Environmental Management and Protection of the Black Sea: the Black Sea Environmental Programme

Summary:

The Black Sea Programme is a regional programme based on Agenda 21 insofar as it strives to protect its natural resources and the restoration of the ecosystem.

Main objectives are:

• to improve the capacity of Black Sea countries to assess and manage the environment
• to support the development and implementation of environmental strategies
• to facilitate the preparation of sound environmental investments

Problem Overview:

Environmental challenges facing the Black Sea ecosystem

Background:

BSEP is based on the Odessa Ministerial Declaration, 1993 and the Bucharest Convention 1994, signed by all six concerned environmental ministers.

Partners:

UNDP/GEF, UNEP, World Bank, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia; the Netherlands, Austria, Canada, Japan, Norway, France, WTO, IAEA, NATO Science for Stability Programme and the EU EROS and CoMsBlack programmes, EU-Tacis, EU-Phare, UNOPS.

Activities:

A total of 88 national and regional thematic assessments were made to examine the environmental challenges facing the Black Sea ecosystem.

This assessment was followed by a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), a highly technical document that summarizes the main environmental dilemmas, root causes of degradation and recommends necessary actions to be taken.

Based on the TDA the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (BS-SAP) was developed by the Black Sea Commission Secretariat of the Black Sea Environmental Programme and was signed by the six Ministers of Environment in 1996.

Constraining Factors:

Implementation and establishment of the SAP has been constrained by the severe economic downturn in the region following the break-up of the Soviet Union. In addition, the significant contribution of trans-boundary rivers - such as the Danube and recognition that restoration of the Black Sea will require the combined efforts of the 17 countries in the Black Sea basin, has highlighted the need for a 'basin-wide approach' which is now being undertaken with support from the GEF.

Results and Replicability:

Pollution Monitoring: first pilot study of chemical pollution for the Black Sea; pollution studies completed and reviewed by 98 Black Sea scientists resulting in publishing of the “State of Pollution of the Black Sea” ; land based surveys completed, the Black Sea Mussel Watch pilot programme coordinated in each of the six countries to assess areas with high pollution.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) tool:

uses an integrated decision making process supported by coastal assessment tools to ensure sustainable use of resources, mitigate users’ conflicts, protect biodiversity, and restore disrupted ecosystems.

Biodiversity:

The Black Sea regional red Data Book identified 120 endangered species; the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan - 1996, included the adoption of a Regional Strategy for the review of conservation areas every 5 yrs; the Black Sea Landscape Strategy is in progress; this will provide maps and guidelines for the management and protection of landscapes; book: Biological Diversity in the Black Sea: A Study of Change and Decline, published 1997.

Fisheries management:

organized a survey at major fishing ports and cooperatives to collect data from 1975-1995 for information on exploited fish population and economic circumstances of fishery communities; review status of aquaculture industry in the region.

Emergency response:

BSEP has helped enhance national and regional capacities to plan for and respond to pollution emergencies, such as oil spills, within the context of the Bucharest Convention.

Data management and information tools:

A variety of data management and information tools have been created to provide scientific and technical information relating to various aspects of the Black sea ecosystem (Black Sea Information System Database; Black Sea Geographic Information System (GIS); Black Sea Technical Series; PCU Library; BSEP Website: http://www.dominet.com.tr/blacksea/index.htm; “Saving the Black Sea” newsletter.

Capacity building:

BSEP helped enhance regional and national cooperation by mobilizing experts to design a common strategy. It scheduled training workshops and in-service training and developed data management tools and public awareness material. It further helped NGOs to take an active role in environmental management issues.

Submitted by:

Radu Minnea, BSEP-PSU
Tel: 90212 227-9927
Email: blacksea@dominet.in.com.tr