Project Summary

Plastic pollution poses a major threat to the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, particularly in the ADRION region, which stands out as a plastic pollution hotspot. Rivers are the main plastic pathways from land towards the sea, and in the Adriatic-Ionian region, various rivers are shared among countries or flow along countries’ borders. Thus, addressing riverine inputs of marine litter is a common territorial challenge, as also reflected in the recent efforts of the European Commission and the Barcelona Convention towards harmonised approaches. The overarching aim of the TETHYS4ADRION project is to investigate the role of rivers in contributing to marine plastic pollution in the ADRION region and to develop and deploy mitigation strategies aimed at addressing riverine litter inputs. Specifically, the project will focus on: – Facilitating the implementation of harmonised riverine litter monitoring in the ADRION countries by adopting novel and cutting-edge methodologies and conducting coordinated pilot monitoring on selected rivers. – Testing and upscaling solutions that prevent and mitigate riverine litter pollution and restore degraded freshwater habitats from plastic pollution via targeted environmentally-sound actions. – Establishing a comprehensive policy framework and groundwork for developing a sustainable and effective plan to manage and reduce riverine litter in the Adriatic-Ionian region. Ultimately, the project will contribute to minimising the detrimental impact of riverine litter on the marine environment and biodiversity of the ADRION region by fostering cross-border cooperation, promoting multi-stakeholder dialogue and implementing multi-level actions. By building new knowledge and establishing a community of experts in the ADRION region, the project will pave the way for the adoption of a comprehensive and coordinated approach toward cleaner and healthier river ecosystems. The main project outputs include: – Jointly adopted Guidelines for riverine litter monitoring in the Adriatic-Ionian region. A robust monitoring network for collecting riverine litter data will be developed and will employ a harmonised approach to monitor and assess riverine litter in five key pilot river areas: Alfeios (Greece), Buna-Bojana (Albania, Montenegro), Soča-Isonzo (Slovenia, Italy), Neretva (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Reno (Italy). – A Blueprint on how to operationalise best practice solutions to address riverine plastic litter. The blueprint will outline the operational steps for implementing effective solutions to tackle the issue of riverine plastic litter. It will feature a carefully curated selection of best practice solutions that have been collaboratively chosen, tested, and validated by all stakeholders involved in the five pilot river areas. These solutions are designed to prevent and reduce plastic pollution in rivers while simultaneously restoring their health and integrity. – A Regional Roadmap towards zero plastics released at sea in the Adriatic-Ionian region. The Roadmap will serve as a strategic plan tailored for local, national, and regional decision-makers and policy-makers, offering actionable insights to reduce riverine litter inputs. Through a collaborative effort, experts from diverse backgrounds across all countries within the region will actively participate in crafting this roadmap, ensuring comprehensive and inclusive solutions. – A Regional Group of stakeholders committed to eliminating riverine litter inputs. In order to solidify and amplify the project impact and collective momentum, a network of regional stakeholders committed to eliminating riverine litter inputs will be created. The network will involve stakeholders from the ADRION region (and beyond) united in addressing the issue of litter entering waterways. These stakeholders typically include government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academic institutions, industry representatives and local communities. Community engagement lies at the heart of the mission of the TETHYS4ADRION project. The project actions will raise public awareness about the impacts of riverine litter through dynamic campaigns, interactive workshops, and comprehensive educational programs tailored for individuals, communities, schools, and businesses. With volunteer programs, cleanup efforts, and river restoration endeavours, the project will empower local communities to take proactive steps toward cleaner rivers, nurturing a strong sense of ownership and responsibility among all members.