A working meeting was held in Tbilisi to share information and experience on floods and forest fires, organized by the Agency and supported by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA)
Hydrometeorology
Organized by the
National Environment Agency and supported by the National Observatory of Athens
(NOA), a working meeting was held to discuss the challenges caused by natural
disasters in the region, the implementation of the European Union’s Earth observation
programme Copernicus information services, and to share information and
experience on floods and wildfires.
The meeting
included both theoretical and practical sessions, during which participants
discussed the practical application of flood and wildfire forecasting services
developed by the European leading center for environmental protection, natural
disaster, and security management (BEYOND), and were introduced to Copernicus
monitoring platforms.
“Georgia is a
country vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards. The increasing frequency
of floods, flash floods, and wildfires is largely driven by the accelerated
impacts of climate change. Mitigating potential damage caused by natural
hazards is a priority for the National Environment Agency. Therefore,
monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems are critically important for
the country, and the use of satellite data provided through the Copernicus
programme is an essential tool for us,” said the Head of the Agency, Elene
Ghubianuri.
The participants
also discussed ways to improve preparedness for natural disasters and raise
awareness in this direction.
Alongside
specialists from the National Environment Agency, the event was attended by
representatives of relevant public institutions, as well as the private and
academic sectors.
