The World Bank has given the green light to a five-year project valued at $8.24 million to enhance pollution monitoring and safeguard biodiversity in the Caspian Sea region. Dubbed “Blueing the Caspian Sea: Building Capacities for Pollution Management and Biodiversity Conservation,” the initiative is set to benefit Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. The project will be supported by $11.74 million in grant financing from the Global Environment Facility, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The United Nations Environment Programme will oversee the project’s implementation, with the United Nations Office for Project Services set to receive a $183,489 grant for developing environmental and social framework tools and bolstering cross-border collaboration. The World Bank’s funding will be allocated to two key areas: $3.15 million for pollution monitoring management to establish systematic approaches and standardized water quality assessments, and $4.25 million for biodiversity planning management to enhance protected area management and monitor population status.
The primary goal of the project is to improve pollution control mechanisms and enhance the efficacy of marine protected areas in the Caspian Sea, home to approximately 400 unique species. The World Bank has cautioned about a significant decline in the sea’s water level over the past few decades, projecting a potential drop of 8 to 30 meters by 2100 due to climate change and intensive water resource utilization.
In Azerbaijan, the initiative will aid the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in devising a marine pollution monitoring strategy, including policy instruments, a national workshop, and staff training. Additionally, the project will back biodiversity conservation efforts focusing on Caspian seals and sturgeon, along with plans to expand marine protected zones within Absheron National Park.
