An introductory meeting for the PURE RIVERS project—which aims to assess and reduce pollution in target rivers in the Black Sea Basin while improving ecosystem health—was hosted by Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa. Launched on February 28, 2026, under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program, the project will bring together partner organizations from Turkey, Greece, and Georgia.
The PURE RIVERS – Pollution Awareness and Remediation Efforts for Rivers Project (Project ID: BSB01319), supported under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program, officially kicked off with working meetings that brought stakeholders together.
To truly understand the PURE RIVERS project, we must first ask this question: What do we see when we look at the rivers that flow into the Black Sea? What we see is this: Pollution is no longer just an environmental problem—it is a health problem, an economic problem, and a problem concerning the legacy we will leave for future generations. The rivers of the Black Sea Basin are under serious environmental pressure due to pollution and habitat degradation. Unfortunately, environmental pollution today knows no borders.
This is precisely why this project stands out not merely as a scientific study, but as an undertaking of transboundary responsibility.
The PURERIVERS Project brings together three countries, three rivers, and four different institutions:
The Sakarya River, the Meriç (Evros) River, and the Supsa River will be studied as part of the project, and the following four institutions from the three countries will carry out the research.
→ İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa (Proje Lideri, Türkiye)
→ Sakarya Valiliği (Türkiye)
→ Trakya Democritus Üniversitesi (Yunanistan)
→ Lanchkhuti Belediyesi (Gürcistan)
Work will be carried out in four key areas as part of this 30-month project:
- Pollution Identification and Monitoring: Sources and levels of pollution in the target rivers will be identified and monitored using scientific methods.
- Reduction Strategies: Feasible, scalable strategies to reduce pollution will be developed and implemented.
- Ecosystem Restoration: River ecosystems will be revitalized, and biodiversity will be protected.
- Knowledge Sharing: New findings will be shared with stakeholders, the public, and decision-makers.
The ultimate goal of the Pure Rivers project is to improve water quality, protect river ecosystems, and provide long-term benefits to both the environment and society by strengthening green infrastructure. It is anticipated that the partnerships established, the data collected, and the methodologies developed will continue to guide the watershed even after the project concludes, serving as one of the project’s key outcomes.
Source: https://olaygundem.com.tr/pure-rivers-nehirler-icin-kirlilik-bilinci-ve-iyilestirme-calismalari/
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