One of the most significant obstacles to conserving Black Sea ecosystems is society’s lack of understanding of the importance of such activities. The project “Environmental and Ocean Literacy in the Black Sea Basin” (EOL) aims to address this issue by enhancing environmental and ocean literacy as well as green skills among youth in coastal areas around and connected to the Black Sea in Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece. Its purpose is to contribute to nature and biodiversity conservation in the Black Sea Basin.

As part of the project, a series of online and in-person workshops and educational events will be organized in all three participating countries. The main goal is to help people recognize threats to the sea as their own and view efforts to protect ecosystems as a shared societal responsibility. These online meetings aim to facilitate the exchange of ideas and opinions among different public representatives on the challenges and gaps in how the concept of marine resource protection reaches broader audiences.

The 18-month project, co-funded by the European Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program, is coordinated by the Turkish Yuva Association, with the participation of HSPN from Greece and the Green Balkans organization from Bulgaria.