Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices

Programme 2014 - 2020 Black Sea Basin ENI CBC

Date of latest update: 2025-06-17

Description

Description (EN):

The Protect-Streams-4-Sea project focuses on a joint environmental monitoring of nonpoint source pollutants and litter that end up in the Black Sea. This is a main priority of the Black Sea Programme and essential, because once the enclosed Black Sea is polluted, it is very difficult to depollute. Most cleaning efforts focus on the sea itself or along the coastal areas. The watersheds that end in the Black Sea have not been focal points despite providing many of the pollutants and litter. A similar example is the Mississippi Basin that transports the pollutants that have created the dead zone in the Mexico Gulf. The idea of this project is to stop the nonpoint source pollutants and litter from reaching the streams and rivers and consequently not reaching the Black Sea. If successful, this can cost-effectively maintain a clean Black Sea that will benefit the welfare of the entire region. This will be achieved by using innovative methods (fingerprinting) to correlate landscape position with the pollutants in the stream water and bed. Soil samples will be taken along stream banks, soil surfaces and in-stream. This way the origins and the contributions of sediment and other nonpoint source pollutants to the stream water and bed will be estimated. The origins could be the stream banks (e.g. steep, non-vegetated, etc.) or soil surface with different land covers (e.g. burnt areas, flooded areas, forests, degraded or specific crops). In addition, traditional (erosion pins, runoff plots) and new innovative (remote sensing, indices and drones) methods will be used for the pollutant estimations. Hydrologic models will be applied to simulate the pollutants at the watershed scale based on the project data from the fingerprinting method and the stream bank and bed and soil surface plots. A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and a Decision Support System will be developed to find the “hot spots” and recommend best management practices in each pilot area. Hot spots are the areas that contribute most pollutants and/or litter. The recommended practices will be nature-based and applicable to the entire region. The final part will develop and/or test innovative tools/machines: 4 litter traps (in Armenia, Greece, Moldova and Turkey) and 1 skimmer vessel (in Romania) in the pilot area water bodies to collect litter and other pollutants. The pilot areas will be in five different Black Sea countries allowing to test the tools and methods in different environments representative of the region. This should help the tools and methods adoption by all Black Sea countries and lead to a joint monitoring program for inland nonpoint source pollutants and litter. With Universities, NGOs and public authorities partnering on this project the methods and tools developed will be science-based and practical. Finally, numerous and diverse communication activities will help reach all target groups and lead to the adoption of these joint monitoring methods and tools in the region.

Achievements (EN):

Marine litter is defined as any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment. It consists of items that have been made or used by people and deliberately discarded into the sea or stream/rivers or on beaches; brought indirectly to the sea with rivers, sewage, stormwater or winds; accidentally lost, including material lost at sea in bad weather (fishing gear, cargo); or deliberately left by people on beaches and shores. The annual amount of sea debris in the World is estimated to be 6 million tons. The presence of marine debris presents a hazard to shipping and is esthetically detrimental, thus generating negative socio-economic consequences. The Turkish Black Sea coast is 1695 km long, extending from the Bulgarian border in the west to the Georgia border in the east. Assessments of stream and beach litter show that a large amount of debris (plastics, wood pieces, metals, glass, clothes, paper etc.) has been observed in different areas of the southern Black Sea coasts. From these, plastics and synthetic materials are the most common types. In Türkiye, the partners of the project Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices assessed the different types of litter in the sub-watershed of the Arhavi River Basin and installed litter trap to mitigate litter stream pollution.

Website: http://blacksea-cbc.net/

Expected Results (EN): R 2.1 Level of availability of cross-border compatible environmental monitoring data and information

Expected Outputs (EN):

The project main results will lead the protection to the Black Sea by reducing the pollutants and litter originating from the inlands from reaching the Black Sea that is the main objective of the proposal. Emphasis will be given to pollutants and litter that originate from rivers and their watershed that end in the Black Sea because they can provide most of the pollutants and litter and because typically less emphasis is given to these compared to pollutants and litter that are in the sea or originate along the seacoast. The specific results will firstly be the identification of the major sources of the inland pollutants and litter and their potential contribution to the Black Sea Region. The second will be the development of recognition of important new tools based on new technologies specific for the Black Sea regions that would allow the development of a joint monitoring program for all the countries in the region. Thirdly based on the new developed monitoring tools and the identification of the sources, best management practices will be recommended that should lead to the reduction of non-point sources pollutants and litter from surrounding and connected watersheds thus leading to the reduction of pollutants and litter reaching and ending in the Black Sea. At the same time this will be done through the collaboration of five different countries that should lead to the joint environmental protection of the Black Sea region thus allowing for sustainable growth and enhancing the welfare of the people of the region. This will also be achieved because the sites will be in different countries thus covering a variety of natural environments of the Black Sea and the tools will be tested in these environments indicating their applicability to the entire region.

Thematic information

Evaluation systems and results Waterways, lakes and rivers Waste and pollution

Thematic Objective: Environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation

Partners (5)

Lead Partner: The Legal Successor of Technologiko Ekpedeftiko Idryma Anatolikis Makedonias kai Thrakis-Special Account for Research Funds (TEIEMT-SARF), the International Hellenic University Special Account for Research Funds (IHU-SARF)

Department: Department of Forestry and Natural Environment

Address: 14th km Thessaloniki - N. Moudania National Road -, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.for.ihu.gr/index.php/el/

Total budget: EUR 35 401.20

Artvin Coruh University

Name: Artvin Coruh University

Department: Forestry

Address: Seyitler Yerleşkesi, Merkez 218A, 08100 Artvin, Turkey

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.artvin.edu.tr

Total budget: EUR 56 076.22

"Young Foresters Union" non-govermental organization

Name: "Young Foresters Union" non-govermental organization

Address: v. Koghb 4110, 0027 Yerevan, Armenia

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 32 573.40

Eco-TIRAS International Association of River Keepers

Name: Eco-TIRAS International Association of River Keepers

Address: Teatrala 11A, 2012 Chisinau, Moldova

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.eco-tiras.org

Total budget: EUR 29 112.34

Buzau-Ialomita Water Administration

Name: Buzau-Ialomita Water Administration

Department: River Basin Management Plan Office

Address: Bucegi Street 20 bis, 120208 Buzau, Romania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.rowater.ro

Total budget: EUR 10 026.90

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Artvin Coruh University

Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices

Partners and Projects info

"Young Foresters Union" non-govermental organization

Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices

Partners and Projects info

Eco-TIRAS International Association of River Keepers

Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices

Partners and Projects info

Buzau-Ialomita Water Administration

Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices

Partners and Projects info

The Legal Successor of Technologiko Ekpedeftiko Idryma Anatolikis Makedonias kai Thrakis-Special Account for Research Funds (TEIEMT-SARF), the International Hellenic University Special Account for Research Funds (IHU-SARF)

Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices

Project acronym: Protect-Streams-4-Sea

Project start date: 2020-07-20

Project end date: 2023-07-19

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 163 190.06

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 150 129.22

Co-financing sources:

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

Pilot Areas Report

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2020-11-18

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Report on Non-point Source Pollutants

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2020-11-18

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Studies / surveys

Assessment of Flood-Induced Geomorphic Changes in Sidere Creek of the Mountainous Basin Using Small UAV-Based Imagery

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2023-07-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Assessment of pollution in the Black Sea, monitoring methods of riparian areas and best management practices

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-01-05

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Estimating Stream Bank and Bed Erosion and Deposition with Innovative and Traditional Methods

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2024-02-13

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Identification of Streamside Landslides with the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Greece, Romania, and Turkey

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2023-02-11

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Modelling Runoff within a Small River Basin under the Changing Climate: A Case Study of Using SWAT in the Bălțata River Basin (The Republic of Moldova)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2022-01-21

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Monitoring and Quantifying the Fluvio-Geomorphological Changes in a Torrent Channel Using Images from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2022-10-19

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

New Technologies to Assess and Map an Urban Riparian Area in Drama, Greece, and Determine Opportunity Sites for Litter Traps

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2023-11-04

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

River Flow Measurements Utilizing UAV-Based Surface Velocimetry and Bathymetry Coupled with Sonar

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2022-08-17

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

River Sand and Gravel Mining Monitoring Using Remote Sensing and UAVs

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2023-01-19

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Using normalized difference indexes to determine erosion-prone areas: The case of the Bălțata River Basin (Republic of Moldova)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2022-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Variation in Certain Soil Properties Based on Land Use Type, and Elevation in Arhavi Sub-Basin, Artvin, Turkiye

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2023-06-05

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

“Protect-Streams-4-Sea” to the 7th International Conference on Water Resource and Environment .

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-11-17

Languages: en

Activities so far ... ARMENIA

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-12-05

Languages: en

Activities so far... GREECE

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2022-01-17

Languages: en

Activities so far... ROMANIA

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-12-05

Languages: en

Activities so far... TURKEY

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-12-08

Languages: en

Activities so far...MOLDOVA

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2022-03-25

Languages: en

Aggitis River during high flows, Drama Greece

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-07-16

Languages: en

Awareness Activities Greece

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2022-01-05

Languages: en

Awareness events in Romania

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-12-08

Languages: en

Flooding in the city of Arhavi -22 July 2021

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-12-06

Languages: en

High Streamflow in Kallifyto torrent, Drama, Greece; a typical Mediterranean torrent

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-07-16

Languages: en

Monitoring & Assessment of Riparian & Deltaic Ecosystems

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-03-11

Languages: en

Part of a Web Press Conference for project ''Protect Streams 4 Sea'' , 16 December 2020

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-07-16

Languages: el, en

Pilot Area ARMENIA

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-12-05

Languages: en

Pilot area GREECE

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-07-16

Languages: en

Pilot area ROMANIA

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2020-11-16

Languages: en

Pilot area TURKEY

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-11-18

Languages: en

Pilot area...MOLDOVA

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-12-15

Languages: en

Present at WRE 2020, Targeted placement of soil erosion prevention works after wildfires

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-01-17

Languages: en

Protect-Streams-4-Sea as we have only-one-earth! World Environment Day 2022

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2022-06-05

Languages: el, en

Severe flooding caused by heavy rains affected the Turkish pilot area in Artvin , July 21th 2021

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-11-25

Languages: en

Stream flow after a rainfall in Kallifyto torrent, Drama, Greece; a typical Mediterranean torrent

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://websites3.teiemt.gr/p4sea/

Publication date: 2024-08-13

Document date: 2021-07-16

Languages: en

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Black Sea Basin ENI CBC

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-06-06

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

43 / 43 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

220 / 220 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme on 2025-03-10. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://blacksea-cbc.net/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2024-02-01, except for projects with acronyms AGREEN, BeECO, BRIDGES, BSB ECO MONITORING, BSB Smart Farming, CRoCuS, EXCELTOUR, LeNetEco 2, LOC-FOOD, SILC, THC (in these cases, the information was provided by the Programme).

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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Protecting streams for a clean Black Sea by reducing sediment and litter pollution with joint innovative monitoring and control tools and nature-based practices

Description

Thematic information

Partners (5)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer