About the Programme

Programme was initiated in order to contribute to the valuable decrease of bird killings in Batumi Flyway. For this goal, we intend to provide (1) Systematic monitoring and field survey in 4 surrounding villages located in project target area, (2) Engagement of local communities, hunters, falconers and project stakeholders in conservation activities and (3) Increasing public awareness among local communities and broader civil society. Instead of 4 target hot-spots, we have been able to conduct monitoring activities in 9 hot-spots in total. We have been able to engage valuable number of locals (kids, adults, teachers, parents, poachers and falconers, etc.), as well as crucial stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Environment, the Department of Environmental Supervision and the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Batumi. Such mobilization on local stakeholders played an important role to the effective delivery and implementation value, as in terms of the partnership and working together, as well as in terms of educational and awareness raising components.

• The conservation value of the work: Natural phenomenon of massive bird migration over the Batumi Flyway, concentrated in to one narrow bottleneck. Over a million birds of prey pass this area every year in Autumn and flight is very diverse – at least 35 different species of birds of prey can be observed here. One of the main idea  is to show to the locals of all ages, all beauties of this phenomenon and stipulate to their behaviour change and nature appreciation and respect. Another idea is to stipulate decrease of bird killings, through the engagement in to the educational and awareness raising activities, law enforcement and bird-watching tourism promotion. 
• The conservation problem and issues addressed: The main threat of the areas is illegal and massive killing of birds of prey and trapping, which is deeply rooted behaviour in local communities, especially in these that locate along the flyway. This is the main issue this projects have been addressing, however diverse combination of other issues, connected to the main one, such as low level of knowledge and understanding of problem in general, lack of awareness and relevant education among young generation, low level of legislation enforcement and lack of attention (mainly because of the lack of awareness) from the broad society and regular civilians. Nevertheless, the lack of suitable data about poaching and trapping is always an issue, due to the total number of hot-spots along the flyway. 
• Background to the project site and its conservation significance: Batumi Flyway, or as it is also known worldwide – Batumi Bottleneck has an official status of IBA (GE014). Site has been assessed in 2006. CHOROKHI Delta has also been a part of Batumi IBA, however, later was initiated another separate assessment, independently for the Delta, in order to distinguish profile and give a status of separate IBA. In 2015/16, with support of the BirdLife, SABUKO could establish new IBA in Georgia – CHOROKHI Delta IBA (GE032).

Aim and objectives:

As a overall goal of the, we have focused on stipulation to the decrease of bird killings, through the diversity of planned components, although having following objectives, according to the original plan of the project: (1) Systematic monitoring and field survey in 4 surrounding villages located in project target area (2) Engagement of local communities, hunters, falconers and project stakeholders in conservation activities (3) Increasing public awareness among local communities and broader civil society.