June 2020- May 2022: BeECO Joint actions for environmental protection in Black Sea Basin
The main objective of the project is promoting environmental protection in the Black Sea Basin through common education, awareness and river clean-up campaigns to reduce river and marine litter. BeECO aims to achieve the objectives and indicators of the program by:
- organizing information and awareness campaigns among local communities;
- organizing common clean-up activities on Danube River, Rioni River, Sevan Lake, and Beleu Lake;
- developing an IT application that will allow the signaling waste areas along identified rivers and lakes;
- the establishment of a mobile patrol for the identification and reporting of waste in the areas concerned;
- organizing a capacity building campaign ( “3R-reduce, reuse, recycle”, “Environmental ranger”, “Environmental entrepreneurship”)
Funding organization: EU – Black Sea Basin Cross –border Cooperation Program
Countries/regions/communities: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Romania
Beneficiaries: Local authorities, service providers and general public of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Romania
On 03 November 2022, Urban Foundation held the common clean-up activity in Armenia in the framework of “BeECO – Joint actions for environmental protection in Black Sea Basin” project funded by the ENI CBC Black Sea Basin Programme.
The event was organized on the shores of the lake Sevan in Gegharquniq province. The representatives of the project partner organizations from Romania, Moldova and Georgia also participated in the activity in Armenia.
The event was organized with support of Gegharquniq marzpetaran and active involvement of Sevan municipality and Sevan national park representatives. Other target groups also joined the event.
The event was covered by Yerkir Media TV company, and aired during the daily news, and a press release was printed in the local newspaper.
The activity followed a set of 4 local clean-ups organized near lake Sevan, as well as near Hrazdan gorge.
Promotional material of the project was distributed during all the mentioned activities.
On 16 September, 2022, the Urban Foundation organized clean-up action on the banks of the river Hrazdan, in the city of Yerevan.
The event took place in the framework of BeECO project funded by ENI CBC BSB programme.
The students from Yerevan School N156 participated in the clean-up action, as well as the teachers, and the representatives of Urban Foundation.
After the clean-up, the Urban Foundation representative held an educational session on the topic of waste management, sorting, recycling.
The participants were given promotional material and clean-up equipment all prepared in the framework of BeECO project.
On 04 September, 2022, the Urban Foundation organized clean-up action on the shores of the lake Sevan, near the town of Gavar
The event took place in the framework of BeECO project funded by ENI CBC BSB programme.
Lchavan school students from Gegharquniq marz participated in the clean-up action, as well as the teachers and their headmaster, and the representatives of Urban Foundaion.
After the clean-up, the Urban Foundation representative held an educational session on the topic of waste management, sorting, recycling.
The participants were given promotional material and clean-up equipment all prepared in the framework of BeECO project.
On 28 August, 2022, Urban Foundation organised clean-up activities to celebrate the Sevan Lake Day in cooperation with “Environment and Youth” NGO.
Two clean-up events were organized on the shores of Sevan and Drakhtik communities of Gegharkunik marz in the framework of BeECO project funded by ENI CBC BSB programme.
The first clean-up action took place on the lake shores in Sevan community with participation of the students from Kasakh school N1.
The second clean-up action took place on the lake shores in Drakhtik community with participation of the students from Drakhtik and Chambarak schools.
After each clean-up, the Urban Foundation representative held an educational session on the topic of waste management, sorting, recycling.
The participants were given promotional material and clean-up equipment all prepared in the framework of BeECO project.
After the clean-ups, the students had the opportunity to participate in a discussion with the RA Deputy Minister of Environment, as well as EU4Sevan programme representatives.
The day was concluded in the village of Drakhtik by a theatrical performance “Lament of Sevan” prepared by the school students. The aim of the performance was to introduce the problems of Sevan through a musical.
BeEco project information seminar
In May 2021, Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development organized 2 information seminars in the framework of “BeECO – Joint actions for environmental protection in Black Sea Basin” project funded by the ENI CBC Black Sea Basin Programme.
The first information seminar has been organized on 26 May 2021 at Agricultural College аfter A.Kochinyan of Armenian National Agrarian University in Yerevan.
The project team presented the project and the environmental expert made a presentation on environmental topics of water resources and Sevan lake issues.
The second information seminar has been organized online on 27 May 2021 for the students, lecturers and researchers of Yerevan State University, and other educational institutions.
The Armenian team presented the project and the environmental expert made a presentation on environmental topics of water resources and Sevan lake issues.
The students had the opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A session at the information seminars.
The launching conference of “BEECO – Joint Actions for Environmental Protection in Black Sea Basin” project took place on September 25, 2020
On September 25, 2020, a launching conference of the “BeECO – Joint actions for environmental protection in Black Sea Basin” project funded by the ENI CBC Black Sea Basin Programme was held in Yerevan. In Armenia, the project is managed by the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development.
Mrs. Nune Ghazakhetsyan, the Executive Director of the Urban Foundation made a welcoming speech. Mr Andrea Baggioli, the International Aid/Cooperation Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Mrs Ruzanna Grigoryan, the Head of International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Environment of RA and Mrs Astghik Hayrapetyan, Black Sea Basin Programme National Coordinator made opening speeches.
Deputy Minister of Environment Mrs Anna Mazmanyan also addressed the project and the participants.
The greeting by Adrian Buța, BeECO Project Manager from ACTEDJ, was presented to the audience. The project presentation was delivered by the National Project Manager, Mrs Gayane Sargsyan. The Head of the Division of Solid Waste Management from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure had valuable input to the event with his perspective on the topics discussed.
Lusine Hambaryan, Associate Professor from Yerevan State University Ecology and Nature Protection Department made an informative presentation on the main issues of Lake Sevan.
The participants had the opportunity to ask questions and raise comments.
The event was attended by a wide range of stakeholders. Among the participants were representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Economy, Gegharkunik province regional administration, Sevan and Gavar municipalities, Acopian Center for the Environment, Lithuanian Embassy in Armenia, UN, beneficiaries of BSB program in Armenia from Regional environmental center for Caucasus – serves a Regional Platform and ICARE-Armenia , as well as media and civil society representatives from Armenian Energy Agency, Plug.am, Հայաստանի տարածքային զարգացման հիմնադրամ ATDF, Civil Voice NGO, Blejan NGO, ISSD – Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Development of Communities and others.
The participants expressed their commitment to cooperate in the framework of the objectives of the project. The meeting put a solid foundation for future cooperation among civil society, the educational sector and state governing bodies.
p.s. All the requirements and restrictions in regards to social distancing, face masks wearing and allowable limit of participants during gatherings for Armenia were in place during the event.
BeECO project Round table events in Yerevan, 28-29 April 2022
On April 28 and 29, 2022, the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development organised 2 round table events (D.T1.3.1) in the framework of BeECO BSB-1107 project.
The Black Sea Basin programme National Coordinator from Armenia opened the event with her speech, followed by the speeches and presentations of the project representatives. Waste governance expert and lecturer at the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment presented an overview of the major waste-related initiatives in Armenia, followed by the presentation on sewage waters and impact on human health by “Hetq” Investigative Journalist. Urban Foundation also presented Armenian experience in the field of waste management. The “Plug.am” Co-founder presented the project aimed at the promotion of electric vehicles in Armenia, followed by the presentation on “Water Resources and Sevan Lake” by the Head of the “Environment and Health” NGO.
The project partners from Romania, Moldova and Georgia also participated in the round table. BeECO Project Manager from, Romania, presented the “Recycling facilities and current status of environmental protection in Galati County”. The representative from the Moldovan partner organization “Cross-border Cooperation and European Integration Agency” presented the problems and solutions in solid waste management in the Cahul region of Moldova.
The events were attended by representatives of local and national authorities, NGOs, educational institutions and media. All the participants actively participated in discussions on the topics of waste disposal in unauthorized places, the lack of collection and sorting stations, as well as the gaps in legislation.
BeECO Project Partner Meeting in Yerevan, 27 April 2022
On 27 April 2022, Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development organized the 7th PP meeting in Yerevan in the framework of the BeECO BSB1107 project. Representatives of project partner organizations from Romania, Moldova and Georgia participated in the meeting. The partners discussed the results and activities of the project and planned the future actions.
