International Center on Water Research in the BSEC Region,A.V. Dumansky Institute of Colloid Chemistry and

Water Chemistry of NAS of Ukraine

PROBLEMS OF ECOLOGICAL SAFETY OF THE BLACK SEA SHELF

(IN CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF REGION)

Director General of the Center,Director of the Institute

Academician Vladyslav Goncharuk

Program/Project Name Dates Financed by Primary Objectives

Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP)

1993- 1996

Global Environmental Facility (GEF)

To make an early start to environmental action and to develop a longer-term Action Plan

Black Sea Environmental Programme Phase II

1997-1998

GEF Consolidation of the Policy Strategy to implement the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan

GEF Black Sea Ecosystem Recovery Project (BSERP)

2000-2006

GEF

To improve ecosystem health of the Black Sea by reducing inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances from land based activities

European River-Ocean System Project (EROS 2000) River Danube - North Western Black Sea

1994-1998

European Union (EU)

To develop an integrated approach to asses the eutrophication and contamination problems

Ecosystem Modeling as a Management Tool for the Black Sea (TU-BLACK SEA)

1996-1998

NATO, Science for Peace Program

To establish a data base management system for environmental and oceanographic data

Wave Climatology of the Turkish Coast: Measurement-Analysis-Modeling (TU-WAVES)

1993-1998

NATO, Science for Peace Program

To improve knowledge on wind/waves over the entire Black Sea and along the Turkish coasts on the other seas and to generate a reliable data bank

Environmental Programmes in the Black Sea Black Sea Region Environmental Programs and Projects

Danube Delta Project 1994-1998

GEF Protection and enhancement of the Ukrainian and Romanian part of Danube delta

Dnipro River Programme 1997-2000

GEF To prepare a Trans-boundary Diagnostic Analysis

Development of the Srtategic Action Plan for the Dnipro River Basin and the Implementation mechanism

2000- 2002

GEF

Improvement of the environment and pollution reduction

Azov Sea Project 1993-1995

The Government of Netherlands

Development of Azov Sea Decision Support System

IOC-Black Sea GOOS a Step Towards Observation and Prediction System (STOPS)

1996-1998

Intergovernmental Oceanographic

Commission (IOC)

To implement basic elements of operational network for observation, oceanographic data exchange

Assessment of the Sediment Flux in Black Sea Mechanisms of Formation, Transformation and Dispersion and Ecological Significance

1996-2000

IOC Identification of the key processes of transformation and sedimentation for assessment of the influence for the ecological status of the Black Sea ecosystem

The Cooperative Marine Science Programme for the Black Sea (CoMSBlack)

April 1991-

ongoing

IOC To establish of a scientific basis for the effective and integrated management of the Black Sea

IAEA "Marine Environmental Assessment of the Black Sea Region" TC Project RER/2/003

1995-2000

International Atomic Energy

Agency

To develop the capacity to assess marine pollution reliability in the Black Sea countries using nuclear techniques

The most important Achievements of the Black Sea Region Environmental Programs and Projects

•  The Black Sea technical networks were established in the different

thematic area•  The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysises were prepared (for Black Sea,

Danube River and Dnipro River)•  The Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the

Black Sea was developed and adopted in October 1996• The National Action Plans for the Black Sea were developed• The Strategic Action Plan for the Danube River Basin was developed and

adopted in December 1994• The National Action Plans were developed by each Danube country• The Strategic Action Plan for the Dnipro River Basin was developed and

adopted• The National Action Plans were developed by each Dnipro country• The national and regional databases and information systems were

developed• The Black Sea Environmental Fund was created• The Public awareness materials were produced and disseminated 

Country Inputs, thousand tons per year

Domestic Industrial Riverine Subtotal

Bulgaria 0.7

0.0

1.9

2.6

Georgia 0.4

0.0

0.0

0.4

Romania 0.3 0.3

11.6

11.6

Russian Federation

0.5

0.0

6.1

6.6

Turkey 2.2

0.1 3.6 5.9

Ukraine 2.6

1 .7

5.7

9.9

Other countries

13.6

Sub Total 6.7

2.0

28.2

50.5

The Estimated Input of Total Phosphorus to the Black Sea from Land-based Sources (Report “State of Environment of the Black Sea, 1996-2000”, Istanbul,

2002)

Country Inputs, thousand tons per year

Domestic Industrial Riverine Subtotal

Bulgaria 2.5 71.0

19.2 92.7

Georgia 1.6 0.0 0.0 1.6

Romania 0.9 44.4 132.0 177.3

Russian Federation

0.4 0.0 62.3 62.7

Turkey 5.4 0.6 32.0 38.0

Ukraine 9.5 31.0 36.3 78.6

Other countries

198.3

Sub Total 20.3 146.9 281.8 647.3

The Estimated Input of Total Nitrogen into the Black Sea from Land-based Sources (Report “State of Environment of the Black Sea, 1996-2000”, Istanbul,

2002)

National efforts and regional - international cooperation brought the first signs of recovery to the Black Sea (Report “State of Environment of the Black Sea, 1996-

2000”, Istanbul, 2002)

• Inputs of pollution from the priority sources of pollution are decreasing

• Inputs of insufficiently treated waters are decreasing

• Number of oil spills and volume of spilled oil show decreasing trends

• Content of nutrients in the marine waters are getting lower, - phosphorus has reached the levels of 60s, although nitrogen is still higher than in 1960s

• Concentrations of trace metals, persistent organic pollutants, radio nuclides do not have a global important and are mostly related to bottom sediments and biota that more likely are accumulated over the past

• The algae bloom are becoming less heavy and less frequent

• The abundance of fodder zooplankton is increasing

• An increase in the stocks of small pelagic fish was reported in the last couple years

These optimistic signals shall not hinder the pursuit of existing problems:

• The above changes are still in the early stages, are unstable. With any additional pressure, they can revert and the environment of the Black Sea would be endangered.

• The Black Sea is still a Sea in Trouble. Algae blooms are still heavy, pollution, although localized, affects biological communities. The restoration of Zernov's Field will take a long time if it is possible at all. Fish stocks of commercially valuable species, such as sturgeons and turbots, suffer from illegal fishing, pollution and destruction of their habitats.

• The process of the recovery of the Black Sea will take a long time and will require implementation of all measures provisioned in the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan as well as future provisions.

• There are gaps and lack of scientific knowledge and information on many processes and phenomena that needed for policy and decision-making.

• The sustainable development of societies and the wellbeing of the coastal population shall become priorities for the governments of the Black Sea Coastal States.

The national and international efforts of the Black Sea coastal states shall be directed at the two targets:

Intermediate target: to prevent the increase of pressures from human activities when transitional economies of the Black Sea coastal states begin to recover;

Strategic target: to achieve environmental conditions in the Black Sea similar to those observed in 1960s.

International Center on Water Research in the BSEC region (ICWR)

Members States of the BSEC: Republic of Albania , Republic of Armenia , Republic of Azerbaijan , Republic of Bulgaria , Georgia , Hellenic Republic , Republic of Moldova , Romania , Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine

Objectives: Coordination and integration of research of the BSEC countries in the field of monitoring of natural and waste waters, developing the up-to-date water purification and treatment technologies, creation of the equipment and materials corresponded.

The international projects being performed

1. “Clean Black Sea Working Group” (contract INCO-CT-2004-003510). Participants: ICWR in the BSEC region (Ukraine), Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of BAS (Republic of Bulgaria), National and Kapoditrian University of Athens (Greece).

2. “Development of the sorption-membrane ”green” technology to utilize boron from natural waters and wastewaters”(contract BSEC/PDF/003/10.2004). Participants: ICWR in the BSEC region (Ukraine), Federal State Unitary Company “UNICHIM&EP”, (Russia), Ege University (Turkey)

The project projected to be performed in 20051. “Hybrid Catalytic Membrane Reactors for Water Purification”.Participants: ICWR in the BSEC region (Ukraine), The Research Center of Applied and Ecological Chemistry at Moldova State University (Moldova), Institute of Chemical Problems of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (Аzerbaijan)The new project prepared in 20051. “Development of Ecological Risk Assessment Methodology occurs by the toxic aerosol substances being specifically enriched in the marine coastal recreation environment”. Participants: ICWR in the BSEC region (Ukraine), State Oceanographic Institute, (Russia), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography (Greece).

PROJECT PROPOSALS FOR BSEC FINANCING THAT HAVE BEEN FORWARDED BY THE BSEC WORKING GROUPS TO THE COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS

 

 

 

 

  TITLE OF PROJECT PROPOSAL 

PARTICIPATIN COUNTRIES

COMMENTS  

1 Development of Distant Professional Learning Software for the International Road Transportation Industry

Romania, Turkey, Moldova

Contract signed by PERMIS

2 Development of the EU - BSEC Network for Energy Policy and Research

Greece, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine

Contract signed by PERMIS

3 Development of Sorption-Membrane 'Green' Technology to Utilize Boron from Natural Waters and Wastewaters

Ukraine, Turkey, Russia

Contract signed by PERMIS

4 A system to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in BSEC countries with help of info-communication technologies

Russia, Ukraine, Georgia

Approved

5 Hybrid Catalytic Membrane Reactors for Water Purification

Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan

Approved

6 Hydro and thermodynamic processes in the Black Sea-land-atmosphere system and regional climate. Development of fundamentals of monitoring and forecasting system

  Approved