conservation, an attitude that requires understand<strong>in</strong>g of the value of protect<strong>in</strong>g wetlands and hav<strong>in</strong>g asense of responsibility for their conservation.This support was <strong>in</strong>itiated <strong>in</strong> 2007 as the pilot phase of the <strong>in</strong>itiative “Liv<strong>in</strong>g Volga.” The broaddevelopment goals of were to strengthen the ability of the population resid<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> the Volga RiverBas<strong>in</strong> (Volga Delta area) to manage the Volga River catchment area on a susta<strong>in</strong>able basis and tochange attitudes toward water by <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g environmental awareness.Results and deliveries from this pilot have created a strong foundation for the subsequent Liv<strong>in</strong>g VolgaProgramme now be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiated. Close cooperation with UNDP and the International HydrologicalProgramme is envisaged.Implementation Partners:UNESCO Moscow Office - primary implementation partnerEcoCenter Zapovedniks (Moscow) and Astrakhan State Biosphere Reserve (Astrakhan) - execut<strong>in</strong>gagenciesCoca-Cola HBC Eurasia - Fund<strong>in</strong>g partnerClose cooperation and collaboration with the Russian Man & Biosphere National Committee, theM<strong>in</strong>istry of Natural Resources, UNDP, UNEP, Wetlands International and othersContacts:Marie Prchalova, Programme Specialist for ScienceUNESCO Moscow OfficeTel: +7 495 637 2875; 2935; 2952E-mail: m.prchalova@unesco.org60 MDG Good Practices
MDG-7: Ensure Environmental Susta<strong>in</strong>abilityMDG target 7.B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achiev<strong>in</strong>g, by 2010, a significantreduction <strong>in</strong> the rate of lossConstra<strong>in</strong>t:Lack of Information on Biodiversity <strong>in</strong> a Buffer ZoneLack of <strong>in</strong>formation on the biodiversity <strong>in</strong> a restricted zone, <strong>in</strong>hibit<strong>in</strong>g conservation effortsCyprus’s Biodiversity of the Buffer Zone assesses biodiversity <strong>in</strong> the buffer zone of Cyprus,which runs for 180 km between the Greek Cypriot Community and Turkish Cypriot Community fora total of 346km2. Alleviat<strong>in</strong>g the scarcity of <strong>in</strong>formation on biodiversity <strong>in</strong> the buffer zone has madeconservation efforts more effective.Components:• Formation of a bi-communal academic network of biodiversity experts, comprised of both Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot scientists, to conduct basel<strong>in</strong>e ecological studies on plants, fungi,mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and <strong>in</strong>vertebrates and selected study sites <strong>in</strong> the buffer zone.• Completed eleven rounds of monthly field visits to eight areas <strong>in</strong> the buffer zone identifiedas study sites, dur<strong>in</strong>g which biodiversity surveys were conducted and illegal activities wererecorded.• Produced technical publications with bi-communal lists of authors, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g eleven articles andfour technical publications.• Produced <strong>in</strong>formational materials to educate the public about the environmental andconservation issues related to the biodiversity present <strong>in</strong> the buffer zone, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g adocumentary, four podcasts, a CD, a wildlife calendar for 2008, and a booklet for children.Results:• Stakeholders <strong>in</strong> both communities deal<strong>in</strong>g with environmental issues were made aware of thebiodiversity that is present <strong>in</strong> the buffer zone and evidence of illegal activities such as birdtrapp<strong>in</strong>g, poach<strong>in</strong>g, rubbish tipp<strong>in</strong>g, illegal logg<strong>in</strong>g and illegal graz<strong>in</strong>g of livestock.• They were also made aware of other environmental issues, such as the presence of packs of feraldogs predat<strong>in</strong>g on wildlife, the presence of rats, and the pollution of streams and rivers.• Establishment of the first ever bi-communal environmental platform, the Cyprus EnvironmentalStakeholder Forum (CESF), a major success <strong>in</strong> island-wide cooperation for environmentalprotection.• As a result of some of these f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs, UNPOL cooperated with the Game Fund and the GCCpolice to crack down on bird trappers at one of the sites.• One of the <strong>in</strong>formational materials, the booklet for children, is be<strong>in</strong>g used by a local NGO as partof an environmental awareness campaign about bats <strong>in</strong> Cyprus.Key Elements of Success:• Jo<strong>in</strong>t publication promoted data shar<strong>in</strong>g among experts.• Publications were produced with bi-communal lists of authors, which is almost unprecedented <strong>in</strong>the last 3 decades of the division of Cyrus, thus demonstrat<strong>in</strong>g that science can lead the way <strong>in</strong>overcom<strong>in</strong>g boundaries to cooperation.• Coord<strong>in</strong>ators responsible for activities <strong>in</strong> their respective communities were appo<strong>in</strong>ted.• The widespread media coverage has <strong>in</strong>spired other groups to discuss their commonenvironmental future and work together to preserve their shared natural heritage.Lessons Learned:• Form<strong>in</strong>g a bi-communal team of biodiversity experts dedicated to their subject made it easier tobreak down barriers and suspicion among participants from different communities.• Jo<strong>in</strong>t field visits and team work promoted the establishment of good work<strong>in</strong>g relationships.• Focus<strong>in</strong>g on biodiversity work and avoid<strong>in</strong>g political statements and discussions were beneficialto build<strong>in</strong>g trust among teams.MDG Good Practices 61
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