AUA Acopian Center Chief Scientist Attends Barcelona Conference on European Breeding Bird Atlas

YEREVAN–On March 20-22,the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment participated in a two-day workshop in Barcelona, Spain, focused on preparing a new European bird breeding atlas.

ACE Chief Scientist Dr. Karen Aghababyan attended the European Breeding Bird Atlas 2 (EBBA2) workshop in his capacity as the newly appointed National Coordinator of Armenia’s participation in the EBBA2 initiative.

“This is an ambitious project and requires participation of National Coordinators from 50 or so countries,” said Dr. Aghababyan, who also serves as the head of the Acopian Center’s environmental Lab. “The EBBA2 will update the ground-breaking first version, the data of which is by now 30 years old.”

At the workshop, Dr. Aghababyan presented the current condition of ornithological data gathering in Armenia, especially as it relates to the Atlas. He reported that some of the data collection work has begun. Training modules for volunteers are developed and tested. Other countries that presented their efforts included Slovakia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, and Croatia.

Participants also discussed the standardization of data and methods, management and processing, planning and fundraising, on-line portals, and engagement of local and foreign observers in the process of data collection.

The American University of Armenia’s Acopian Center for the Environment (AUA ACE) promotes environmental conservation and restoration in Armenia through research, education, and community outreach.

The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded in 1991, AUA is affiliated with the University of California. Through teaching, research, and public service, AUA serves Armenia and the region by supplying high-quality, graduate and undergraduate education, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting democratic values.

AUA is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001.

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