The Nestos/Mesta river basin, shared between Greece and Bulgaria, spans 243 km and supports a vital ecosystem. Its delta is protected under the Ramsar Convention and is considered as a first priority site under EU Natura 2000. In Greece (downstream), two dams generate electricity while also supplying water for irrigation and maintaining a basic ecological flow. Agriculture and livestock are the main sources of income in both countries.
The complex challenges that Nestos/Mesta river basin faces, were identified through a stakeholder co-creation process and are related to: flood risk management and coastal erosion, preservation of the ecologically-significant delta, compromise of transboundary waterdiplomacy issues, monitoring water quality, management of conflicts between the water and energy sectors, climate change impacts on the aquatic ecosystem, waste disposal, absence of transboundary cooperations and common action plans, agricultural development under climate change conditions, maintenance of ecological flow, reduction of water losses (water saving) and increase of energy generated from multiple renewable energy sources.