The meeting was attended by representatives of the
Caspian Regional Thematic Centers, DIM experts, representatives of the Programme
Coordination Unit, and international experts.
Coordinator of Caspian Environment Programme, Mr.
Timothy Turner, opened the meeting. In his speech he welcomed the meeting participants and
wished the success in their work. T. Turner requested scientific leader of Caspian
Environment Programme DIM Dr. V. Vladimirov to lead the meeting. The agenda was discussed
and adopted. Dr. Z. Kerimov was selected as a meeting rapporter.
V. Vladimirov reported on the objectives of CEP data and
information management and demonstrated modified scheme of the DIM system structure.
V. Vladimirov gave an introduction on the structure of
the Caspian Information System, which should consist of the following modules:
A PCU specialist on data bases Dr. N. Bayramov have clarified details of
certain modules and demonstrated the work of modules
Then, V. Vladimirov continued explanation and demonstration of the
structure of following modules:
He also informed the meeting on the status of information collection and
loading into the database.
Following representatives of Caspian Regional Thematic
Centers have participated in discussions on the Caspian information system: D. Katunin
(representative of the CRTC for fisheries and commercially exploited bioresources), B.
Morozov (representative of CRTC for Legal, Regulatory, and Economic Instruments), V.
Belyayeva (Expert of CRTC for Protection of Biodiversity), L. Guseynova (expert of CRTC
for Pollution Control).
The meeting considered issues of data and information
exchange, availability of environmental data in the Caspian Sea region. V. Vladimirov
reported on the expected sources of Caspian data and characterized perspectives of data
collection form following sources:
Published data;
Data from international expeditions and projects;
Data from oil and gas companies;
System of the International oceanographic data exchange (IODE);
Information on international principles of data exchange was presented.
Discussion on the issue of data and information exchange
took place. In his speech, the representative of the Russian National Center for
Oceanographic Data (Obninsk) A. Vorontsov mentioned that Center possesses large volume of
oceanographic information on Caspian Sea in electronic format. Information for the
beginning of the century presently is being inputted into a computer. This work will take
5 years.
B. Morozov (representative of CRTC for Legal, Regulatory, and Economic
Instruments) proposed to draft a document on Caspian Sea to reach an agreement in data
exchange.
V. Panov (representative of Russian Academy of Science Zoology Institute
from Saint-Petersburg) proposed for future to place information on planned expeditions and
research vessels on the Web-site of CEP, so interested organizations can participate in
these activities.
A. Vorontsov (Obninsk) proposed to draft a document on standardization of
secondary data.
CEP Consultant David Aubrey informed the meeting on the
requirements of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis to the DIM.
Representatives of CRTCs delivered brief reports on the
activity in DIM, particularly, the meeting was informed on the data collected, their
sources and status of available data processing.
Representative of CRTC for fisheries and commercially
exploited bioresources D. Katunin mentioned that data are permanently added and following
sections of CaspNirkh data base are still on the stage of development:
a) Oceanographic hydrochemical and toxicology studies.
This section stores information on temperature, salinity,
dissolved oxygen pH and other hydrological and hydrochemical indicators and their
distribution on water levels.
For December 2000 data in the following amount are
inputted into this section:
On Southern and Middle Caspian 1408 records, for
period from 1992 to 1999;
On Northern Caspian 4369 records for period from 1971
to 1999
b) Food reserve and nourishment of fishes
This section is basically filled with data gathered in the
Information computer center of CaspNirkh during data processing period on personal
computers in the dbf format. Section stores data on benthos quantity and biomass,
phyto and zooplankton in various Caspian regions and also on percentage of these organisms
in nourishment of sea and semi-diadromous fish species.
Following data are gathered up to December 2000
including information both on Northern and Middle and Southern Caspian.
Phytoplankton: 1184 records, period 1997 2000:
Zooplankton: 1747 records, period 1997 2000:
Benthos: 1265 records, period 1997 2000.
Nourishment of sprat data for 1997 2000.
Nourishment of semi-diadromous fishes data for 1997 2000.
c) Ichthyologic studies include following blocks:
Sprats on seasons of the year (Middle and Southern
Caspian). Summer 1984 records for period of 1953 1999. Autumn 7336 records for
period of 1953 1994. Winter 5407 records for period of 1961 1989. Input of
information on sprats (summer 2000) and herrings (spring 2000) on Northern Caspian is
implemented
Expert V. Lisenko mentioned that CRTC for Protection of
biodiversity is involved in the following activities:
Bibliographic database containing data on publications,
organizations and scientists involved in biodiversity issues in Caspian region is
established.
Inventory of Caspian region natural ecosystems is
implemented. The list of coastal and water flora and fauna species is drafted
Data on fisheries and commercial reserves of Kazakhstan
part of Caspian (KazNirkh data) is processed and submitted to CRTC for management of fish
resources and other commercial water bioresources.
Background ambient databases are established,
particularly on pollution of Kazakhstan part of Caspian. Data are submitted to CRTC for
Pollution Control
Possible structure of biodiversity data base (GIS) for
Caspian region is developed
Representative of CRTC for Legal, Regulatory, and Economic
Instruments B. Morozov mentioned that reference database is established in the center.
Specifically, databases are established on organizations, activities, and legal base.
There is an experience of similar databases establishment for Black Sea and Arctic.
Representative of CRTC for Sea Level Fluctuations Ms.
Gorkunova mentioned in her speech that Center collected hydrological and meteorological
data on Caspian Sea and its basin. However, significant portion of information is still on
paper and large resources required to digitize them.
Expert of CRTC for Pollution Control L. Guseynova
demonstrated structures of Center made data bases for collection of pollution data, and
reported that presently Center is implementing the input of data into database. She
proposed to develop a legal basis for data transfer procedure.
The expert of CRTC for Combating with Desertification H.
Ismatova informed the meeting that Center prepared large volume of cartographic
information on the processes of regional desertification. Space images from satellites
Landsat-TM for 1982-84 and Resurs for 1998 were used for this purpose. The work for
development of database for geoinformation system is on the way.
Then, PCU databases specialist N. Bayramov took the floor
and demonstrated established bibliographical database. He also discussed available
bibliographical sources.
PCU GIS specialist Z. Kerimov reported on cartographic
information received from CRTCs and informed the meeting that CRTC for Combating with
Desertification submitted large volume of information prepared by this CRTC. Some
information was received from CRTC for Pollution Control, and also CRTC for Fisheries and
Commercial Bioresources submitted some information related to the migration of fishes.
Representative of I.R.Iran Mozaffar GHAHREMAN presented
(15.12.2000) the tasks and plans of the DIM work of the ITCAMP and ERACL CRTCs. He
underlined that the main task is a research of the Caspian coastal zone at the national
and regional level. This research includes physical, biological, and socio economic
aspects. All data will be loaded into the database and used fro the GIS creation. Data of
the ASTP cruise also will be loaded into the database. ACCESS software is used for this
purpose, there is also an experience of using of the SQL Server software.
Web administrator of the PCU A. Aliyev demonstrated
a new version of Caspian Environment Programme Web-page. LAN administrator of PCU E.
Aslamin demonstrated Web-page of CRTC for Protection of Biodiversity.
V. Vladimirov informed the meeting on the perspectives
of CEP cooperation with GRID / Geneva in the field of GIS and with GRID / Arendal in
preparation of the Report on the State of the Environment for the Caspian environment and
possibilities of potential input of other international environmental organizations to the
Caspian Environment Programme. LAN administrator of PCU E. Aslamin demonstrated
interactive maps located on the Web page of the IPIECA UNEP-WCMC organization in a
real-time mode.
V. Vladimirov informed the meeting on the results of a
first stage of the expedition in the Azerbaijan sector of Caspian Sea undertaken in
October 2000 within At Sea Training Programme in the framework of preparation of the
Transboundary diagnostic analysis. He mentioned that next stage of expedition in
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iranian sectors of Caspian are to be implemented early 2001.
V. Vladimirov also discussed other planned training courses.
TACIS project manager Stuart Gunn demonstrated WARMAP-2
geoinformational system established within Aral Sea programme and explained the system of
geographical sites coding and methods of database linking with GIS.
Database Specialist of the BVO Syrdarya Water Measuring Association Irina NOSIREVA
demonstrated work of the DBMS programs for the CRTCs for Pollution Control and Water Level
Fluctuations that are under dvelopment now.
Calendar plan of DIM activities was discussed and
approved.
V. Vladimirov formulated tasks and problems for the
Caspian Sea data base establishment and described the present status of this issue. A
special attention was paid to the presentation of the characteristics of measured and
secondary (calculated) parameters in the data base. The work of OceanBase database system
developed within the Black Sea Programme was demonstrated to the meeting.
Representative of Russian National Center of Oceanographic Data (Obninsk ) A.Vorontsov
reported on the approaches towards establishment of integrated unified regional data base
and demonstrated structural schemes of such data bases designed in the Center.
PCU GIS specialist Z. Kerimov demonstrated structure of
the Caspian GIS designed in the PCU, commented existing information layers and named basic
data sources used upon creation of these layers. Electronic maps of the Caspian region
were demonstrated to the meeting.
GIS specialist of UNDP Sumgait (Azerbaijan) Environment
Programme A. Imanov demonstrated GIS on Sumgait environment.
V. Vladimirov reviewed the issue of the biodiversity
data base establishment for Caspian region. Then, expert of the CRTC for Protection of
Biodiversity V. Belyaeyva reported on the possible structure of database in this direction
and on status of data and information collection. As an example of the existing similar
information system, representative of the Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of
Science V. Panov demonstrated the work of INVADER programme established for Baltic and
other seas.
During discussions V. Vladimirov underlined that the
purpose of these debates was to receive information on various approaches towards the
establishment of a database on biodiversity and its prototypes, and the goal was reached.
There are two approaches environmental and taxonomic. We can move towards
establishment of data base from two sides. In January we will gather technical specialists
and discuss this issue. V. Belyayeva mentioned that we should start with taxonomic
approach, and in the nearest future probably we will be able to use results of ecosystem
approach. V. Lisenko added: these two approaches are not mutually exclusive.
The issue of standardization and unification of data and
information exchange formats was discussed. E. Aslamin described the requirements to data
format for Detailed Caspian data Inventory, V. Vladimirov reviewed data formats adopted in
the IODE system and Z. Kerimov informed on the requirements to the GIS data format upon
data exchange within CEP. V. Vladimirov also formulated requirements to the cruise data
gathered during TDA expeditions.
Conclusions and recommendations of the Meeting were
discussed and adopted.
