The 2^nd issue of the project newsletter is online. In this issue you can find:

• SenSPa Models Development and Validation
• SenSPa Products
• SenSPa Toοl Development Completed
• SenSPa Promotion Video
• SenSPa Leaflet Final Version
• SenSPa Closing Event
• SenSPa Training Event

Highlights of the SenSPa tool can be summarized as follows:

• A cost-efficient, web-based service.
• Targets multiple customer segments
• User friendly interface
• Offers a wide range of features and pasture related products:
  • - Land Cover/Plant Cover
  • - Pastures Productivity/Forage Production
  • - Grazing Capacity
  • - Pastures Condition
  • - Grazing Calculator
  • - Spectral indices
  • - Statistical analysis
  • - Use of updated satellite data.

Following the Closing Event, a Training Event was held in Baku on January 16, 2020, organized jointly by kartECO (Prime Contractor) and the Agro Research Center (host of the event). The aim of the event was to introduce the SenSPa tool and products to stakeholders and experts through a two-hours hands-on training session. Stakeholders and experts got acquainted with the use of the SenSPa tool.

The Closing Event was held in Baku on January 15, 2020, organized jointly by kartECO (Prime Contractor) and the Agro Research Center (host of the event). The aim of the event was to present the results and products of Senspa project to various stakeholders. International and regional stakeholders (decision-makers, policy-makers, public and private organizations, the scientific community, etc.) and the public are invited to attend this one-day event.

The final promotional leaflet of the SenSPa tool can be downloaded from here .

A video has been produced in order to promote the visibility of the SenSPa tool to a wide range of audience. The video is available for viewing on the SenSPa web portal, social media platforms (facebook and twitter) and youtube.

The 1^st issue of the project newsletter is online. In this issue you can find:

• Welcome Letter
• SenSPa launch and Kick-off Meeting - Teleconference
• SenSPa Opening/Stakeholder Engagement Event
• SenSPa Users Requirements Questionnaire
• SenSPa Field Campaign
• SenSPa liaison with MoA and IBiS
• SenSPa system configuration completed

Field measurements in the summer pastures of Ismayilli and Shemakhi rayons are completed. Plant cover, species composition and forage production measurements, as well as a visual assessment of the condition of the pastures were implemented based on the field measurement protocols of SenSPa. The field measurements in the summer pastures were implemented at late July - early August 2019.

The implementation of the SenSPa field measurements in the summer pastures marked the completion of SenSPa Field Campaign.

IBiS (Integrated Biodiversity Management, South Caucasus) is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). IBiS is developing strategies to support the sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the South Caucasus.

GIZ IBiS together with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) supported the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan (MoA) in the mapping of grassland (grassland/non-grassland map based on Sentinel imagery) and the assessment of productivity of pastures and meadows (based on Sentinel and Landsat imagery). To further enhance the knowledge and accuracy of the productivity and degradation estimation of grassland in Azerbaijan, biomass data from the field (in-situ data) needs to be collected and assessed. Therefore, the MoA, IBiS and SenSPa project agreed to join forces on the collection of biomass in two pilot districts (Ismayilli and Shemakhi) to increase the number of plots and grazing exclosure cages and thus, the total number of field measurements. SenSPa has already developed an implementation plan for the biomass collection field campaign, that will be further supported by IBiS though a supplementary field measurement campaign.

Field measurements in the winter pastures of Ismayilli and Shemakhi rayons are completed. Plant cover, species composition and forage production were measured based on the field measurement protocols of SenSPa. An assessment of the condition of the pastures was also conducted. The winter pastures field measurements were implemented during May 2019. The establishment of plots and grazing exclosure cages in summer pastures of Ismayilli and Shemakhi rayons followed the completion of the field measurements in the winter pastures.

The SenSPa field measurements campaign has started with the establishment of plots and grazing exclosure cages in the winter pastures of Ismayilli and Shemakhi rayons. All establishment works are expected to be completed until mid April 2019. Field measurements in the winter pastures of Ismayilli and Shemakhi rayons are expected to start in May 2019.

The Opening/Stakeholder Engagement Event was held in Baku on March 6, 2019, organized jointly by kartECO (Prime Contractor) and the Agro Research Center (host of the event).

There were opening speeches of by Dr. Apostolos Karteris, Director of kartECO, Mr. Togrul Jafarov, Deputy Director of Agro Research Center, and Mr. Rainer Freund, Programme Manager in EU Delegation to Azerbaijan.

SenSPa project has launched!

The kick-off meeting with the ESA Technical Officer was held via teleconference on January 22, 2019.