24/09/2024
🌿Practical Training “Climate Change - Mountain Systems as an Indicator of Climate Change Impacts” in Machakhela National Park in Georgia within Erasmus+ Project “Synergy of educational, scientific, management and industrial components for climate management and climate change prevention.”🌱
🌿Within the framework of the Erasmus+ Project “Synergy of educational, scientific, management and industrial components for climate management and climate change prevention/CLIMAN” in the period from 16-20 September in Georgia with the organisation and technical support of Batumi State University Training “Climate Change - Mountain Systems as an Indicator of Climate Change Impacts”, that aimed to research impact of human activity on climate and mountain ecosystems as an indicator of this influence, was organized. The practical component of the seminar was held in Machakhela National Park on 18 September. Like all other protected areas in Adjara, Machakhela National Park was also established with an important mission to preserve the unique biological and landscape biodiversity, as well as the long-term protection of the Kolkha Forest ecosystem. And also for the development of tourism and recreational activities in the natural environment. Machakhela National Park is located in the municipality of Khelvachauri, in the Machakhelistskali Valley, at an altitude of 300-350 metres above sea level, 30 km from Batumi. The park was established in 2012 and its total area is 8733 hectares.
The territory of the National Park is represented by vegetation, which is located on the slopes of the Machakhela River, surrounded by forest. Almost the entire territory is covered with chestnut, beech, hornbeam and alder forests. Here one can find such relict and rare species as Colchian boxwood, chestnut, Colchian walnut, Georgian walnut, Pontic rhododendron, berry yew, birch bark and others.
🟢The participants of the training received important information on how human activities influence the climate on the planet and how mountains are a sensitive indicator of this influence. Members of the consortium, including teams from different countries, were able to see in a practical context that changes in mountain ecosystems can provide an early indication of what is likely to happen on the plains, and thus mountains act as early warning systems. New insights into how climate change is affecting mountains were gained, as well as practical confirmation of the critical importance of engaging in procedures to develop new strategies to cope with current global warming trends.
✅Workshop participants hiked over 2 kilometres of mountain trails and gained practical experience that due to their altitude, slope angle and direct exposure to the sun, mountain ecosystems are easily destroyed by climate change. The study of the waterfall system confirmed the knowledge that mountains provide fresh water for half of the world's population. The organisers of the workshop demonstrated with practical examples how climate change will affect water availability and will have important implications for irrigation, urbanisation and industrialisation and hydropower generation, using the example of the hydro system of Machahela National Park. The workshop participants learned that almost half of the world's biodiversity centres are located in mountainous areas. As part of the CLIMAN project's key tasks, a collective decision was made to continue working on research to develop integrated measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation. As well as to continue implementing the knowledge gained into the educational processes of partner universities in order to train a new generation of climate managers.
Many thanks to the project team of Batumi State Unviersity for organization of the wonderful practical training!👏👏👏
The Project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union.
