Within the framework of the terreg NEXT program, BSU started CARE SEA, an international project on the pollution of the Black Sea and its impact

Within the framework of the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program, Shota Rustaveli State University of Batumi has launched an important international project CARE SEA – “Collaboration and raising awareness of a pollution-free and ecologically clean Black Sea” on the pollution of the Black Sea and its impact. The project aims to study the problem of environmental pollution, reduce pollution of the Black Sea and promote ecological sustainability, which will be implemented in partnership with higher educational and research institutions of 5 countries.

A new international project started to preserve the Black Sea ecosystem started on October 6 with an excursion to the Chorokhi Delta. Project participants inspected the current situation on site and collected data related to sea pollution. The purpose of the visit was to develop a research action plan and identify existing problems. After the field trip, the event continued with an initial meeting at BSU on October 7, the same day a meeting of the steering committee was held, where the project participants discussed the next steps and defined the project implementation plans. On October 8, a visit was made to the Institute of Phytopathology and Biodiversity of BSU, the participants also visited the Kobuleti State Reserve – Spain 2.

The leading partner of the project is Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (Georgia). Also partners are: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), “Constantine Stere” Institute of European Political and Economic Studies (Moldova), Karadeniz Technical University (Turkey), Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development Tulcea (Romania).

The project is focused on researching pollution drivers such as heavy metals, microplastics and other harmful substances that harm both marine biodiversity and human health. The CARE SEA project will be implemented over a period of 24 months and will include research activities in pollution monitoring, data collection and environmental damage reduction. Leading scientists, students and environmental protection experts from the participating countries will participate in the project.

CARE SEA envisages the protection of biodiversity and natural resources of the Black Sea region, which can be achieved through pollution control and environmental awareness. The project provides a variety of activities, including research, monitoring pollution levels, and developing an ecological rehabilitation plan.

Main activities:

1.Black Sea pollution research and monitoring in the direction of microplastics, heavy metals and air pollution

2.Cross-border monitoring, evaluation and exchange of experience

3.Development of recommendations for ecological rehabilitation of studied ecosystems

4.Increasing community involvement and raising citizens’ awareness of environmental pollution

In addition to monitoring and integrated assessment of plastic and microplastic water pollution, BSU will assess air and wetland habitat pollution by microparticles and heavy metals in the Ramsar wetlands of the Kolkata Protected Area and the Chorokh River. A person in the borders of southern Kolkata, near the Turkish border.

Similarly, KTU will assess the presence and distribution of microplastics in the marine and coastal environment in the eastern area of ​​the Black Sea coast of Turkey and the heavy metal pollution of the Chorrokh River within the borders of Turkey. A comparative analysis of the data obtained on microplastics and chemical pollution of this river will be conducted with the data obtained for the Georgian part of Chorokhi, with the aim of assessing the contribution of each side to the total pollution of the Black Sea.