On October 30, representatives of the target areas of the SNPA project learned to create digital maps that demonstrate important environmental data: zoning, distribution of Red Book species, location of recreational facilities, forest assessment data. This will help them to monitor species more effectively, identify critical areas, monitor for logging, and more.

To create such maps, participants were taught to use geographic information systems (GIS) software on the example of non-profit QGIS software.

The target group is specialists of eight protected areas, whose responsibilities include the creation, maintenance and updating of geospatial cartographic and statistical information about the objects of Nature Reserve Fund.

“I’m in charge of the botany profile, so for me, the most useful is to learn the mapping of plants: how to show on the electronic map where the plant species are distributed in the reserve. In particular, the ones from the Red Book. Then I will be able to monitor them more effectively, “said Roman Kuznetsov, a researcher at the Gorgany Nature Reserve.

In addition to the short lecture course, four practical works were carried out, in particular, on the collection of field information: routes, creation and photo-fixation of observation points, the input of attribute data, etc. in the mobile application Locus Map and OruxMaps.

Then there will be two practical GIS training with a total duration of 6 days in each target institution. Participants also receive ongoing expert technical GIS support online from trainers.