape economics’ tools.
  • Professional communications need to be improved between disciplines of landscape analysis (terminology barrier) as well as between countries (language barrier).

IV. Proposed Next Steps (Short- and Longer-Term)[3]

  1. Compile/maintain database of contacts - share and put on web (May 2005).
  2. Compile/maintain calendar of related events (conferences, workshops, meetings)[4]– share and put on web (June 2005).
  3. Publication of conference proceedings, e.g. World Bank series on forest management – in English and Russian (Fall/Winter 2005).
  4. Submission of a series of articles to peer-reviewed journals – by individual participants through their professional networks (2005-2006).
  • this should help establish ‘reputation’ and assemble a portfolio of articles for a possible new journal “Landscape Analysis”(for the IGU Landscape Analysis Commission to follow up)
  1. Initiate a quick series of technical meetings of practitioners (2nd half of 2005) towards establishment of an international ‘HCVF Resource Network” – on the basis of existing/active initiatives, initially for Caucasus, Carpathians, and Far East[5].
  2. Develop proposals (2nd half of 2005) for several ‘network development’ projectsto be implemented in 2006-2007, including:

a)joint expeditions (involving students and including field workshops) for mapping of critical landscape areas in a specific region (e.g. Caucasus);

b)development and publication of a Landscape Analysis applications manual/sourcebook (for practitioners and project implementers);

c)development and publication of college-level Landscape Analysis curricula and textbooks under the Bologna Process.

  1. The establishment of a Landscape Analysis ‘network’ in 2005-2007 is intended to lead to the design and launch in 2007-2008 of larger-scale international projects on landscape monitoring and management, such as the so-called ‘landscape laboratories’, etc.

Annex 1

Conference Participants

Vladimer Abashidze, Georgia Forest Sector Development Center, Georgia

Mauro Agnoletty, University of Florence, Italy

Dmitri Aksenov, Global Forest Watch, Russia

Leif Andersson, Pro Natura, Sweden

Per Angelstam, SwedishUniversity of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden

Niko Beroutchashvili, Tbilisi State University, Georgia(Head of the Organizing Committee)

Maka Bitsadze, WWF Caucasus Program Office, Georgia

Igor Bondyrev,Institute of Geography of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia

Vladimír Čaboun, Forest Research Institute in Zvolen, Slovakia

Leri Chochua, Georgia Forest Sector Development Center, Georgia

Gérard Domon, Université de Montréal, Canada

Mikhail Dubinin, Global Forest Watch, Russia

Maia Duishvili, World Bank TbilisiOffice, Georgia

Malkhaz Dzneladze, WWF Caucasus Program Office, Georgia

Marina Elbakidze, Lviv National University, Ukraine

Mariam Elizbarashvili, Hydromet Institute, Georgia

Nodar Elizbarashvili, Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Peter Fürst, ÖBf / Austrian Federal Forests, Austria

Georgi Gigauri, Mountain Forest Research Institute, Georgia

Givi Gigineishvili, Geographical Society of Georgia, Georgia

Tengiz Gordeziani, Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Mikhail Grodzinski, TarasShevchenkoUniversity of Kiev, Ukraine

Zurab Gurielidze, Georgia Protected Areas Development Center, Georgia

TomášHlásny, Forest Research Institute in Zvolen, Slovakia

Jacques Hubschman, Université de Toulouse le Mirail, France

Nelli Jamaspashvili, Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Mikhail Karpachevskiy, Global Forest Watch, Russia

Ivan Kruhlov, Lviv National University, Ukraine

Andrey Kushlin, World BankHeadquarters, USA(Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee)

Robert Maglakelidze, Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Zoltan Pal, Babes-BolyaiUniversity of Cluj, Romania

Andrey Purekhovskiy, WWF-Russia Far EasternOffice, Russia

Tim Rayden, Proforest, Oxford, UK

Paata Shanshiashvili, Georgia Protected Areas Development Center, Georgia

Andrey Shegolev, WWF-Russia ArkhangelskOffice, Russia

Otari Shengelia, Georgia Forest Sector Development Center, Georgia

Gia Sophadze, Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Jean-Christian Tulet, Université de Toulouse le Mirail, France

Hans Widhalm, ÖBf / Austrian Federal Forests, Austria

Taras Yamelynets, Lviv National University, Ukraine

Asiya Zagidullina, St.Petersburg Forestry Research Institute, Russia

Olexander Zavadovych, Znesinnya Regional Landscape Park, Ukraine

Nugzar Zazanashvili, WWF Caucasus Program Office, Georgia

Conference Organizing Committee and Secretariat

Levan Beruchashvili

Nika Beruchashvili

Mikheil Burchuladze

Ketevan Djordjadze, Academic Secretary of the Geographical Society of Georgia

Interpreters

Zviad Mirgatia

Marina Useinashvili

Annex 2

Conference Program

Working languages – English and Russian (with simultaneous interpretation)

Day Zero – Tuesday May 3

All day - Participants’ arrival in Tbilisi, on-site registration and accommodation in hotels

17:00-18:30 Planning meeting of the IGU Commission on Landscape Analysis

Day One – Wednesday May 4

Plenary Session 1: Landscape Analysis Fundamentals – Key to Successful Management Solutions

Chairperson: Prof. Givi Gigineishvili (Geographical Society of Georgia)

10:00-10:30 Welcome and greetings of the Conference co-hosts
Prof. Givi Gigineishvili, President, Geographical Society of Georgia
Prof. Tamaz Gamkrelidze, President, Georgian Academy of Sciences

Prof. Rusudan Lordkipanidze, Rector, TbilisiStateUniversity

Ms. Sopho Akhobadze, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia

11:10-11:40 - Overview of key approaches in the landscape analysis theory and its applications (Prof. Niko Beroutchashvili, Tbilisi State University, Georgia)

11:40-12:00 - Targets and tools for maintaining ecological sustainability (Per Angelstam, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden)

12:00-12:20 - Managing values in a landscape matrix: Intersection of economic, social and cultural dimensions (Andrey Kushlin, World Bank)

12:20-12:40 - Questions and Answers

12:40-13:10 - Coffee break

13:10-14:50 - Cross-Regional Panel: State-of-the-art in landscape analysis and its management applications

Chairperson: Andrey Kushlin (World Bank)

  • North America (Gérard Domon, Université de Montréal, Canada)
  • Northern Europe and Baltics (Per Angelstam, SwedishUniversity of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden)
  • Central and Eastern Europe (Mikhail Grodzinski, TarasShevchenkoUniversity of Kiev, Ukraine)
  • Russia (Mikhail Karpachevskiy, Global Forest Watch, Russia)
  • Southern Europe (Prof. Mauro Agnoletty, University of Florence, Italy)
  • Caucasus (Maka Bitsadze, WWF-Caucasus, Georgia)

14:50-15:00 - Questions and Answers

15:00-15:10 - Session Summary

15:10-16:00 - Lunch break

16:00-18:15 Thematic Session 1: Critical review of various landscape analysis tools, their use for identification and interpretation of ‘critical areas’ in a landscape matrix

Chairperson: Prof. Mauro Agnoletty (University of Florence, Italy)

  • Overview of the use of the HCVF approach; some emerging issues (Tim Rayden, Proforest, Oxford, UK)
  • SteppicRanges of Argentine Patagonia, “Critical Areas” in Southern Chibut Landscapes: A case study (Jacques Hubschman, Universite de Toulouse le Mirail, France, M.A.Berolami, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, San JuanBosco, Argentina)
  • Woodland Key Habitats - A Plotwise Survey of High Nature Conservation Value Forests in the Scandinavian and Baltic Countries (Leif Andersson, Pro Natura, Sweden)
  • Mountain forest landscapes of Georgia - influent reasons and results (Nodar Elizbarashvili, Tbilisi State University, Georgia)
  • Forests of Ciomadu Region: Changing from Matrix to Patch Function (Zoltan Pal, Babes-BolyaiUniversity of Cluj, Romania)
  • Geoecological Analysis of the Skole Beskydy (Eastern Carpathians) Forestry Potential (Ivan Kruhlov, Lviv National University, Ukraine)

19:15-22:00 - Dinner reception

Day Two – Thursday May 5

10:00-13:00 Thematic Session 2: In-depth discussion of practical, project-based case studies, techniques, and relevance of landscape analysis tools

Chairperson: Prof. Mikhail Grodzinski (Kiev State University, Ukraine)

  • Identification of High Conservation Value Forests in Arkhangelsk Region, Northwest Russia(Andrey Shegolev, WWF-Russia)
  • Landscape-Ecological Mapping as a Key Element of the New Forest Inventory and Management Planning Technology in Georgia (Vladimer Abashidze, Leri Chochua, Otari Shengelia, Forest Sector Development Center, Georgia)
  • Landscape-Ecological Approach to the Assessment of Urban Green Zones Using GIS Tools (Marina Elbakidze, Taras Yamelynets, Lviv National University, Olexander Zavadovych, Znesinnya Regional Landscape Park, Ukraine)
  • Biodiversity assessment and management of an ecosystem/territory (Zurab Gurielidze, Georgia Protected Areas Development Center, Georgia)
  • Use of Specially Protected Forest Zones as Habitat of Rare Animal Species for Optimization of System of Ecological Networks in the mountain Taiga Ecosystems of Sikhote-Alin Mountains in the Russian Far East (Andrey Purekhovskiy, WWF-Russia)
  • Les Mutation des Paysages des hautes vallées des Andes du Venezuela (Jean-Christian Tulet, Universite de Toulouse le Mirail, France)

13:00-14:30 - Lunch break

13:00-14:00 - Press briefing

14:30-16:30 - Plenary Session 2: Management Tasks in a Landscape Matrix and Beyond – Emerging Trends

Chairperson: Per Angelstam (SwedishUniversity of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden)

  • Session Introduction: Commonalities and distinctions, objectives and scale, gaps and key trends (Andrey Kushlin, World Bank)
  • Critical Areas in the DnieperRiver Basin and Their Optimization by Creating the Ecological Network (Mikhail Grodzinski, Kiev University, Ukraine)
  • Identification of High Conservation Values in Southwest Georgia and Northeast Turkey: Example of TransboundaryColchicForest Landscapes (Malkhaz Dzneladze, Nugzar Zazanashvili, WWF-Caucasus, Sedat Kalem, WWF-Turkey)

16:30-16:50 - Coffee break

16:50-19:10 - Plenary Session 2 – continued

  • Mapping High Conservation Value Forests in Primorsky Kray, Russia, using GIS (Dmitri Aksenov, Mikhail Karpachevsky, Mikhail Dubinin, GlobalForestWatch, Russia)
  • The comparative analysis of critical territories in Kolkhida and Mozambique lowlands (Igor Bondyrev,Institute of Geography of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia, Zurab Seperteladze, Tbilisi State University, Georgia)
  • Critical condition of a landscape as an occasion for allocation of territories under a category a protected landscape (Nelli Jamaspashvili, Tbilisi State University, Georgia)
  • Assessment of intangible and ethical-aesthetic values of landscape (Paata Shanshiashvili, Georgia Protected Areas Development Center, Georgia)
  • Transformations of the Caucasus Natural Landscapes in Conditions of the Global Warming (Mariam Elizbarashvili, Hydromet Institute, Georgia)
  • Critical areas of the forests of Slovakia due to Global Climate Change (Tomáš Hlásny, Vladimír Čaboun, Forest Research Institute in Zvolen, Slovakia)
  • Landscape-ecological planning in forest management for Northwestern Russia (Asiya Zagidullina, Boris Romanyuk, Alexander Knize, St.Petersburg Forestry Research Institute, Russia)

19:10-19:20 - Session Summary

19:20-19:30 - Logistical announcements re field trip and excursion

Day Three – Friday May 6

10:00-12:30 Working Session: Formulation of draft Conference recommendations

12:30-13:45 - Coffee / lunch break

13:45-15:30 - Plenary Session 3: Critical Landscape Areas – from Mapping to Sustainable Management

Co-Chairpersons: Prof. Niko Beroutchashvili (Tbilisi State University, Georgia), Andrey Kushlin (World Bank)

  • Presentation and Discussion of Conference Recommendations and Next Steps

ClosingRemarks. Conferenceadjourns.

17:00-18:00 - Side event (TbilisiStateUniversity): Demonstration of the Forest Landscape Management Information System (Hans Widhalm, Peter Fürst, ÖBf / AustrianFederalForests)

Field Visit – Saturday May 7

10:00-18:00 - Visit to forest management, protection and restoration sites of the proposed TbilisiNational Park and the Martkopi Geographic Research Station (near Tbilisi), observation and discussion of field mapping, analysis and management planning techniques

Field Trip – Sunday May 8 to Tuesday May 10

Three days - Scientific excursion “Landscapes of Georgia” featuring natural and managed landscapes in Eastern and Western Georgia:

  • 8 May – Tbilisi- Djvari - Mtskheta - Gori - Yalknebi - Zestafoni - Tkibuli – Ambrolauri;
  • 9 May – Ambrolauri - Cave - Shauri - Nakerala - Kutaisi – Kobuleti;
  • 10 May – Kobuleti - Botanical Garden - Batumi - Poti - Paleastomi – Tbilisi.

1

[1]The list of Conference participants is attached in Annex 1.

[2]The Conference program is attached in Annex 2.

[3] Participants have agreed to communicate to the Conference Secretariat by May 15, 2005 their voluntary commitments in assisting with implementation of specific action items.

[4]An important milestone for reporting interim results would be the IGU Regional Conference in Brisbane, Australia, in July 2006.

[5]A useful professional opportunity would be a cluster of HCVF-related workshops and meetings planned by the World Bank and WWF in the Russian Far East (Khabarovsk and Vladivostok) in September-October 2005.