As a result of intensive human activities over the past century, coastal areas have been negatively affected and this situation has led to the deterioration of receiving water quality and destruction of the ecosystem. The pressure on coasts is increasing day by day, especially in areas where settlement, industrialization and tourism are intense. Therefore, it is increasingly important to formulate national strategies and prepare effective action plans to prevent pollution in coastal areas.
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has been working since 2000 to ensure the protection of our country's coastal areas and seas based on international conventions to which our country is a party (Barcelona and Bucharest Conventions Land-Borne Pollutants Protocols), national legislation and relevant EU Directives.
Firstly, "Preparation of the National Action Plan on Pollution from Land-Borne Pollutants (KKK NAP 2004)" between 2001-2004 The project was carried out by TÜBİTAK MAM under the coordination of the Ministry. Later, the MMR NAP, which was organized according to UNEP MAP requirements, was submitted to the UNEP MAP Secretariat in 2005. In Turkey, "Updating the National Action Plan for the Protection of Our Seas against Land-Based Pollutants (KKK NAP 2017)" was initiated with the contract signed between the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, General Directorate of Environmental Management and TÜBİTAK MAM Marine Research and Technologies Research Group on June 13, 2016 and completed in 2017.
"Updating the National Action Plan for the Protection of Our Seas against Land-Based Pollutants (KKK NAP 2023)" Signed between the General Directorate of Environmental Management of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and TÜBİTAK MAM Marine Research and Technologies Research Group on May 2023.
The Second Thematic Working Meeting of the Project was held in Bursa on 9-12 July 2024 on the topics of "Defining Applicable Targets, Prioritizing Potential Measures, Updating Hotspots and Sensitive Areas".
Opening speeches were delivered by Dr. Vildan Bölükbaşı Atay, Head of Marine and Coastal Management Department of General Directorate of Environmental Management and Dr. Ersin Üresin, TÜBİTAK MAM Material Technologies Coordinator.
The meeting was attended by approximately 90 participants from the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, TÜBİTAK MAM Vice Presidency on Climate Change and Sustainability, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, relevant Ministries, universities, NGOs and Provincial Directorates of Environment and Urbanization and Metropolitan Municipalities in coastal provinces.
Within the scope of the workshop, three technical working groups (Urban, Industry and Agriculture) determined according to their institutions and areas of expertise carried out the following activities:
- Assessment of the current status of land-based pollutants
- Identification and prioritization of objectives
- Drafting of solution proposals
- Identification of potential measures
- Establishment of monitoring plans
In order to evaluate the technical feasibility of potential measures and to prioritize the measures, within the scope of the cost-benefit study, the evaluation of the criteria - ranking - determination of the score matrix were completed with our participants according to the Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) method. As a result of these studies, national targets and measures were ranked based on their total scores. A draft "Priority Ranking of Measures" table was created with the tables filled in by the workshop participants.
In addition, the project team shared the results of the National Border Budget and SN/HA analyses. All participants organized a clean-up event at Bursa Kumsaz Beach.
