1. Experience of river basin management approach for confidence building and promotion of ecosystems’ interests in divided country (Moldova)
Ilya Trombitsky & Ivan Ignatiev
Eco-TIRAS / Ecospectrum-Bender
Moldova & Transdniester

2. Institutionalizing of river basin NGOs community – a response
Eco-TIRAS – Dniester transboundary river basin association of NGOs – was established on the model of US river keepers in 1999 – reaction to reluctance authorities to manage the river sustainably.
Functions:
- reflection and promotion of environmental interests of river basin population;
- strengthening of river basin NGO community;
- promotion of IRBM, including basin agreement.
Current Membership - >50 from Moldova, incl. TR, and Ukraine

3. Principles of Eco-TIRAS activities
Professionalism and expertise
Approach to a whole basin and benefits for a whole basin
No national preferences
No competition with NGOs-members
Political neutrality and public benefit
Cooperation with state authorities and transboundary structures, but critical approach
Involvement of Transnistrian region to basin cooperation – confidence building via joint environmental actions

4. Some Actions
7 river basin conferences of stakeholders (1998, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013), each 140+ participants
10 other topic regional conferences, from the 6 – in Transdniester
Initiation of transboundary treaty
Representation of Civil Society in frames of ‘Dniester I’, ‘Dniester II’ and ‘Dniester III’ projects of OSCE, UNECE and ENVSEC
Environmental education and IRBM promotion
Numerous publications (>50 books on Dniester environment)
Wide public awareness campaign

5. Environmental education and confidence building achievements
Construction of really independent civil society sector in TR (non-GoNGOs) in conflicting zone (20 eco-NGOs) and their integration into pan-European NGOs activities and processes
Eco-TIRAS Dniester Youth Summer School ( ), more then 560 youngsters (16-22), equal representation of MD and TR
Eco-TIRAS kayak expeditions (three per year), one week duration, 200 km length, participants, equal representation from MD and TR. Target groups – secondary school teachers, university students, univ. lecturers, NGOs, journalists
River Festivals (second Sunday of July),
Acad. L.S. Berg commemoration conferences with publishing of proceedings – 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016
Northern Black Sea regional conferences (in cooperation with Tiraspol University) – 2002, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014
Promotion of WFD and EU Association Agreement both in MD and TR
Cooperation of farmers MD and TR

6. Challenges Lack of at least moral support from national governments
Reluctance to go forward (ratify Dniester Treaty and promote its implementation)
EU bureaucracy (support of actions visibility instead of confidence building efficiency). EU does not support NGOs registered in TR!
Weak involvement of academics to Dniester issues and lack of objective approach to impact factors evaluation and promotion of environmental values
Low priority of environment in national agendas

7. Lessons learnt
“US” model of “river keepers” NGO based on river basin approach could be efficient also in pan-Europe and needs reproduction for other transboundary basins (Neman project for now). Sustainability of such association does not depend from funding, but from initial internal construction principles
OSCE by support of confidence building NGO measures demonstrated “cost-benefit” efficiency of cooperation with civic association
Efficiency of environmentally oriented activities for water management and confidence building
Efficiency of NGOs involvement in in transboundary river basins projects. Example: consortium of OSCE – UNECE – ENVSEC with NGOs involvement has demonstrated its high efficiency in promotion of IRBM

9. Environmental education and confidence building – youth summer schools and kayak expeditions MD+TR

10. Expedition along the river: MD+TR (students, univ
Expedition along the river: MD+TR (students, univ. lecturers, NGOs, journalists MD + TR)

11. Scientific publications unite MD and TR academics

12. Who helps us to work:

13. Thank you for attention!