1. Black Sea NGO Network
NGO Support to the Process of Public Involvement and Participation
UNDP/GEF Black Sea Ecosystem Recovery Project
Final Seminar - 14 – 15 February 2008, Istanbul, Turkey

2. 15 years of UNDP/GEF in the Black Sea Region
The Bucharest Convention 1992
Framework of 30 articles, 5 resolutions, 4 protocols
Established the format of the first ever regional collaboration aiming to protect the Black Sea environment.
Process – legal framework, regional bodies, environmental policy goals, planning, stakeholder involvement – including NGOs.

3. 15 years of UNDP/GEF in the Black Sea Region (2)
Regional bodies
Environmental policy goals (Odessa Declaration)
Strategic planning for their achievement (BS SAP)
Involvement of stakeholders, including regional NGOs.

4. NGO development process
The Black Sea NGO Network (BSNN) came into existence in 1998 as a result of the development of the NGO community in the countries signatories of the Bucharest convention.
62 registered members in the six littoral states and many associates. BSNN maintains contacts with many other Black Sea and environmental NGOs, over 150, and provides information and representation to the regional third sector. In 2001, in recognition of its role as an institution of civil society in the region, the BSNN was granted the status of permanent observer at the Black Sea Commission (BSC)
BSNN has been implementing activities on regional, national and local level on a broad range of issues.

5. Support to stakeholder involvement and participation
UNDP/GEF – support to NGO development and maturation, specialization in the third sector, capacity building
National grants BSERP SGP 1 and 2 (17 small projects SGP 1, 1 regional; 5 per country SGP 2)
EU funding – TACIS, Phare etc.
Other donors – Novib, OSI East-East Programme

6. Bulgarian NGOs
Major areas of work recently – water management, nutrient reduction, biodiversity protection, wetland management, policy issues on the Black Sea coast.
2 national and 1 regional project in BSERP SGP 1
3 projects of BSERP 2nd SGP focus on agriculture and its impact on waters. 2 teach farmers about storage and use of manure and fertilizers, 1 promotes organic production.
Waste water treatment in the coastal resorts, improvement of the ecological state at the seafront locally
Awareness raising, various communication techniques, education, Black Sea Day focus

7. Georgia - NGO involvement
Priority areas – coastal issues, biodiversity (sturgeon), waste, pesticide reduction, eco-camps, Black Sea Day, communications, policy issues, environmental education. Black Sea Eco Academy
CENN- regional NGO for the Caucasus
BSERP SGP 1 – involvement only in BSNN regional project
7 projects funded under BSERP 2nd SGP – 1 demonstration project on elimination of risks from obsolete pesticides, 5 projects on public awareness raising with establishment of youth network, professional journalists’ network, local coastal communities involvement and publications; one environmental education project with focus on nutrients and toxic substances.
Training BS NGOs and media – 18 representatives, project cycle management and fundraising techniques and opportunities
BSAD 2006 and 2007 – traditional BS week with conferences, eco classes, info bus campaign, film show, rock concert, media involvement .

8. Romanian NGO activities
NGOs focus on environmental education, coastal zone management, advocacy campaigns, beach clean-ups and protection of the Black Sea dolphin, Black Sea Day celebrations, policy and civil society issues, Natura 2000 sites
4 projects under BSERP SGP 1 – online education, environmental education, awareness raising on coastal water pollution issues and promotion of organic production
5 project under way from BSERP SGP2 – stakeholder involvement and Natura 2000 in rural areas; 2 stakeholder involvement projects; a pilot project for eutrophication control in the Nuntasi lake basin with capacity building for farmers, teachers, local community and action plan to reduce eutrophication; 1 film for the consequences of eutrophication for the Black Sea basin.
BSAD is celebrated on the BS coast, in Constanta and other coastal communities with public outreach events and colorful displays. Many young activists and students are involved traditionally.
NGO training in Braila – for 37 representatives of NGOs, media, administrations focusing on cooperation in the BS region, TBDA, new financial instruments for regional initiative.

9. Russian NGOs
Typical areas – environmental education, awareness raising, stakeholder involvement, capacity building, conservation, management of protected areas, etc.
Big environmental problems (large scale construction and big projects - oil ports, terminals, intensive agriculture, big coastal development dominating the environment) and lower political interest in BS problems.
3 projects have been financed by BSERP SGP 1 – SORGO, Environmental Centre of Sochi, Sailing Academy Taganrog involving wetland restoration, environmental education, awareness raising and involving the public in watch-dog activities.
Projects funded by BSERP 2nd SGP – six with various focus and target groups: 1 public awareness project establishes BS information service, very active and useful after the Taman disaster; 1 local stakeholder involvement/awareness raising project in the villages for improvement of water bodies and riversides; two environmental education and training project ;wetlands protection project; Documentary film production ‘Utrish Threatened by Ecological Disaster’.
BSAD traditionally turned into a national coastal celebration with involvement of authorities. Sochi Olympics is a focus of public concern.

10. Turkey – NGO involvement
Environmental platforms for the coastal area of the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, also individual NGOs.Activity areas – awareness raising for environmental protection including BS issues, conservation, environmental education, organic farming, biodiversity protection
BSERP 1st SGP supported 2 projects – TEWPS and BS Environmentalists – environmental awareness for students and adults, advocacy, NGO networking.
BSERP 2nd SGP supported projects from Istanbul, Trabzon, Zonguldag, Samsun and Kocaeli, primarily public awareness and environmental education. 2 projects encourage the use of manure and organic production; 1 focuses on good agricultural practice; 1 aims at reducing the use of detergents and reduction of nutrients in ubran waste waters, 1 environmental education project with youth and amateur theatricals
BSAD activities - attracting the attention of the public focusing on BSC activities, political highlighting of BS issues, media involvement, awareness raising along the coast.
25 participants and 5 trainers - capacity building training focusing on BSC, river pollution and the BS - Bartin river,‘The Sea that nearly Died’, EfE ministerial conference, presentation of the BSERP BS education study pack, BS biodiversity problems in regional perspective, assessment of BSAD 2006 and assessement of the dialogue between the media and the BS NGOs.

11. NGO activities in Ukraine
Major activities - youth education, conservation, biodiversity protection, research in coastal areas, ecotourism, awareness raising, protected areas management. Many activities are related to estuaries, small rivers, wetlands, and the Danube Delta.
3 projects supported by BSERP SGP 1 – ww treatment, wetlands restoration, public outreach – INECO , RNBSPO, Odessa SEU
Ukrainian BSERP 2nd SGP projects, total of 8, cover a variety of topics and regions. They include 1stakeholder involvement project for a public basin council, 1 project for creation of public forum of BS NGOs strengthening NGO cooperation; 1 educational project for children and youth , 1 information dissemination project of Our Nature magazine, 4 projects for protected areas – the Tiligul Estuary, Kinburnsky Spit, Tarkhanhut Peninsula and marine protected area Philophora Fileds.
BSAD – public outreach, educational and media events, 600 study packs, events in Sevastopol, Nikolaev, Tatarbunar, Odessa, 5000 info papers published – YEC Vernadsky, RNBSPO,Secamp2000,Zeleny Svit, Vydrodzhenia – Tatarbunar, Ecoclub-Vilcovo, YEC Dobra Volyua-Izmail.

12. BS NGOs - prospects
In summary, it can be seen that BS NGOs are successfully supporting stakeholder involvement, working at all levels, from local to national to regional. They address a broad range of issues from pollution reduction and coastal protection to agriculture and conservation. Most have been involved in communication activities and awareness raising, especially on BS Day, though education, publications, some public opinion surveys and media relations. Some NGOs have also been involved in scientific research and reporting. Capacity building is seen as a standing task in the third sector.
Challenges of the future – development of societies, regional projects, development and impact on the BS environment, stability in the BS region including impacts of climate change, funding opportunities, relations with authorities and businesses etc.