The joint project between Hungary, Ukraine and Romania to protect the Tisza River as a natural asset has ended with a closing conference held in Nyíregyháza on March 14, 2023. The results of the joint work will contribute to the development of a coherent strategy based on a cross-border nature conservation policy.
The conference was attended by the representatives of the project partners and of the collaborating institutions, who held the following presentations:
- ETIMA project activities in Ukraine: results analysis of the chemical studies and chlorophyll-a measurement in surface waters of the Tisa River and its tributaries” – Mariya SKOBLEY – Head of the Department for Instrumental and Laboratory Control, ECORES
- Pollution sources in the Upper Tisa river basin on the territory of Ukraine and ways to improve the situation in water resources use and protection” – Oksana FENTSYK, expert, Agency of Local Development and Information Resources “Europolis”
- Association of civil organizations and volunteers for a plastic-free Szamos President Erzsébet BÉKÉSSY “Elét fája” Environmental Protection and Humanitarian Association
- The method of surveying aquatic invertebrate communities and the evaluation of its results from a faunistic point of view OLAJOS Péter BioAqua Pro Ltd.
- The changes of the quantitative parameters in the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities between the Tisza Рахів/Rahó and Záhony/Чоп based on the results of 2004 and 2021 KISS Béla executive director-MÜLLER Zoltán managing director BioAqua Pro Ltd.
- The method and results of the assessment of fish communities POLYÁK László expert BioAqua Ltd.
- Protected areas in the Upper Tisa River basin – dr. Oksana STANKEVYCH – VOLOSIANCHUK, expert NGO Ecosphere
- The presence of the beaver (Castor fiber) and the otter (Lutra lutra) in the rivers of the Upper Tisza region dr. TAMÁS Sike expert Greenterest SRL János MÁRK-NAGY project manager Transylvanian Carpathia Society
- Ecological status assessment of the Upper-Tisa river basin based on phytoplankton.- dr. SELMECZY Géza Associate professor Pannon University
- Ecological status assessment of the Upper-Tisa river basin based on benthic diatom dr. STENGER-KOVÁCS Csilla Associate professor Pannon University
The general objectives of the project were to successfully protect common natural values, improve the water quality and ecological status of the cross-border Tisza River and its tributaries, strengthen the good relations between Hungary, Ukraine and Romania, and raise the awareness of the population for nature conservation.
Between May and October 2021, a total of 253 samples were collected in 43 river sections, from which 29 water quality characteristics were analysed. The unfavourable section of the Tisza River in Ukraine is below the town of Aknaslatina, where chloride and zinc ion concentrations and conductivity values do not meet the good status thresholds. In Hungary, the section below the mouths of the Szamos and Kraszna tributaries is deteriorating due to organic and nutrient loading and increased salt concentrations, but still meets the good status standards. Due to the Covid outbreak, the project was delayed for 35 months instead of the original 24, with a total budget of just over €500,000.
The results of the project will be put to good use in different areas in the future, for example, the action plan can be a tool for the competent authorities to take measures against polluting sources, achieving the ecological status of rivers will contribute to increasing the tourist attractiveness of the area and safe water use.
