The final international scientific conference for the CARE SEA project was held under the title "Transboundary Science for a Cleaner and More Sustainable Black Sea." The event focused on discussing research results achieved within the project, lessons learned, and opportunities for future collaboration aimed at improving the ecological state of the Black Sea.
CARE SEA—"Cooperation and Awareness Raising for a Pollution-Free and Ecologically Clean Black Sea"—is an international project implemented under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme. The project is led by Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU), with Isolda Machutadze, a chief researcher at BSU’s Institute of Phytopathology and Biodiversity, serving as the coordinator.
Higher education and research institutions from five countries—Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Moldova, and Greece—participated in the project. The project partners included Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (as the lead partner), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), the "Constantin Stere" University of European Political and Economic Studies (Moldova), Karadeniz Technical University (Turkey), and the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development (Romania).
The partners jointly studied the ecological status of the Black Sea basin, sources of pollution, and the mechanisms governing the spread of transboundary pollution.
Within the framework of the CARE SEA project, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University conducted a study on microplastic pollution in the wetland habitats of the Chorokhi River—a first for Georgia. The research covered the Chorokhi Delta and the Kolkheti Protected Areas, where researchers examined the distribution of microplastics and the presence of other pollutants.
Concurrently, research was also conducted along the Turkish section of the Chorokhi River; this enabled a comparative analysis of data from Georgia and Turkey, as well as an assessment of pollution sources and each country's respective contribution to the pollution. Additionally, the issue of pollution in the Danube River—situated between Romania and Moldova—was examined.
The study encompassed the analysis of water, bottom sediments, and atmospheric air. Researchers also assessed the distribution of microplastics, heavy metal content, the state of ecosystems, and biodiversity. A habitat map and a conceptual model of the Chorokhi River delta were developed as part of the project.
One of the project's significant outcomes is the development of an ecological management plan for the Chorokhi River, which flows across the Georgia-Turkey border. Citizens were involved in the document's preparation based on citizen science principles, and their views and recommendations were incorporated into the final plan.
Within the framework of CARE SEA, study visits and workshops were conducted to facilitate the exchange of experience among partner countries and to strengthen research capabilities. The partners developed joint methodological approaches for the research. Two master's theses were produced under the project, and doctoral research is currently underway. As part of the project's educational component, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University also developed a Master's degree program in Landscape Ecology taught in a foreign language.
The final conference was attended by researchers, international experts, representatives from higher education and research institutions, public agencies, and environmental organizations, as well as policymakers, students, and other stakeholders.
The conference focused not only on the project's scientific outcomes but also on the future application of the knowledge and experience gained, the strengthening of cross-border cooperation, and the continuation of joint research aimed at protecting the Black Sea ecosystem.
Upon the project's conclusion, the partner organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen future cooperation.
The final international conference for CARE SEA brought together the project's key results, scientific research, cross-border cooperation, citizen engagement, and practical recommendations for a cleaner and more sustainable future for the Black Sea.
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