GEF Strategic Partnership on the Black Sea Danube Basin
Stocktaking Meeting (November 2004)
REPORT ON UNEP ASSISTANCE
IN THE BLACK SEA BASIN
1.
OVERVIEW OF UNEP ASSISTANCE IN THE BLACK SEA (BSC)
1.1
Introduction
As of 2003 and in the context of the first phase of the GEF-BSERP project, UNEP agreed to assist in
the implementation of objective 2 of the project which deals with: Regional actions for improving land-
based activities and legislation to control eutrophication and for tackling emergent problems. This
objective included:
· 2.1.a Recommendations for the draft LBA Protocol and joint facilitation (with BSC) of
negotiations of the new Protocol.
· 2.1.b. Joint study (GPA Secretariat/BSC Secretariat) of improving the implementation of the
GPA in the Black Sea.
· 2.2. Evaluation of future threats to the Black Sea, the social and economic root causes of
environmental degradation and the cost effectiveness of interventions to correct and emergent
transboundary problems.
UNEP/GPA signed an Inter-Agency Agreement with UNOPS to undertake activities 2.1.a and 2.1.b.
1.2
Reasons for developing for revising the LBS Protocol to the Black Sea Convention and
developing the Work Programme to Enhance the Implementation of the LBS Protocol Taking
into Consideration the GPA (BS WP GPA)
The Bucharest Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution has four Protocols. One
of the protocols is the Protocol on Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment against Pollution
from Land-Based Sources that was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 1994 (LBS Protocol). This
Convention with its protocols established a legal framework for cooperation among the six Black Sea
countries, but did not set a timetable and work plan for its implementation.
In order to assist the governments of the Black Sea countries to implement the Convention, with its
protocols and declaration, the Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP) was established (1992)
with core funding from the GEF and other donors, particularly the European Commission. This
programme resulted in an analysis of the causes and effects of Black Sea degradation and in signing in
1996 of the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (BS SAP),
which details the measures necessary for protecting the Black Sea and controlling and abating
pollution during the next two decades. The results of the implementation of the BS SAP were assessed
in the document "Implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of
the Black Sea: 1996-2001 (BSC, 2002)".
GEF projects enabled the identification of environmental problems threatening the Black Sea marine
and coastal ecosystems. The results of the studies published during the execution of the GEF projects
clearly demonstrate the overriding significance of eutrophication as the transboundary issue having
greatest long-term impact on the Black Sea.
In accordance with the outcome of the previous interventions in the region, the Black Sea Commission
(BSC) and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River Basin (ICDRB) have
received GEF funding with a view to further develop legal, policy and technical measures to reduce
the discharges of nutrients and other toxic substances in the Danube and in the Black Sea itself. It was
agreed that the long-term objective for all Black Sea basin countries is to take measures to reduce
nutrient levels and other hazardous substances to such levels necessary to permit Black Sea
ecosystems to recover to similar conditions as those observed in the 1960s. As an intermediate
objective, all countries in the Black Sea basin should take urgent control measures, in order to avoid
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that discharges of nitrogen and phosphorus to the Black Sea exceed the levels observed in 1997. These
are the long-term and medium term objectives of the Black Sea Coastal States and the GEF Black Sea
Ecosystem Recovery Project (BSERP), established on the basis of the conclusions of the Joint ad-hoc
Working Group between the BSC and the ICPDR (1999).
2.a. Revised LBS Protocol
As indicated above, work conducted during the PDF-B phase of the project showed that there is a
significant gap between the existing LBS Protocol and the requirements for (a), meeting the goals of
limiting nutrient loads to the Black Sea to their 1997 levels and (b), implementing the Global
Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA)
which was adopted in 1995 by 108 Governments and the European Commission.
It was also noted that the EU water policy (Water Framework Directive, 2000/60/EC), which is a
prerogative for three accession countries in the region (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey) needed to be taken
into account while reviewing the Protocol, also other EU relevant directives such as the Urban Waste
Water Treatment Directive, 91/271/EEC and Nitrates Directive, 91/676/EEC.
The WFD was developed in 2000 as a response to the increasing pressure for fundamental reform of
the EC water policy, which was highly fragmented in terms of objectives and means. The WFD is
based on a holistic approach and develops many new elements: it extends water protection to all
waters; it adopts river basins as water management units; it combines the use of quality objectives with
the one of emission limit values; it promotes measures on quality to serve the purpose of ensuring
good water quality; it established the principle of the recovery of the costs of water services, etc.
In addition, the EC Marine Strategy is one of the priority actions for the promotion of sustainable use
of the seas and conservation of marine ecosystems, including sea beds, estuarine and coastal areas,
paying special attention to sites holding a high biodiversity value and is based on the ecosystem
approach.
2.b. Reasons for developing the GPA BS WP
Again, as indicated above, work conducted during the PDF-B phase of the project showed that there is
a significant gap between the existing LBS Protocol and the requirements for (a), meeting the goals of
limiting nutrient loads to the Black Sea to their 1997 levels and (b), implementing the Global
Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA)
which was adopted in 1995 by 108 Governments and the European Commission.
The consultative process undertook by UNEP to improve the implementation of the GPA in the region
resulted in the proposal to formulate a Work Programme to Enhance the Implementation of the LBS
Protocol taking into Consideration the GPA Objectives.
1.3
Link between the revised LBS Protocol and the BS WP GPA
Given the close inter-linkages between the revised LBS Protocol and the BS WP GPA, UNEP
developed a common process for their preparation.
UNEP, in coordination with the Black Sea Permanent Secretariat facilitated an open and participatory
process.
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In brief, the process included consultations, collection of information and working meetings as
follows:
·
Exchange of views during the Second Meeting of the Project Steering Committee of the Black
Sea Ecosystem Recovery Project, 18-19 September 2003, Istanbul, Turkey (organized by GEF-
BSERP);
·
Exchange of views during the Tenth Meeting of the Commission on the Protection of the Black
Sea Against Pollution, 27-29 October 2003, Istanbul, Turkey (organized by the Black Sea
Commission Permanent Secretariat);
·
Consultative meeting on the revision of the Black Sea Land-based Sources of Pollution Protocol,
GPA BS WP GPA for the Black Sea, the EU Water Framework Directive and the EU Marine
Strategy, 20-21 January 2004, Istanbul, Turkey (organized by UNEP,
http://www.gpa.unep.org/meetings/black_sea/default.htm);
·
Collection of up-to-date information relevant to the formulation of the Revised LBS Protocol and
the BS WP GPA, through the direct and full involvement of the national focal points (members of
the LBS Advisory Group of the Black Sea Commission and the Black Sea Permanent Secretariat;
the reports are available at: http://www.unep.ch/roe);
·
Second Consultative meeting on the revision of the Black Sea Land-based Sources of Pollution
Protocol, GPA BS WP GPA for the Black Sea, the EU Water Framework Directive and the EU
Marine Strategy, 26-27 May 2004, Istanbul, Turkey (organized by UNEP,
http://www.unep.ch/roe);
·
Joint Meeting of the Advisory Group on Pollution Control from Land-based Sources and the
Working Group on Water Framework Directive, 7-9 July 2004, Istanbul, Turkey (organized by
the Black Sea Commission Permanent Secretariat);
·
Two working meetings among the international consultants and UNEP representatives at the
UNEP/GPA Coordination Office.
The outcome of this process was an agreed proposal by national experts (members of the LBS
Advisory Group and the WFD ad hoc Group and Activity Center based in Istanbul, and the Permanent
Secretariat of the BSC) on the revised LBS Protocol and the BS WP GPA. The EC participated in all
the consultative meetings.
These documents will be subject to approval by the Black Sea Commissioners at the 11th Meeting of
the Black Sea Commission to be held in Istanbul 1-3 November 2004.
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2.
OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES OF THE GLOBAL
PROGRAMME OF ACTIONS FOR THE BLACK SEA
As a non-binding global agreement, the GPA reflects the resolve of States to address the serious
impacts of land-based sources of pollution and physical degradation of the coastal and marine
environments. The GPA aims at preventing the degradation of the marine environment from land-
based activities by facilitating the realization of the duty of States to preserve and protect the marine
environment. It is an action-oriented programme with an overarching goal to address the negative
effects of land-based activities upon the coastal and marine environment that cause or exacerbate poor
human health, poverty, economic losses and food insecurity. The GPA assists States, individually or
jointly, in taking concrete actions that give tangible results within their respective policies, priorities
and resources.
The GPA objectives for regional cooperation are to strengthen existing regional cooperative
arrangements and, where necessary, create new ones to support effective action, strategies and
programmes. Regional cooperation and arrangements are crucial for successful actions to protect the
marine environment from land-based activities. The Regional Programmes of Action are important
implementation tools, supporting the countries' compliance towards the fulfilment of their regional
agreements or protocols relevant to land-based activities.
The LBS Protocol was extensively examined and the consultation process lead by UNEP resulted in a
proposal that includes:
·
New provisions on the Protocol Area and Protocol Application in order to include the hydrological
basin of he BS
·
New definitions (e.g. point sources, diffuse sources, most appropriate technology, etc)
·
New principles (e.g. precautionary principle, polluter pays principle, environmental impact
assessment, integrated water and coastal areas management, public participation, etc)
·
Modified provisions on guidelines and standards (e.g. on pollution control)
·
New provision on pollution from point sources
·
New provision on pollution from diffuse sources
·
Modified provision on monitoring
·
New provision on environmental impact assessment
·
New provision on action plans, programmes and measures
·
New provision on transboundary pollution
·
New provision on access to information and public participation
·
New provision on cooperation and assistance
·
New provision on exchange of information and notification
·
New provision funding
·
Expanded provision on compliance and enforcement
·
New annexes on activities and substances of concern, diffuse sources of pollution from agriculture
and forestry, pollution transported through the atmosphere, authorisations and discharges and best
available techniques and best environmental practice
The BS WP GPA is directed to improve the implementation of the existing LBS Protocol as well as to
promote new measures in light of the current process of revision of the LBS Protocol.
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There are no obligations under the GPA since this is not a legally binding instrument. The GPA
provides tools to address pollution originated in land such as: National Programmes of Action, guidance
on municipal wastewater management, integrated water and coastal areas management, public
awareness and outreach, a clearing-house mechanism, amongst others.
On the other hand, the annexes to the LBS Protocol could reflect such commitments. It was agreed that
those commitments should be discussed at the national level before reflecting them in the revised LBS
Protocol. To this end, the proposed revised LBS Protocol outlines relevant annexes.
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3
THE REVISED LBA PROTOCOL AND THE RELATED WORK
PROGRAMME FOR THE BSC
Introduction
The general objective of the BS WP GPA is to facilitate national action and regional cooperation in
the development and implementation of activities that will directly contribute to the implementation of
the Black Sea Protocol on Land-Based Sources.
The GPA objectives for regional cooperation are to strengthen existing regional cooperative
arrangements and, where necessary, create new ones to support effective action, strategies and
programmes.
The BS WP GPA benefits from the activities undertaken and lessons learned in other components of
the BSERP Implementation Plan. The structure of the BS WP GPA follows the structure of the GPA
(covering all components of the GPA) as they pertain to the LBS Protocol.
In order to prepare the BS WP GPA, numerous documents and persons were consulted. The main
sources of relevant information were:
·
Responses to the GPA and LBS Questionnaires, submitted by the NFPs of all Black Sea countries
and cleared by BS Commissioners (prepared between February-April 2004);
·
Responses to the GPA and LBS Questionnaires, submitted by the BSC Secretariat (prepared
between February-April 2004);
·
Implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black
Sea: 1996-2001 (BSC, 2002);
·
Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (BS SAP);
·
Odessa Ministerial Declaration on the Protection of the Black Sea Environment (1993);
·
Implementing the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment
from Land-Based Activities: Progress, Barriers and Opportunities. A Compilation of National and
Regional Reports (GPA, 2002);
·
National Reports of Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Turkey and the Ukraine for the Intergovernmental
Review Meeting for the GPA, Nov. 2001;
·
Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based
Activities (UNEP, 1995);
·
Numerous documents produced in the framework of the BSC and BSERP;
·
Numerous policy and legal instruments such as the EU Water Framework Directive, those relating
to the process of producing the EU Marine Strategy, those addressing the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation target on integrated river basin management and those on DABLAS, amongst
others;
·
Consultations with members of the BSERP PIU, BSC Secretariat, GPA Office, UNEP ROE, EC,
and representatives of BS Countries; and
·
Comparison of Activities Proposed under the BS WP GPA and BSERP Phase 2 (Table prepared
by BSERP PIU).
The combined above sources provided policy guidance and hundreds of concrete proposals for
activities; each of them was considered when selecting activities to be included in the BS WP GPA.
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Criteria for the selection of activities included in the BS WP GPA
In order to select the activities that have been included in the proposed BS LBA WP for the
implementation of the Black Sea LBS Protocol the following criteria were applied:
·
Relevance to the LBS Protocol and the GPA;
·
Relevance to the BS SAP and NSAPs;
·
Relevance to the programmes of BSC and BSERP; and
·
Feasibility of the implementation of a particular activity in the next 5 years.
The BS WP GPA
The BS WP GPA is intended to facilitate nationa l action and regional cooperation in the
implementation of the Black Sea LBS Protocol, through the identification of problem areas and issues,
the setting of priorities, and the development of measures to prevent, reduce and control the
degradation of the marine environment. It also provides a process for developing programmes of
action for the implementation of the LBS Protocol tailored to national and regional needs.
The proposed Black Sea LBA BS WP GPA for the implementation of the Black Sea LBS Protocol is
summarized in section 5 (perspectives). This programme contains activities that are proposed to be
implemented in the period from 2005 to 2007 and was prepared on the basis of available sources of
information and criteria for selection indicated above.
The BS WP GPA will have a chance to be effective only if it will be closely coordinated with relevant
activities of the BSC, BSERP, EC, Danube and Dniepr Projects, as well as other relevant projects.
The success, level of implementation and sustainability of the BS WP GPA in a given country will
largely depend on the availability of a strong and coordinated institutional structure and on the
availability of resources, including human and financial resources.
In order to assess the situation in each of the Black Sea Countries relevant to the GPA a draft
Questionnaire "Situation in a Black Sea Country Relevant to the GPA", was presented at the
Consultative Meeting on the Revision of the Black Sea LBS Protocol, GPA BS WP GPA for the Black
Sea, EU Water Framework Directive and EU Marine Strategy, Istanbul, 20-21 January 2004 (the
report is available at http://www.gpa.unep.org/meetings/black_sea/default.htm). Participants to the
consultation included Black Sea Commissioners from Bulgaria, Georgia and Turkey, representatives
of all Black Sea Countries, BSERP, BSC Secretariat, UNEP, EC, GEF Danube Project and NGOs.
When submitting completed questionnaires, National Focal Points (members of the LBS Advisory
Group of the Black Sea Commission) also submitted final reports and relevant opinions expressed in
their reports were:
·
Most of the approached experts were familiar with the GPA and there was great interest in its
implementation (Bulgaria);
·
Common opinion among experts was the necessity of integrated actions and information
exchange among all responsible institutions at the national and international level regarding the
implementation of the GPA (Bulgaria);
·
Experts were of the opinion that most important problems are public and ecosystem health; and
coastal and marine resources (Georgia);
·
Sewage; oil (hydrocarbons); nutrient and litter were considered as major contaminants (Georgia
and Turkey); and
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·
Wastewater collection and lack of treatment plants; recreational/tourism facilities; habitat
modification; ur ban and agricultural run-off; landfills; and atmospheric deposition caused by
transportation were considered most important problems (Georgia and Turkey). In addition
Turkey considered as major subjects forestry run-off; hazardous waste sites; and erosion.
The assessment showed that the Black Sea region is advanced in terms of projects addressing land-
based activities. The assessment of the effectiveness of such projects was outside the scope of this
document.
Components of the GPA are (1) National Programmes of Action (NPAs); (2) Strategic Action Plan on
Municipal Wastewater (SAP Wastewater); (3) Physical Alteration and Destruction of Habitats
(PADH); (4) Integrated Coastal Area and River Basin Management (ICARM); (5) Public Awareness
and Outreach; (6) Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM); and (7) Supportive Toolkits.
Regarding the NPAs (UNEP, 2002) for the implementation of the GPA (and through its elements the
implementation of the LBS Protocol) there are no such programmes in any of the Black Sea countries.
Turkey is developing a National Action Programme for LBS pollution in the framework of the
Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP). Since one section of Black Sea National Strategic Action Plans
(NSAPs) is to deal with land-based activities, the issues of the GPA and the implementation of the
LBS Protocol should be integrated within the NSAPs. NSAPs current situation in Black Sea countries
is as follows: Turkey adopted its NSAP (1999); Romania has an NSAP (1998-2005) according to the
National Report of Romania for the IGR Meeting in Montreal (1998); Ukraine passed in 2001 the Law
on the State Programme on Protection and Restoration of the Azov Sea and the Black Sea that covers
Bucharest Convention, Odessa Declaration and BS SAP; the Russian Federation has the National
Environmental Action Plan (NEAP), with its sub-programme on Integrated coastal zones management
of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov (2002-2006). The National Strategic Action Plan of Georgia for
Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea has been elaborated, but it is still not adopted. Although
Bulgaria does not have NSAP, all its elements are contained in other normative documents. BS
Countries adopted BS SAP and several BS countries have national programmes that are either NSAPs
or closely relevant to the implementation of the BS SAP.
Regarding the Strategic Action Plan on Municipal Wastewater (UNEP, 2003) there is an ongoing very
well designed and organised activity by the EC (DABLAS Task Force), which is addressing this
problem. The DABLAS Task Force was set up in November 2001 with the main objective to provide a
platform for co-operation for the protection of water and water related ecosystems of the wider Black
Sea Region (the entire Black Sea basin including all tributaries), through (a) Effective implementation
of the Memorandum of Understanding on Common Strategic Goals between the ICPDR and the BSC,
building on the work undertaken by the ICPDR and the BSC; (b) Development of a series of concrete
activities including a short list of prioritised projects for the rehabilitation of the waters of the region;
(c) Development of concrete approaches for financing of priority projects; and (d) Providing
suggestions to the ICPDR and BSC concerning further strategic priorities.
UNEP selected relevant SAP points in the preparation of the BS LBA WP. These included:
·
Eutrophication was identified in the BS TDA as one of the major threats to the Black Sea
environment and still remains a priority problem for the Black Sea. The most significant
contributor to the eutrophication is input of nutrients with the river flow. National efforts to
reduce eutrophication have been supported by the international cooperation through a number of
GEF and EU Projects initiated in the Black Sea Convention area, World Bank and EBRD
investment programs. It is widely recognized that only concerted actions on national levels
through effective cooperation with all concerned sectors (municipal, agricultural, industrial,
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etc.), all countries in the Black Sea basin, and international partners will lead to the sustainable
long-term results;
·
Airborne pollution is a significant factor in the transboundary transport of pollution and it
would be necessary to prepare an assessment of loads to the Black Sea via the atmosphere;
·
Sewage causes bacteriological pollution due to inputs of insufficiently treated wastewaters.
Such pollution became less frequent and more local due to the significant improvement of the
municipal sector in Romania and Bulgaria. Some progress was achieved in the Ukraine, the
Russian Federation, and Turkey. Less visible changes occurred in Georgia;
·
Waste management problems were not addresses at all on a regional level. At a national level
the national policies in Black Sea countries are aimed at waste minimization, reuse, recycling
and the recovery of landfills. The major legislative and regulatory tools for waste management
are adequately developed in the Black Sea countries, and include basic laws, regulations and
programs;
·
National monitoring programs within their territorial waters are conducted by Bulgaria,
Romania, the Ukraine, and the Russian Federation, although often irregular and with a limited
numbers of parameters due to economic reasons. Georgia reported no monitoring activities
during the past 7 years. Only project based monitoring and assessment was reported for Turkey.
The absence of a regionally agreed monitoring and assessment program made national financing
of these activities questionable. Information for the general public on the state of beaches and
bathing waters was inadequate;
·
Legislative framework has been developed in the Black Sea coastal states. Three Contracting
Parties Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey are transposing the EU directives and approaches in
their accession to the European Union;
·
Framework legislation, regulations and licensing systems, implying the "polluter pays"
principle were enforced in all Black Sea countries long before the adoption of the Black Sea
Strategic Action Plan and other relevant principles of BSSAP. The enforcement mechanisms of
the polluter pays principle included strict fiscal, administrative and/or criminal liability.
However, these measures are not sufficient for successful enforcement due to existing economic
problems such as the low paying capacities of polluters and the insufficient institutional strength
of the environmental authorities to deal with a problem;
·
Economic incentives are important tools for the enforcement of environmental legislation and
the application of economic incentives like tax exemptions, reduced payments for resources use
for enterprises that introduce low and non waste technologies or implement other effective
environmental measures; stimulating prices and bonus for environmentally clean products;
special taxes for ecologically harmful products, favourable credit rates are currently applied in
the Russian Federation and Turkey, but minor attention received in the rest of the Black Sea
states;
·
EIA is an important issue but the Convention on the EIA was ratified only by the Ukraine in
1999. No relevant regional activities were undertaken in the framework of the Black Sea
Commission between 1996 and 2001;
·
ICZM is not covered properly in the Black Sea region because adequately developed legislation
and a clearly defined institutional structure for ICZM are lacking both on the national and
regional levels. ICZM cannot therefore be successfully implemented in the region although
some ICZM components are used in Black Sea countries. The legal tools to implement ICZM
are scattered through different laws and sectoral regulations (Romania), embedded in
presidential decrees and governmental directives (the Russian Federation), or fully developed
(Turkey). The provisions for the implementation of ICZM and for the development of the
necessary legal tools for its implementation are provisioned in the National Program on
Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black and Azov Seas in the Ukraine;
·
Stakeholders in the process of the BSSAP implementation consist of a variety of concerned
groups including governments, international donor organizations, financial institutions,
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businesses, shipping companies, the public, NGOs, educators, and others. Cross-sectoral
cooperation is not always adequate on the national and regional levels; and
·
Public Awareness and environmental education are important components of conservation
strategy. At the same time a shortage of public outreach and educational materials on
conservation and protection of biological diversity and landscapes in national languages exists.
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4
RELATION OF THE GPA-LBA TO EU DIRECTIVES AND
REGULATIONS IN THE BLACK SEA REGION
The EC has recognized that the WFD is fully consistent with the GPA approach and both processes
are mutually supportive (see report of the Consultative meeting on the revision of the Black Sea Land-
based Sources of Pollution Protocol, GPA BS WP GPA for the Black Sea, the EU Water Framework
Directive and the EU Marine Strategy, 20-21 January 2004, Istanbul, Turkey (organized by UNEP,
http://www.gpa.unep.org/meetings/black_sea/default.htm)).
Key elements of the WFD, like protecting all waters; water management based on river basins;
combined approach of emission controls and water quality standards; adequate economic instruments;
and public participation are also part of the GPA.
A particular question was raised regarding the ability of Marine Strategy to master agricultural policy.
In response to this question it was stated by the EC representative that biological elements should be
taken over, phytoplankton has to be addressed completely, not only as defined in WFD. It has to be
complemented by other Quality Objectives (e.g. fish). It has to be built on WFD and complemented
with Quality Objectives for the open sea. Such an approach already started in OSPAR, which developed
framework objectives for the North Sea. A similar decision was taken by HELCOM.
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5
PERSPECTIVES
UNEP's Recommendations for future actions in implementing the LBA Protocol focus on:
1. Engaging countries in national consultations on the proposed revised LBS Protocol.
2. Undertaking concrete activities in line with the BS WP GPA. These are summarized below. Some
of the activities are regional and others are national. Fifteen activities are have been costed and
targeted. For these activities the GPA Coordination Office could be the lead organisation, if
requested. Funds for the implementation of these activities should be mobilised through the GEF
BSERP Phase II Project or other sources. The other 13 activities have not costed because the lead
organisation for their full implementation should be selected and the corresponding associated costs
of each activity should be proposed.:
A. National Activities for the Implementation of the BS LBS Protocol
1. Prepare and conduct a regional strategy for the implementation of the BS LBS Protocol and
assistance to countries to ensure that relevant aspects of the implementation of the BS LBS
Protocol will be included in appropriate national programmes (legislation, regulation,
capacity building, inspectorates, public awareness, ICARM, etc.) in order to incorporate all
points listed below.
2. Assistance to countries, upon request, to develop National Programmes of Action (NPA) for
the implementation of the LBS Protocol (Turkey is in its first phase for the preparation of
the Turkish NAP for the implementation of the Mediterranean SAP for the LBA).
3. Assistance to countries in the development of legal and institutional frameworks, especially
those that refer to the agricultural sector, ICZM and ICARM.
4. Assistance to countries in the development of economic tools, especially those that refer to
the agricultural sector, ICZM and ICARM.
5. Assistance to countries in implementing River Basin Management principles in relevant
programmes.
6. Prepare and conduct a regional study on coastal zone waste management.
7. Prepare and conduct a regional study on marine litter (including methodology for survey
and guidelines for the management of the problems).
8. Preparation of a regional strategy, realistic and costed, for approaching the problem of
eutrophication (agricultural run-off, forest run-off, sewage, and airborne inputs) and
assistance to countries in developing and implementing regional programme of action for
combating eutrophication, including finalisation, adoption and implementation of the Black
Sea Nutrient Reduction Plan (BSNRP).
9. Preparation of the updated Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Black Sea
taking into account the basin wide approach and recent development of European strategies,
including the development of the European marine strategy (to include updated assessment
of Hot Spots) and the developments in the context of the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation (JPOI) target on integrated river basin management.
10. Assessment of the quality of bathing waters and beaches with guidelines for monitoring and
establishment of internet-based system for quality of the Black Sea bathing waters and
beaches.
11. Promotion and establishment of harmonized environmental criteria and objectives in order
to facilitate the implementation of EIA for projects with transboundary effects
12. Development of necessary regional guidelines, recommendations, and methodologies for
management and control of point and diffuse pollution sources and for enforcement
mechanisms.
13. Assistance to countries in the region to mobilize stakeholders and incorporate lessons
learned in the process.
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14. Development of criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of strategies and measures (BSERP
is developing relevant indicators).
15. Assistance to countries in strengthening environmental inspectorates.
16. Assistance to countries in strengthening institutional and technical capacities of national and
local authorities in order to efficiently enforce the regulatory tools for the control of effluent
discharges.
B. Strategic Action Plan on Municipal Wastewater (SAP Wastewater)
1. At the request of countries adapt for the Black Sea the UNEP/WHO/UN-
HABITAT/WSSCC Guidelines on Municipal Wastewater Management and organise a
regional workshop on Wastewater Management.
2. Assistance to countries in strengthening institutional and technical capacities of national and
local authorities for municipal wastewater management (UNESCO-IHE/UNEP Training
courses on Improving Municipal Wastewater Management in Coastal Cities).
C. Physical Alteration and Destruction of Habitats (PADH) and Integrated Coastal Area and
River Basin Management (ICARM)
1. Prepare and conduct a regional study on coastal erosion, including recommended
methodologies.
2. Assessment of the current capacity and capacity building within government (including local
level administration) to address the urgent threats to coastal zones, including enhancing of
legislation and regulatory capacity and through facilitating relevant multi-
stakeholder/partnership.
3. Development of a set of practical recommendations on the national level on the principles
and methodologies of ICZM and ICARM and making them available, in all national
languages, to the communities and the stakeholders of the process, as well as support
capacity-building activities at the local level to apply the principles and methodologies.
These activities can be implemented with assistance of the GPA Office (see activity 22).
4. Assistance in the implementation of activity 21 on development of a set of practical
recommendations at the national level and capacity building on the local level on the
principles and methodologies of ICZM and ICARM and making them available, in all
national languages, to the communities and the stakeholders of the process.
D. Public Awareness and Outreach
1. Development of awareness and outreach materials in order to inform countries of the
objectives of the GPA and the Black Sea LBS Protocol.
2. Preparation of National Reports on achievement in addressing land-based activities (to be
submitted to the Second Intergovernmental Review Meeting for GPA (IGR II - 2006), to
include all relevant national and international activities) and to disseminate them widely.
3. Assistance to countries in building stakeholders support for the protection of the Black Sea
marine and coastal environment, with specifics for different regions.
4. Assisting countries in developing a framework for building adequate linkages among local,
national, regional and global initiatives aimed at the protection of the marine environment
from land-based activities.
E. Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)
1. Development of a relevant Regional Information System, based on GIS concept, which will
enable decision-makers, at all levels, to have electronic access to updated information
F. Supportive Toolkits
1. Assistance to countries in order to develop activities for innovative economic instruments
and incentives and alternative sources of financing by governments and other stakeholders.
unep report lba protocol-final.doc
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