Empowering Georgian Youth to Protect the Black Sea: EU and UNDP spark educational journey for a sustainable marine ecosystem

BATUMI. 22 May 2024 – High school students from seven public schools across Anaklia, Batumi, Bobokvati, Gonio, Kobuleti, and Poti engaged in dolphin monitoring alongside Georgia’s Black Sea coast.

Their educational journey started with seminars at Batumi State University where young advocates of the Black Sea engaged in insightful discussions with esteemed researchers, exploring the wonders of marine biodiversity, the pressing threats to the ecosystem, and actionable steps for conservation.

Following this immersive learning experience, motivated students were offered a chance to participate in dolphin monitoring and effectively become Black Sea researchers themselves. Every 10 days, they monitor the presence of the dolphins along the Georgian coast using specialised protocols and have already recorded the appearance of these incredible sea mammals at numerous locations, such as Gonio and Poti.

Over the coming months, young Black Sea researchers will participate in diverse educational and environmental activities, including Clean Beach Days and guided tours of protected areas. The culmination of this learning journey will be marked in October with a celebratory gathering in Batumi for the annual Black Sea Day, uniting Black Sea researchers, environmental activists, and youth.

This exciting educational initiative is organised by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the National Environment Agency of Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. It falls under the EU/UNDP regional project ‘European Union for Improving Environmental Monitoring in the Black Sea’ (EU4EMBLAS), a joint initiative with the governments of Georgia and Ukraine.

Between 2014 and 2019, EU4EMBLAS spearheaded regular monitoring surveys conducted by an international team of researchers, building an understanding of the environmental status of the Black Sea.

The last research released in 2020 revealed environmental challenges, including plastic waste pollution along the Georgian coast (90.5 items per sq. km), microplastics at depths of 2,000 meters, hazardous chemical influxes, and the intrusion of invasive species. Positive biodiversity trends showcased the resilience of certain species sensitive to pollution and the return of the European oyster, previously extinct since the 1940s.

In its current phase, set to continue until the April 2025, the EU4EMBLAS project remains committed to supporting governments, educational institutions, civil society, and communities in Georgia and Ukraine. The project offers targeted interventions to mitigate pollution and provides policymakers with recommendations to safeguard the Black Sea ecosystem.