Reversing Declines in the Health of the Black Sea Marea E. Hatziolos, Environment Department, The World Bank Update of the GEF-World Bank Investment Fund for Nutrient Reduction A programmatic approach to address transboundary water pollution in the Danube River and Black Sea Angela Armstrong, The World Bank GEF Focal Point Sub-Regional Workshop Istanbul, April 14-15, 2010

2 GEF Strategic Partnership for the Danube/Black Sea Established in 2001 by the riparian countries with the cooperation of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank, UNDP, UNEP and other financiers Initial commitment of US$95 million from the GEF Objective: Pollution Control and Nutrient Reduction in the Danube River and Black Sea Incentive: Meeting EU Water Quality Directive - a condition for EU accession by eligible riparians Program covers all 18 countries of the Danube River-Black Sea basin Partnership comprised of three components: Danube GEF-UNDP Regional Project, GEF-WB Investment Fund for Nutrient Reduction, and GEF-UNDP Black Sea Ecosystem.

3 Introduction to the Black Sea Its name derives from the deep green of its nutrient laden waters, enriched by the effluent of three major rivers – the Danube, the Don, and the Dnieper, which together drain nearly 1/3 of Europe The most isolated sea in the world with its only connection to other marine water bodies through the Bosphorus Straits (very vulnerable to pressure from land-based human activity) The catchment area of the Black Sea is six times larger than its surface with the Danube being its main tributary. It is extremely important for the economies, employment and health of local populations:  it can sustain fisheries of at least 350,000 tons per year (enough to feed 16 million people of the coastal zone and six million guests)  it can accommodate 5-6m tourists who would inject a billion dollars into the coastal economy per year

June 3, Environmental Degradation In the 1970s and 1980s, the Black Sea ecosystem collapsed as a consequence of eutrophication caused by discharges of nutrients from agricultural activities, and from domestic and industrial sources In ,000 km² – or 80% – of the northwest shelf bed was considered to be effectively dead. Between 1973 and 1990, losses were estimated at 60m tons of bottom animals including 5m tons of fish Native species were destroyed by an aggressive exotic comb jelly, introduced through ballast waters of ships from the North Atlantic Deteriorating health of coastal populations: over 21,000 cases of serious waterborne infections a year  6 coastal countries contributed 70% of the total amount of the substances flowing to the sea as waste from human activities, while 30% from 11 countries enter via the Danube River

5 The WB-GEF Investment Fund Combination of GEF grant (US$70m), World Bank loan, government, and other donor resources (US$208m) to catalyze investments and accelerate action by other stakeholders Types of projects eligible for financing: Restoration of wetlands that reduce nutrients discharge or loads Reform and improvement of agriculture and land management practices, with impact on nutrient use and/or non-point discharges through run-off Wastewater treatment in communities and industries, for reduction of nutrient discharges

WB-GEF Projects Env Infrastructure $4.6M GEF out of $9.9M Agri Pollution Control $4.95M GEF out of $10.74 M Nutrient Reduction $12.5M GEF out of $32M Agri Pollution Control $5M GEF out of $20M Water Quality Protection $4.3M GEF out of $15.7M Danube Pollution Reduction $9M GEF out of $22M Agri Pollution Control $5.25M GEF out of $10.8M Integrated Nutrient Reduction $5.5M GEF out of $81.6M Wetlands Restoration & Nutrient Reduction $7.5M GEF out of $13.3M Watershed Rehabilitation& APC $7M GEF out of $45M

8 Achievements Oxygen levels are at near saturation in many areas Invasive alien species have been curtailed In Moldova, 100 private farmers and agro-processors have adopted nutrient reduction technologies and three villages (more than 668 households) operating communal manure platforms. Average annual nutrient reduction losses: 60 tons for N and 40 tons for P. In Bulgaria, a total of 4,035 ha of wetlands restored (almost twice project target of 2,300ha) In Romania, nutrient discharge into surface and ground waters was reduced by15 % for N and 27% for P by 2006.

Dead Zones By 2007, the “dead zone” in the Western Black Sea was eliminated

10 Improving Environment As a result of all activities in the last 15 years, N N decreased about 20% and P almost 50% in the Danube Basin/Black Sea, reaching the levels of 60s Inputs of pollution from hot spots, including inadequately treated waste waters are decreasing Number of oil spills and volume of spilled oil show decreasing trends Algae bloom are becoming less heavy and less frequent The biomass and abundance of Mnemiopsis leidyi has been reduced following the introduction of Beroye ovata, which feeds on this destructive species The abundance of native zooplankton is increasing Number of species has doubled, and biomass of small pelagics has increased to levels recorded in mid Reaffirmation of the six Black Sea Coastal states to act in concert to assist in the continued recovery of the Black Sea (April 2009)

Benefits of Regional Program Approach Regional support and peer network Transfer of experiences and best practices