NBS Approach for the Black Sea Region

Before exploring specific solutions, it's crucial to adopt a clear approach once the problem is identified. A thorough understanding of the historical and present-day hydrology, causes, and types of pollution in the Black Sea has now been established. The application of a sound Nature-based Solutions approach (NBS approach) can help the practitioner tackle pollution issues of this scale and complexity.

To make the solution viable, knowledge is the starting point. This includes understanding the available options, examining evidence of successful practices from other areas, and leveraging local knowledge and historical practices. Additionally, sufficient technical capacity or capacity-building activities are necessary for deploying and maintaining solutions, which should be supported by a regulatory framework and financing. Figure 4‑1 visualizes the interlinkages and building blocks essential for NBS adoption. Typically, all these factors are necessary for any solution to be viable.

 Figure 4‑1: Building blocks to support improved ecosystem resilience and NBS adaptation management

In this case, the best approach is to tackle the problem at its source as often as possible, where it is more manageable. Once pollution enters the Black Sea, clean-ups become very costly and are only able to limit the damage. Therefore, a variety of solutions are needed to tackle both point and non-point source pollution. This starts within the urban, peri-urban and rural context. Addressing pollution in all its shapes and forms upstream makes for far more effective control than any in-sea controls (besides monitoring of vessels at sea/port).

When developing solutions or selecting from a pool of known technologies, consider the following:

  • Efficacy

  • Suitability for pollution type, scale, concentration (i.e. technical aspects)

    • Costs (investment & operation)

    • Climatic conditions

    • Topography

    • Geological structure

  • Sustainability

    • Compatibility (social, ecological, and cultural)

    • Size requirements (land / water area needed)

    • Permitting and water quality (re-use) laws for both upstream and downstream water bodies

    • Labour needed for construction, operation, & maintenance, as well as capacity building

    • Energy needs

    • Materials (sourced locally when possible);

    • Trade-offs and (Co-)benefits

    • Integration with landscape, infrastructure, & zoning laws

Nature-based Solutions often extend into the public sphere due to their large-scale nature, necessitating active stakeholder engagement and community involvement for successful implementation. The most sustainable NBS projects garner full support and ongoing commitment from local communities. Figure 4‑2 depicts a model illustrating the systems impact of NBS, represented by a fish image. NBS are designed to primarily mitigate various pollutants to improve water quality (shown on the right side of the diagram), while also providing numerous co-benefits (on the left side), influencing livelihoods and overall well-being. Due to their longevity, NBS require robust maintenance plans, potentially involving self-regulation and local stakeholder participation. Clear governance is vital for the sustainability of NBS initiatives. Tailoring the scale of solutions to specific problems enhances effectiveness and efficiency.

Figure 4-2: The complexity and integral quality of NBS as it relates to water quality
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