This volume is a collection of reports presented at the International NATO Advanced Research Workshop Conservation of the Biological Diversity as a Prerequisite for Sustainaible Development of the Black Sea Region. The seminar was held at Batumi - Kobuleti, Georgia, on the Black Sea during October 5 -12, 1996 with participants from the countries of the Black Sea Region -Georgia, Russia, the Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, as well as Germany, Italy and the United States of America. The Black Sea Region is an essential and unique part of southern Europe because of its geographical, cultural and historical features. It is the cradle of European civilisation, together with Greece and Rome. For centuries it neighboured onto and interacted with the cultures of the northern and southern Mediterranean, the Christian and Moslim worlds, and was the route of conquerors and migrations of whole nations. Here are closely interwoven the cultures and customs of nations, economic and trade relations, the history of wars and civilised relations of neighbouring countries.

Klappentext

The countries of the Black Sea region are beset by a great number of problems: there are many large cities along the coast; intensive agriculture is practised in the region; great rivers such as the Danube and the Dnieper carry pollution from a large part of Europe; and the lowlands are threatened by flooding from the rivers, wind-induced surges, and future sea-level rise due to global warming. Any integrated, sustainable development of the region will require an interdisciplinary approach, which the present book reflects. Contributions range from the monitoring of biological diversity through the influence of tourism on marine and coastal ecosystems to environmental economics. The problem also has an international dimension: only by interdisciplinary, international cooperation can the environment of the Black Sea region be conserved for future generations.

Inhalt

1. Scientific Introduction.- Biological Diversity of the Black Sea Basin: Its Current State.- Natural Conditions and Processes as Factors having some Effect on the Biological Diversity of the Black Sea Region.- Current Trends and Environmental Issues of the Black Sea Regional Development.- Issues in the Economics of Biodiversity and Economic Growth: Sustainability, Development, Valuation and Realpolitik.- 2. Biological Diversity and the Natural Hertiage of the Black Sea Region.- Some Remarks concerning the Evaluation of Ecological Diversity at the Romanian Black Sea Coast.- Species Composition and Biodiversity of Georgian Black Sea Phytoplankton.- State of the Art and Tendencies for Changes in the Black Sea Biodiversity of the Bulgarian Coast.- On the Biodiversity of the Georgian Black Sea Coast.- Plant Diversity in the Turkish Black Sea Region and Strategies for its Conservation.- State of the Black Sea Anchovy Stock.- The Influence of the Ecotone Diversity on the Ornitho-Complexes of the Azov-Black Sea Coast of Ukraine.- Ecosystems Sustainability of Open Black Sea Regions.- Black Sea Biodiversity in Eutrophication Conditions.- Current State of the Georgian Black Sea Sturgeons.- 3. Analysis of human impacts and threats to biological diversity.- Ecological Aspects of the Biochemical Studies in the Coastal Waters of the Black Sea.- Threats to the Protection of Marine Ecosystems: Comparison of North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean and Black Sea. Consequences for a Sustainable Development of the Black Sea.- Legislative and Environmental Preconditions for Development of Recreation and Tourism in the Black Sea Region.- Recreation and Tourism in the Northern Black Sea Region: Current State and Prospects of Development.- Conflicts between Tourism Developments and Conservation of Biological Diversity: Overview of Tourism Developments in the Global, Regional and European National Context with Special Emphasis on Coastal Regions.- On the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of the Past.- Black Sea Strategic Action Plan: Biological Diversity Protection.- Forecast of the Ecological Situation of the Black Sea under Influence of Anthropogenic Factors and Some Ways of its Therapy.- 4. Instruments for Conservation and Sustainable Development.- Natural Heritage Plan for Biological Diversity in the North American Great Lakes Ecosystem: Lessons and Application to the Black Sea Region.- Artificial Reproduction: A Feasible Way of Conserving the Disappearing Black Sea Fishes.- Marine and Coastal Protected Areas in Europe as a Tool for an Integrated Coastal Zone Management.- The Protected Areas of the Black Sea Region in their Relationship to the IUCN Action Plan Parks for Life.- Experiences of HELCOM in Conservation of Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity and Possibilities of its Application in the Black Sea Region.- Strategies for Nature Conservation in the Black Sea Region.- Conserving Kolkheti Wetlands to Enhance Regional Development.- Results, The Black Sea - A Bridge between Europe and Asia.- List of Workshop Participants.