Keynote speakers
Prof. Yossi Leshem
Country: Israel
Organization: The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Tel Aviv University
Position: Professor Emeritus
Presentation topic: Migrating Birds Know No Boundaries Multidisciplinary Aspects
E-mail: yossile@tauex.tau.ac.il
Nika Paposhvili
Country: Georgia
Organization: Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology –
Researcher/PhD Student; NGO “GARIELI”
Position: Director
Presentation topic: Safeguarding Velvet SCOTERS: Diverting Duck from Imminent
Extinction in the Caucasus
E-mail: nika.paposhvili.1@iliauni.edu.ge
Giorgi Iankoshvili
Country: Georgia
Organization: Ilia State University; DEPARTMENT: Institute of Ecology
Position: Researcher
Presentation topic: Reptiles and Amphibians of Georgia
E-mail: giorgi.iankoshvili.1@iliauni.edu.ge
Brecht De Meulenaer
Country: Belgium
Organization: Private
Position: Owner of Nanok (Nature and adventure guiding), wildlife guide, author, Biologist
Presentation topic: Presentation of the brand-new book: Wildlife in Georgia, explore the country beyond Batumi
E-mail: brechtdemeulenaer@gmail.com
Chris van der Heijden
Country: Netherlands
Organization: Birdingplaces
Position: Director/founder
Presentation topic: How Birdingplaces.eu within 5 years became a platform used by a million birders
E-mail: chris.vanderheijden@birdingplaces.eu
Tomas Axén Haraldsson
Country: Sweden
Organization: Ornithological Society of the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia (OSME)
Position: Youth Development Officer
Presentation topic: Youth Development and capacity building work done by OSME since the launch of the YDF five years ago
E-mail: tomasharaldsson@hotmail.com
Izolda Machutadze
Country: Georgia
Organization: Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University
Position: Tenure scientist
Presentation topic: Outstanding Universal value of UNESCO WNH “Colchis rainforest and wetlands”
E-mail: izoldamatchutadze@bsu.edu.ge
Tohar Tal
Country: Netherlands
Organization: Batumi Raptor Count
Position: Chairman of the Board
Presentation topic: Batumi Raptor Count: 15 years of raptor migration monitoring in the Batumi bottleneck
E-mail: tohar.tal@batumiraptorcount.org
Davit Dekanoidze
Country: Georgia
Organization: Ilia State University, Ecology Institute
Position: Researcher
Presentation topic: Black Sea Whales
E-mail: davit.dekanoidze@iliauni.edu.ge
Levan Duduchava
Country: Georgia
Organization: Georgian Falcon Center
Position: Falconer
Presentation topic: Falconry
E-mail: georgianfalconcenter@gmail.com