Innovative Collaborative Learning for Environmentally Friendly Behaviors of Communities in the Black Sea Basin

Specific Objective: RSO2.7: Improving the conservation and protection of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution.

Project Duration: June 2024 – August 2026

Total Project Budget: 823,980.84 EUR

Interreg Funds / EU Funds: 741,582.75 EUR

Partners:

• Romanian Maritime Training Center Romania (RO) CERONAV – Lead Partner
• Black Sea – Danube Research and Development Association Bulgaria (BG) BDCA
• LEPL – National Environmental Agency Georgia (GE) NEA
• Piri Reis University Turkey (TR) PRU
• Shabla Municipality Bulgaria (BG) SM

Project-Specific Goal: Over the course of the project, focusing on coastal areas and port cities in the Black Sea Basin, the goal is to increase environmentally friendly behaviors of communities and reduce pollution through increased awareness and the strengthening of local governments’ capacity to educate and train citizens at various educational levels.

LEARN4SEA Activities:

• Design and establish a network of Environmental Information Centers (EICs) through a web portal, equipped for actions aimed at environmental protection and pollution reduction in the Black Sea Basin.
• Organize measurements of water and air quality parameters for subsequent actions to increase awareness.
• Present an innovative methodology for air and water quality assessment following the analysis of collected data and pilot implementation.
• Prepare promotional and innovative educational materials to raise awareness among target groups.
• Informal education at multiple levels.
• Conduct promotional and awareness campaigns to change the behaviors of citizens in the Black Sea Basin regions.
• Establish a cooperation mechanism among authorities to create initiatives and regulations for better environmental protection and pollution reduction.

Project Outcomes:

• An innovative methodology for environmental experts will be jointly developed by project partners for addressing pollution reduction and creating local initiatives, to be presented to local/regional authorities’ advisory boards. This methodology will be based on the analysis of air and water quality measurements conducted by the consortium, complementing existing official data, and will leverage the expertise, knowledge, and lessons learned from previous EU co-financed projects (Interreg funds).
• Environmental Information Centers (EICs) will be established in the Black Sea Basin regions as a solution to the lack of an informal educational digital platform. The database will not only provide all the information and materials developed in the project but will also be used to display real-time data collected from sensors placed in different locations in the four participating countries.
• This physical center will be based on a concept developed in the GREEN DANUBE project, implemented by two partners from the consortium, and adapted to meet the actual needs of the regions.
• Guidelines will be created to establish a cooperation mechanism bridging the gap between decision-makers and local communities, including best practices for environmental protection and pollution reduction. A series of promotional and awareness-raising actions will be conducted using innovative (Virtual Reality) educational materials and customized information, reaching the general public at different levels (children, youth, adults), environmental professionals, and decision-makers effectively.

Contact Information:

• Lead Partner: CERONAV – Romanian Maritime Training Center, Constanța, Romania
• Website: www.ceronav.ro
• Contact Person: Ms. Mihaela Vintila
• Phone: +40.241.639 595/ext. 1117
• Email: mihaelavintila@ceronav.ro