Submitted by Albina Mamedova on Wed, 01/10/2025 - 13:27
Two ongoing conservation projects supported by the Sansom Conservation Leadership Alumni Fund have reported progress on their initial objectives, demonstrating the diverse approaches alumni are taking to address environmental challenges through community engagement and policy development.
The Kumisi Lake restoration project in Georgia has established operational foundations during its first six months of implementation. Led by Conservation Leadership alumna Albina Mamedova, the initiative focuses on preserving a wetland that hosts variety of bird species along the Black Sea/Mediterranean Flyway.
The team secured a ~600 square metre plot near Kumisi Lake following an extended search process. Systematic bird monitoring has begun, with two seasonal surveys now completed as part of ongoing baseline data collection. Initial ecological assessments, including a hydrologist's site visit, have provided early insights into the lake's environmental conditions. Mammalian fauna monitoring using camera traps has been established across different areas around the lake, whilst GIS mapping and drone survey preparations are underway. Community engagement continues through local coordination efforts. The project is currently seeking additional funding to establish a field station on the acquired land, which is needed to support ongoing activities around the lake.
In the Galápagos Islands, Conservation Leadership Alumni Chloe King and Lucía Norris have been working with the Galapagos Conservation Trust and local authorities and actors to integrate principles of regeneration into the ecotourism model of the islands through policy engagement and stakeholder coordination.
Their initiative addresses tourism management challenges in an archipelago supporting approximately 30,000 residents through tourism-dependent economies. The team contributed to the government's Galápagos State of Conservation Report to UNESCO, developing a 36-action Tourism Action Plan across six strategic areas. This work was commended by a July 2025 World Heritage Committee decision that recognised progress towards regenerative tourism models whilst keeping the islands off the “at risk” list.