Background

The Caspian map project has been initiated by EuropeanCommissiopn (DG EuropeAid) as one of the implementation actions concerning Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) and with focus on regional water Quality Monitoring and Action Plan for Areas of Pollution Concern.

Figure 1, Largest enclosed water body in the world

Figure 1. Largest enclosed water body in the world

 

Figure 2, Algae Bloom, southern Caspian 2005 , source CEP

Figure 2. Algae Bloom, southern Caspian 2005 , source CEP

 

Figure 3, threats to the unique Caspian

Figure 3. threats to the unique Caspian

 

Figure 4. Pollution effect on seals

Figure 4. Pollution effect on seals

 

Figure 5, Decline in catch of Sturgeon

Figure 5. Decline in catch of Sturgeon

 

Figure 6. core sampling, photographed by Oleg Voitsekhovitch

Figure 6. Core sampling, photographed by Oleg Voitsekhovitch

The Caspian is the largest enclosed water body in the world, figure 1, and has a unique biodiversity. However the water quality and its bioresources are declining, due to several threats, figure 3. 

A grasp of observed problems are; an Algae Bloom in 2005, fig 2, in the southern Caspian, the huge decline in fish resources (Sturgeon), fig 5, epidemics under the seals, fig 6, could be caused by decrease of theimmune system. Eco-toxicological research shows high amount of pops and pcb’sin fish and seals.

During Soviet times monitoring was done on a regular basis. After the collapse of the Soviet-Union this task was left for four newly independent states. The institutional restructuring and the economic hardshipin most of these countries resulted in a deterioration of environmental monitoring systems during the nineties. The last regional sampling campaign took place in 2005 under the CEP (Scientific cruise 2005).

The region is facing; a lack of resources, poor technicaland analytical capacities and also lack of co-operation and data exchange.

The project focuses on the monitoring part of the monitoring/enforcement cycle and tries to strengthen the link to the environmental policy planning, Box 1.

Box 1. Monitoring cycle

Monitoring is a tool of the government to verify whether the environmental policy planning has the planned effects.

Outline of monitoring/enforcement cycle [CEP, 2001]

Outline of monitoring/enforcement cycle [CEP, 2001]

The project emphasizes on the development of a regional Monitoring programme, using the heritage of the past by involving the sampling locations/transects of previous sampling surveys under the CEP and of the regular monitoring strategy existed in the FSU. Each country is facing its one specific problems, the project works on a country specific approach to reach an optimal regional monitoring.

The Caspian map project assist the littoral countries in the design of the monitoring program (definition of a monitoring program that will supply the data and information necessary to verify if the intentions of the laws are met), and the implementation of the monitoring programme; Sampling,analysis and interpretation. Feed-back will be given to the Environmental Policy planning and the enforcement.

A trustful monitoring programme can only succeed if the capacities of the laboratories involved are sufficient; to ensure that the data produced is of the required quality. A distinction of the CaspianMap project and earlier monitoring activities is the active involvement of the regional laboratories, in charge by government for the monitoring activities.

A verification analyses (intercalibration) exercise is atool to identify relative strengths and weaknesses in the regions’ laboratories, and is carried out by the project. The parallel Tacis project (no. 2005199245), supply for the black sea and Caspian Sea environment projects, will deliver equipment to upgrade the regional laboratories, deployedby the project.

The project prioritized main land based drivers, the LandBased Pollution Sources, and will give technical advice how to reduce the pressure on the environment by preparing pre-feasibility studies for selectedpilot sites. With the 4 pollution surveys the project will assist in datagathering to define the state of the environment.  More year record is required to refine theanalysis, the monitoring programme, as to be implemented by the countries willhelp out. The project proposed to implement environmental modeling to makeclear assessment of the state and impact by defining the capacity of the Caspian for pollution and the geographical spreading of pollution from point sources (rivers included as point source) etc. and to link this activities with the Monitoring and action plan activities.

Additionally project seeks to use core sampling to outreach the possibilities of monitoring to obtain a historical record of pollution inthe Caspian sediments, enabling to verify environmental policies of the past.

The knowledge of the impact, trends and the environmental indicators will encourage the government to verify their current policy and to take actions. The project assists in identifying the main pollution sources,and to giving directions as to the most effective pollution remediation actions. To develop remediation action plan for a number of typical problemareas and sites (demonstration projects).