1. 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

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

4. 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

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)

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 2005 1. “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 2005 1. “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).

11. 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 1Development of Distant Professional Learning Software for the International Road Transportation Industry Romania, Turkey, Moldova Contract signed by PERMIS 2Development of the EU - BSEC Network for Energy Policy and Research Greece, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine Contract signed by PERMIS 3Development of Sorption-Membrane 'Green' Technology to Utilize Boron from Natural Waters and Wastewaters Ukraine, Turkey, Russia Contract signed by PERMIS 4A system to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in BSEC countries with help of info- communication technologies Russia, Ukraine, Georgia Approved 5Hybrid Catalytic Membrane Reactors for Water Purification Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan Approved 6Hydro and thermodynamic processes in the Black Sea-land-atmosphere system and regional climate. Development of fundamentals of monitoring and forecasting system Approved