A new inclusive project for monitoring the Caspian Sea
On August 12, as part of International Caspian Day, the “Caspian Senses Observatory” environmental and inclusive program was held at the “Sea Breeze” resort, focusing on environmental education for children and engaging the public in observing the condition of the Caspian Sea.
The initiative, jointly organized by “Sea Breeze” and the “EkoSfera” Social-Ecological Center, is a pilot public environmental observation project that combines elements of citizen science with an inclusive approach.
The main idea behind the program is that everyone, regardless of age, developmental characteristics, or the way they perceive the world around them, should be able to participate in studying nature and contribute to its protection.
The first participants in the “Caspian Senses Observatory” program were children living at “Sea Breeze,” as well as invited children with diverse developmental characteristics. At interactive research stations, they explored the Caspian Sea through their senses of sight, hearing, touch, and smell, and carried out simple measurements. Participants also learned about the biodiversity of the coastal area, how to identify and record signs of pollution, and how to assess the accessibility of the beach environment.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Firuza Sultanzadeh, head of the “EkoSfera” Social-Ecological Center, emphasized the importance of fostering children’s interest in the environment and directly involving them in the study of nature. According to her, initiatives of this kind make environmental knowledge more accessible and understandable to children with different perceptual characteristics.
The program’s honorary guest was Mahir Aliyev, Regional Coordinator for Europe of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Head of the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention.
Speaking at the event, M. Aliyev highlighted the importance of engaging the younger generation in the protection of the Caspian Sea, as well as developing environmental monitoring with public participation.
According to the organizers, “Caspian Senses Observatory” is the first step toward creating a permanent monitoring model for the Caspian Sea based on the principles of inclusive citizen science. In the future, observations conducted by people with different perceptual characteristics are expected to be integrated into a unified environmental data and public participation system.
The pilot format of the program also makes it possible to test the methodology directly in a coastal environment and adapt it for a broader audience in the future.
Following the speeches, a practical environmental workshop was held for the children. Directly on the Caspian Sea coast, participants collected water and natural-material samples for further study, became familiar with environmental observation methods, and learned how to record the results of their observations.
The practical part of the program continued with an interactive performance dedicated to the Caspian Sea and its inhabitants. Through representations of the sea and its natural world presented in a child-friendly format, participants learned about the Caspian’s biodiversity, the importance of preserving the cleanliness of coastal areas, and people’s responsibility toward the environment. The interactive format allowed the children not only to observe what was happening but also to actively participate in the performance.
Within the framework of the program, particular attention was paid to making environmental observation accessible to people with different ways of perceiving the world. Thus, inclusivity is viewed not merely as providing an opportunity to participate in an environmental event, but also as ensuring full and equal participation in studying the environment and developing environmental knowledge.
The organization of the initiative at “Sea Breeze” is linked to the resort’s broader environmental agenda. As part of the project, an environmental assessment of the area is being conducted, water and soil quality are being monitored, and the operation of engineering infrastructure is also being supervised.
Source of the news: https://hafta.az/xezer-denizinin-monitorinqi-ucun-yeni-inkluziv-layihe-423783-xeber.html
Comments