Dr. Vasyl Prydatko, ULRMC Specialist for Biodiversity and Ecology, was named as one of the ten regional members of the Regional Ornithological Monitoring (ROM) Executive Board, operating under the auspices of the newly established Sea of Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Union.

One of the primary goals of the Union is to pool information resources and expertise generated to date in the area of wild bird conservation and migration studies in southern Ukraine and to build up reliable data exchange.

ROM regulations outline how to make bird monitoring more efficient and provides for the application of advanced methods, including GIS tools. The regulations also grant ULRMC the right to provide advice and to deliver technical support in ornithological studies, together with a group of other member agencies led by the Sea of Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station.

Addressing the first conference of the Union, held on February 15-17 at the Mechnikov National University of Odesa, Dr. Prydatko demonstrated ULRMC's achievements in using remote sensing and GIS applications in meeting biodiversity challenges.

For further details about Sea of Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Union and ULRMC's biodiversity activities, please contact: Dr. Vasyl Prydatko, ULRMC Specialist for Biodiversity and Ecology.