Project Title:
Environmental mapping of Ukraine's coastal zone
for web-based presentation with associated research
The objective of
this proposed project is to create a system of ecological maps of the Black Sea
coastal zone using geographic information system (GIS) technologies and an
ability to communicate related research results electronically in a
user-friendly environment. The purpose is to provide necessary information to
research communities, government agencies and concerned citizens in order to
effectively assess and monitor the ecological conditions and protect and
preserve the resources and the natural environment in this region.
The proposed
mapping system will include the following components:
·
data on geographical features of the region
as electronic maps in GIS format
·
an ecological database (characteristics of
land-based sources of pollution)
·
data on ecological monitoring of coastal
waters
·
data on the condition of recreational zones
·
a structure of thematic ecological maps of
the Black Sea coastal zone allowing estimation of the ecological situation in
the region as a whole and in separate areas
The structure of the ecological charts
should include the following sections:
· ecological charts based on an inventory of features (industrial and municipal sources of coastal pollution, recreational zones, tanker routes, winter resting and spawning areas for fish)
·
ecological charts based on estimates of
features [biogenic pollution of coastal waters (eutrophication), chemical
pollution of coastal waters, maps of recreational potential]
·
ecological charts for decision makers (maps
of marine water quality and bottom sediments of the region, zoning of coastal
waters by water quality criteria)
·
ecological charts for the public. (A visual
representation of the changes in ecological conditions in the Black Sea coastal
regions of Ukraine will be included.)
The system would
have the capability to update the ecological data and geographical features of
the region and would allow maintenance and updating of the files and charts to
provide end users with current ecological information.
These data and the
other research documents would be prepared for electronic presentation on a Web
site in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The goal is to present data and
information services on a variety of expertise levels and on different spatial
and temporal scales in the Ukrainian part of the Black sea.
The Ukrainian Scientific Centre of the
Ecology of the Sea (UkrSCES) is the leading scientific and research institute
of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety of Ukraine in
the field of marine ecological research. UkrSCES has completed comprehensive
studies of marine ecosytems, ecological impact assessments, chemical analyses
of the Black and Azov Sea basin, and it maintains a fleet of research vessels.
ORNL has extensive experience in
developing geographic databases and utilizing these databases for environmental
analysis and assessment purposes. For
this particular project, ORNL will be able to provide technical support in
areas of database design, data update and maintenance, and provide suggestions
with respect to the use of the data in applications of environmental analysis
and assessment.
The deliverables will be structured around the proposed Web site and will
include a thorough description of issues via an encyclopedia and a glossary of
terms, in addition to the mapping of Ukraine’s coastal zone. The encyclopedia
will be organized into five divisions:
·
human activities
·
pollution load
·
living conditions
·
ecological effects
·
government measures
Human
activities and pollution load: These sections would include
information on various social forces and activities that lead to excessive
pollution, such as land cover data, actual load data, and population
statistics. They also would include data on land-based sources and common
statistical characteristics and diagrams of separate areas of the Ukrainian
part of the Black Sea. These two sections would include data gathered through
monitoring of the coastal zone and marine areas of the Black sea.
Living conditions and ecological effects: These sections would cover issues or problems such as nutrients, oxygen, toxic metals, oil hydrocarbons, chlororganic pesticides, and abnormal biological processes in the Black Sea (particularly algal blooms). The aim of these sections is to provide information on the state of the Black Sea environment, with a focus upon the biotic effects of pollution.
Measures: This section
would cover societal responses to environmental issues, such as the
establishment and ratification of the Bucharest Convention—which was signed on
April 21, 1992, by representatives for Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Russian
Federation, Turkey and Ukraine—and the Odessa Declaration (1996) created by the
signing of the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of
the Black Sea. The section would include a comprehensive overview of public
sector information, data, and associated tools of various types, presented in
various formats. These data should clearly present information about the role
of this project in the overall supply of information about marine Black Sea
problems. This section would also include scientific clauses, generalizations,
inventory charts with “hot spots,” measures on the decline of pollution, and
maps indicating the quality of the marine waters in separate regions of the
Black Sea.
Each of the five divisions would
be presented with “headline” indicators. These indicators would be presented
with text, charts and maps. [It is not clear what “presented with” means in the
previous two sentences. It is not clear what the phrase “headline indicators”
means.] Each division would offer the following levels of access to the information:
·
introduction
·
overview
·
maps
·
charts
·
scientific reports
One significant component of the project addresses the information users
and their needs. Users have been classified in four major groups:
·
the educational sector
·
the scientific community
·
decision-makers
·
nongovernment oganizations
The main aim of the project is to
develop a comprehensive information service that offers a complete overview of
information, data, and associated tools of various types and in various
formats. The data for the Web site would be clearly presented and would include
introductory details about the role of this project in the overall supply of
information about marine pollution problems in the Black Sea.
A glossary
and articles would also be provided.
The
glossary would represent a scientific dictionary on pollution and the
marine environment. It would include a short but full description of scientific
and other special terms.
The
articles would include a comprehensive scientific introduction to the
Ukrainian part of the Black Sea (its drainage areas) and to the environmental
problems in the coastal zone and marine areas.
A section covering the Ukrainian part of
the Black Sea would provide general background information about the Black Sea
and its large drainage area. It would provide information on the special
history and evolution of the Black Sea, its natural conditions and ecosystem
constraints, and a short description of marine environmental problems in the
Black Sea.
A section on pollution in the Black Sea would provide a general
overall introduction to pollution as a problem for the inhabitants and population of the Ukrainian Black
Sea region, and to the issue of sustainable development of the region. This
section would also provide information on problems such as eutropfication of
waters, pollution of coastal waters and marine areas, and bottom sediments
containing various pollutants. The information would be presented in diagrams,
tables, charts, and short discussions of the extent of pollution of surface waters
and bottom sediments of the Ukrainian part of the Black sea.
The reports and publications that would become the basis for the project:
1. Assessment of Land-Based Sources of Water and Land Pollution on the
Ukrainian Black Sea Coast, Activity Center on Pollution
Monitoring and Assessment, Ukrainian Scientific Center of the Ecology of Sea
(UkrSCES), Odessa, Ukraine, 1996.
2. On the State and Prospects of the National Network for Integrated Marine
Coastal Zone Management in Ukrainian Foundation, Kiev-Odessa, 1995.
3. Recreational Water and Beach Quality in the Ukrainian Black Sea Coastal
Zone, Activity Center on Pollution Monitoring
and Assessment, UkrSCES, Odessa, 1996.
4. On the State of Drinking Water in Ukraine, Activity Center on Pollution Monitoring and Assessment, UkrSCES,
Odessa, 1996.
5. Investigations of Contaminant Levels and Biological Effects of Black Sea
Mussels, the Ukrainian portion of the United
Nations Mussel Watch Program
(UNESCO–IOC Black Sea Mussel Watch), Activity Center on Pollution
Monitoring and Assessment, UkrSCES, Odessa, 1997.
6. Black Sea Environmental Priorities Study: Ukraine, United Nations Publications, New York, 1999, 106 p.
7. Black Sea Pollution Assessment, Vol. 10 in the
Black Sea Environmental Priorities series, New York, 1999.
8. Black Sea Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, GEF Black Sea Environmental Programme, The World Bank, 1997.
9. Black Sea Environmental Programme, 1997 Annual Report, UNDO, UNEP, The World Bank, Tacis.
10. Black Sea Biological Diversity, Ukrainian
National Report, Ukraine, 1998.
11. Environmental Quality Objectives for the Protection of the Black Sea
Ecosystem, Activity Center on Pollution Monitoring
and Assessment, UkrSCES, Odessa, 1999, Tacis.
12. Land-Based Sources.
13. Land-Survey of the Recreational Potential of the Ukrainian Part of the
Black Sea.
14. Marine Computer Atlas.