Environmental Protection Measures Research Articles

The usage of probiotic microorganisms in production technology of European grayling fish stock

European grayling is a perspective object of a recreational fishing. In addition, the presence of this species in sufficient quantities in rivers has a positive influence on the formation of the recreational attractiveness of mountain regions, where tourism is one of the main sources of local communities existence. However, grayling stocks in the watercourses of Ukraine are significantly depleted nowadays, and populations are in a condition of lack, what has led to the inclusion of this species into the Red Book of Ukraine. Working out of biotechnologies of artificial reproduction of rare fish species in aquaculture conditions for the further reintroduction of the resulting offspring into natural water bodies takes an important place in the system of environmental protection measures to preserve biodiversity. After all, the reintroduction into nature of artificially obtained fish fry is one of the effective ways to restore the optimal number and structure of rare fish species natural populations, and this, in turn, will allow in the future to restore the limited exploitation of the stock of these fish species. One of the critical artificial fish reproduction technology links is the transfer of larvae to external nutrition. Namely on this stage the highest mortality rates are observed. The usage of live feeds as a starter fodder can significantly improve the situation. Forage organisms, in addition to having high nutritional value, can serve as delivering tools of various targeted products, including probiotics, to a fish larvae organism. The assessment of the usage of probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei IMV B-7280 feasibility is carried, and also the possibility of usage the culture Daphnia magna Straus, 1820 grown in the presence of trehalose lipids, within the technology of early feeding of the European grayling Thymallus thymallus (Linnaeus, 1758). It was shown that the larvae of the European grayling, which received investigated probiotic microorganisms strain, had 15% bigger weight on the final stages of feeding than the larvae of the control group. Introduction to the diet of grown-up grayling larvae of the culture Daphnia magna, previously received of common cultivation with microalgae Desmodesmus armatus (Chodat) E.H.Hegewald 2000 with addition of trehalose lipids, contributed to the reduction of larval mortality and the acceleration of their growth rate. Further improvement of proposed approaches of growing grayling fish planting material can be extrapolated to other fish species and in the future may be applicable in the process of growing rare fish species in conditions of farm aquaculture fish farms, what will allow them to be involved into environmental protection activities by placing appropriate orders. This, in its turn, will contribute to the stable development of communities in rural areas.

STATE AUDIT IN THE FIELD OF ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES: WORLD EXPERIENCE

Against the background of globalization of trends in the transition to «green» technologies and the economy, the increase in related costs, the relevance of assessing the effectiveness of audit activities in the environmental sphere is also increasing. In this regard, the article examines the world experience in organizing and conducting a state audit of the efficiency of the use of natural resources. In particular, the authors consider the methodological approaches of the supreme audit institutions of foreign countries that occupy high positions in international ratings of environmental protection and the use of resource-saving technologies. As a result of the study, it was revealed that most of the external state audit bodies do not conduct an audit of the use of natural resources, not in the form of a separate type of audit, but as an audit of efficiency. In some cases, these audits combine elements of an efficiency audit and a compliance audit, as well as a financial audit. At the same time, in the structure of the efficiency audit elements used in the activities of the supreme audit institutions of the countries under study, «economy», «efficiency» and «efficiency» can be distinguished, with the exception of the experience of Canada, whose audit management adds «environment» and «sustainable development». Based on the results of the analysis, the authors formulated conclusions in the context of considering the possibility of adapting the best best practices of the Supreme Audit Institutions in domestic conditions in the field of assessing the effectiveness of the use of natural resources and environmental protection measures in general.

Study on Spatial and Temporal Differences of Water Resource Sustainable Development and Its Influencing Factors in the Yellow River Basin, China

This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the spatial and temporal variations of water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) and its influencing factors in the significant Yellow River Basin in China. Combining the composite weighting TOPSIS method with geographic detector analysis, the water resource carrying capacity index for nine provinces within the Yellow River Basin was evaluated from 2005 to 2021. The results reveal a continuous upward trend in water resource carrying capacity in the Yellow River Basin, with significant improvements attributed to increased investment in scientific research, enhanced water use efficiency, proactive water resource management, and environmental protection measures. The study also identified differences in water resource carrying capacity among provinces, highlighting the significant impact of factors such as economic development, population density, industrial wastewater discharge, and precipitation. The findings underscore the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental protection. Specifically, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia provinces showed remarkable progress, while Qinghai and Sichuan provinces exhibited slower growth, primarily due to geographical location and industrial development status. Based on these findings, it is recommended that research investment be strengthened, economic structures be optimized, water resource management be improved, and environmental protection measures be enhanced.

Risk management analysis of environmental investment in economic security


 
 
 Biodiversity loss is irreversible and demands investment in organizational measures for environmental protection and effective risk management of relevant financial investments to ensure national economic security. This research analyzes the directions of investment support for economic security based on rational interaction between society and ecosystems. The goal of this article is to identify the main directions of anthropogenic impact on the environment and the interdependence of improving ecological indicators through investment activities in the corresponding direction to ensure economic security. The study examines investment directions in environmental protection within the LIFE program projects to prevent negative cause-and-effect effects from the implementation of natural innovations. The maximization of the EU’s efforts in ecosystem restoration and protection is identified to mitigate investment risks by promoting the adoption of innovations across a wider range of societal spheres. It is estimated that during the period from 2018 to 2022, there was an increase in investment in environmental protection by approximately 18%, resulting in areduction in emissions intensity by 22.9% by economic activity types from 2016 to 2021, and the average CO2 emissions indicator contributed to a decrease by 1.1%. Investing in the environment requires continuous adaptation to changing external conditions and requires adjustments to reduce risk threats, such as unforeseen consequences of financial investments in certain economic sectors, shifts in societal behavior, and unexpected ecosystem impacts. However, effective management of investment risks is a potential for the development of environmental investment activities, such as the implementation and support of sustainable innovations (transition to eco-friendly construction, reforestation, raw material certification).
 
 

Evaluation and analysis of coastal complex ecological resilience based on multidimensional data: A case study of East China Sea

Coastal areas are characterized by frequent interactions among natural, social, and economic factors. However, intensive development has degraded coastal ecosystems. To effectively implement environmental protection measures, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the current state of these systems. Resilience, which represents the capacity of an ecosystem for sustainable development, plays a significant role in this regard. Here, we focus on the East China Sea coastal zone and establish an evaluation system to quantitatively assess the resilience of the coastal complex ecosystem using multi-source data. We analyze the spatiotemporal evolution and characteristics of coastal resilience from 2005 to 2020 and investigate the factors that influenced the spatial differentiation of resilience along the coast. We found that over the 16-year period, the resilience of the coastal complex ecosystem in the East China Sea fluctuated with a downward trend, and had notable spatial heterogeneity and a substantial sea-land gradient. Factors related to human activities have increasingly contributed to the spatial differentiation of resilience in the complex ecosystem. Our findings provide valuable support and guidance for the protection, restoration, sustainable utilization, and management of coastal complex ecosystems.

Environmental protection and the road database

In recent years, we have witnessed the intensive construction of road routes through Serbia. Mitigation plans have been designed on all newly constructed sections and environmental monitoring is foreseen. In order to successfully implement mitigation and monitoring plans, there is a need to consolidate a large number and type of data. Within the PE "Roads of Serbia" there is a Database department responsible for the management, collection, updating and analysis of the data referring to roads, traffic, traffic signage and equipment, traffic accidents, structures, etc. This paper points to the necessity of upgrading the existing database with data based on applied environmental protection measures, requirements regarding regular maintenance and monitoring of their effectiveness through a monitoring plan. All the elements of mitigation plans that should be included in the database are presented in detail: noise protection walls, oil separators used to treat waste water, wire fences that are adapted to certain animal species and wildlife crossings. The database should also contain monitoring data for surface water, groundwater, air, soil and noise level. In order to improve environmental protection, proposals were also made on the use of data already entered in the existing database and their upgrading.

Analysis on Debt-paying Ability of Shagang Group

In recent years, the overall performance of steel market can be described as "hot", which has far exceeded expectations. The supply of steel industry is less than the demand. The continuous implementation of environmental protection measures has led to the continuous increase of steel price, which has reached its peak in recent years. The steel industry, which has already obtained a lot of profits, further develops the market and obtains more profits. However, with the good performance of the economy in recent years, the management's business philosophy and management awareness are also being updated, and the debt paying ability is also increasingly valued by the operators, investors and creditors. Whether it is a small company, a listed company or any other organization, the solvency is more and more valued and treated as the same level as the future sustainable operation of the company. Shagang Group, as a very large private iron and steel enterprise in China, is mainly engaged in: iron and steel smelting, steel rolling, and has been the number one single steel mill in the country in steel export for many years. However, with the continuous increase in revenue, many problems have also been brought about. The debt scale of the company has grown rapidly, among which the short-term debt is large in scope and large in proportion. When there is a shortage of daily capital requirements, a single borrowing channel cannot obtain sufficient funds in time. Under such a background, it is of great significance to explore ways to improve the debt paying ability of Shagang Group and put forward reasonable improvement measures to realize the strategic objectives of Shagang Group in the next ten years.

The Legal Root and Breakthrough of China's Green Trade Barrier in the Post-epidemic Era

The process of trade liberalization has been advancing in the context of economic globalization, and the technological field has also continued to develop. As a result, the development of trade will inevitably have a certain adverse impact on the environment. At the same time, people's demand for green consumption is increasing, which has led to the deepening of the impact of trade liberalization and environmental protection. In addition, the ravages of the COVID-19 epidemic in the past three years have made the contradictions more acute, green trade barriers have developed, and some countries have successively and continuously adopted different degrees of restrictive green trade measures for China's personnel and goods. Therefore, this paper aims to use legal normative analysis to study how to break through China's green trade barriers in the post-epidemic era. this paper also aims to use this to improve the relevant legal system in China and look for commonalities from the "Belt and Road". Meanwhileactively explore solutions and solutions are also important. In this way, the implementation of trade barriers and special trade freedom and environmental protection measures during the epidemic will be balanced. Finally, it provides suggestions for breaking through green trade barriers and improving relevant domestic legal systems in China's post-epidemic era.

How institutional quality, and energy production sources, affect the environmental sustainability of bri countries: A comparison of different income groups.

Institutions and energy production sources shape environmental policies and practices. Institutions establish frameworks for renewable energy and enforce environmental protection measures. Conventional energy sources cause pollution and climate change, while green energy sources have lower environmental impacts. In this study we analyzed how quality institutions, along with different types of energy production sources affect the quality of environment in 101 countries that are part of the BRI, a global development project. We used a statistical method called panel quantile regression to analyze data from 2000 to 2020. We found that producing energy from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, reduces CO2 emissions by 0.003% in BRI countries. However, producing energy from non-renewable sources, such as gas and coal, harms the environment more in high-income and middle-income countries. We also found that having better institutional quality reduces CO2 emissions by 3.421%, 2.710%, and 0.006% in different groups of BRI countries. This means that having stronger and fairer institutions can help protect the environment by limiting the use of non-renewable energy sources and encouraging the use of renewable ones. Our study suggests that improving institutional quality is a key factor for achieving green energy and environmental sustainability in BRI countries.

Environmental Protection Measures for Unplanned Land Use and Land Cover Changes in a Subbasin of the Ganga River System

In the Ganga river system, unplanned land use land cover (LULC) changes have serious threat to the environment. Protective measures are essential at local, regional, and global scales to save human life and the environment. In the present work, the land use and land cover (LULC) changes have been studied from 2002 to 2021 in a basin area between river Gandak and river Burhi Gandak in India. For the analysis, Landsat 5, 7, and 8 satellite data have been used to analyze the changes in vegetation, urban land, open land, water body, and wet soil in the last two decades. The result shows that from 2002 to 2021 the agricultural area and open land have decreased by 16.12% (158,676 ha) and 11.85% (116794.8 ha), respectively. The urban and the waterlogged area have increased by 24.32% (240,070 ha) and 4.75% (46937.3 ha), respectively. The environmental protection measures, namely conjunctive use, multiple cropping practices, land reclamation, and decentralized urban development to reduce floating population, have been studied and recommended in the study region for better land use/land cover.

Лесная промышленность горного региона: оценка территориальной организации и рисков развития (по материалам Республики Тыва)

Searching for ways to develop the territories along the eastern border of Russia, including mountainous areas, their manufacturing sectors, among them those in the forestry complex, becomes extremely relevant in current conditions due to the sanctions imposed by the Western countries. In keeping with the goals of this paper and based on studying the stages in the development of economic sectors, analysis and synthesis of data from official statistical sources and authorities as well as modeling of future processes in the mining region, it has been established that in such border mountainous regions of the country as the Republic of Tyva do not fully utilize the existing potential and opportunities for the development of manufacturing, exportoriented industries, especially in the timber industry. In particular, it is shown that in this region, half of the territory of which is covered with forests, there exists a significant potential to increase the volume of harvesting, treatment and deep processing of forest resources (including the volumes of timber up to 1500 thousand m³ per year) and the production of high-quality goods, including the export-oriented ones, provided that environmental protection measures are taken and the level of environmental risks is reduced. The formation of the necessary favorable legislative and legal conditions is proposed for the development of the forest industry in a depressive mountainous region.

Equity market performance: The role of environmental protection and corporate social responsibility efforts

AbstractBusinesses that contribute to social welfare and development are regarded as reliable and generate more wealth for their stakeholders. This study attempts to determine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental protection measures influence the financial performance of Indian businesses. A panel dataset containing 330 Nifty 500 companies is included to determine their relationship. The quarterly and semi‐annual share prices are employed as proxies for the financial performance of companies. In the regression model, the lagged share prices (log) of two periods serve as the response variable, while the CSR and the CSR plus the environment and pollution control expenses (CSREP) serve as explanatory variables. The results suggest that the fixed‐effect regression model is suitable where the explanatory variables are time‐invariant and the relationship between the dependent and explanatory variables across firms is constant over time. Our analysis indicates that CSR spending alone has little effect on the share prices of companies over two prospective time periods. However, as companies invest more in environmental and pollution control activities in addition to their CSR expenditure, the market recognises this as a significant factor, and their share prices rise. Consequently, we discovered that CSREP (CSR plus environmental and pollution control expenditure) is a significant factor that influences quarterly and semi‐annual share prices.

Measuring the Circularity and Impact Reduction Potential of Post-Industrial and Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics

Post-industrial recycling (PIR) and post-consumer recycling (PCR) are measures used to sustain resources by improving material circularity and sustainability. Currently, circularity is mainly measured as the degree of reutilization of a material from 0 to 100% at the product or company level. This measure fails to assess the resource usage over multiple product life cycles. Therefore, we propose to assess circularity as (i) the frequency of resource use in products (effective circularity, eC), and as (ii) a vehicle to reduce environmental impacts (environmentally efficient circularity, eeC). Additionally, to compare the environmental impacts of using recycled materials from PIR or PCR, we analyze their impact reduction potential (IRP), indicating the environmental benefits of recycling in relation to virgin material submitted to the market. We demonstrate the suggested indicators for a case study material: polypropylene. For this polymer type, the eC ranges between 0.93 and 9.08 uses of the resource, on average, depending on collection, sorting, and recycling rates. Likewise, the eeC ranges between 0.31 and 1.50 uses per kg of CO2 equivalents emitted. PCR has a higher IRP regarding climate change impacts than PIR in all analyzed scenarios. The results reveal the relevance of PCR and PIR beyond the product life cycle. Finally, we discuss possible embeddings of the indicators in the assessment of climate policy and environmental protection measures, such as strengthening the use of PCR in contrast to PIR materials.

As inconsistências da solução investidor-Estado na proteção internacional do investidor estrangeiro: análise das principais cláusulas substantivas dos BITs a partir dos casos arbitrais ad hoc, sob a perspectiva dos países receptores de capital

International investment law is historically structured by the unilateral protection of the foreign investor. The dissemination of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) model dates back to the second half of the twentieth century, and its expansion occurred only after the 1980s. BITs consist of an international agreement comprising substantive and procedural rules, defining the protection of foreign investment and investors in a territory other than their nationality, as well as establishing a dispute resolution model, with the adoption of the Investor-State solution system via ad hoc arbitration. In the 21st century, after decades of prevalence of BITs, there have been numerous criticisms of this model, characterized by subjective and controversial decisions, incongruous interpretations and, above all, by blocking the legitimate exercise of the State to dispose of its public interest, such as environmental protection, health and economic measures. The article analyzes these substantive rules from ad hoc arbitration cases: (i) National Treatment (NT); (ii) Most-Favored-Nation Treatment (MFN); (iii) Minimum Standard of Treatment (MST) principle; (iv) Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET); (v) Full Protection and Security (FPS); (vi) Direct and Indirect Expropriations and Compensation; and (vii) Umbrella Clause. Finally, the article concludes that the arbitral awards are inconsistent and inflict serious damage to the exercise of the States, especially to host States, which is evidenced by the recent amendments of the BITs by more restrictive models of international investment protection.

Land Use Optimization and Carbon Storage Estimation in the Yellow River Basin, China

Urban development and coal extraction have caused conflicts regarding production, living, and ecological lands in the Yellow River basin. Here, a coupled genetic algorithm–patch generating land use simulation InVEST model was constructed to optimize land use/land cover (LULC) and simulate carbon storage changes. This study shows that the LULC changed dramatically from 2010 to 2020 in an area that accounts for 31.96% of the area of the Yellow River basin. Inappropriate land use conversion and encroachment have reduced carbon storage by 2.92 × 106 t, destroying the stability of the ecosystem. The development of cities has encroached on cultivated land, which may have affected the region’s food security. Following LULC optimization, ecological and cultivated lands are gradually being restored, and the transition between the different lands tends to be orderly, resulting in an increase of 24.84 × 106 t in carbon storage. The relationship between LULC and carbon storage shows that the high carbon intensity of woodland, grassland, and cultivated land is crucial to ensuring regional carbon balance. For the Yellow River basin, necessary environmental protection measures are the key to achieving high-quality economic development. This study can provide guidance for decision-makers in formulating ecosystem restoration plans.

Evaluating the Impact of Environmental Management Policies on Communities in the Leather Tannery Industrial Area of Garut Regency

Industrialization fundamentally aims to enhance the quality of life and the welfare of people. However, insufficient management of residual production waste generates adverse effects on both the environment and the inhabitants residing near industrial zones. In response, the government has established regulatory measures for environmental protection and management through Government Regulation Number 22 of 2021. This regulation seeks to strike a balance between the community’s economic interests and environmental sustainability, safeguarding the rights of citizens. The core objectives of this research are to assess the state of environmental policies within the Sukaregang leather tanning industrial area, to scrutinize the implementation of environmental management practices, and to evaluate the impact of Government Regulation Number 22 of 2021. Employing a qualitative case study approach, the research centers on the Sukaregang leather tanning industrial area, a pivotal hub for the leather industry and a symbol of the Garut Regency. The data collection involves interviews with key stakeholders, including the Environmental Service, the leather tanning industry, and the affected community. The research concludes that while policies based on Government Regulation Number 22 of 2021 are in place, complementary local regulations are absent. The current implementation of environmental management continues to engender negative externalities in sectors such as agriculture, health, and environmental pollution. To address the shortfalls in achieving policy goals and objectives, it becomes imperative to establish local regulations that facilitate cost-sharing in the waste treatment process, utilizing Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) technology. Such measures are essential for upholding environmental quality for the residents of industrial areas.

A comprehensive solution to the problem of ensuring a good environmental status of the marine environment across the coastal area that is adjacent to the northern part of the City of Odesa

The research identifies and describes the most urgent problems associated with the anthropogenic impact on the sea's coastal zone affecting the northern part of the city of Odesa and the marine-origin water bodies that are adjacent to it, i.e. Odesa Bay of the north-western part of the Black Sea, the Khadzhybeiskyi and Kuialnytskyi Estuaries. These problems include: impossibility to discharge the return water coming from the municipal sewage biological treatment station (BTS) "Pivnichna” into the sea’s coastal zone or to use it economically wise as technical water because of insufficient degree of treatment; a high degree of water pollution and unsatisfactory environmental condition of the Khadzhybeiskyi Estuary that is adjacent to Odesa, increase of its water level to critical marks because of the constant flow to the estuary of return water from BTS "Pivnichna"; shallowing and potential complete drying up of the hypersaline Kuialnytskyi Estuary that may lead to loss of natural resources of the resort of state importance and salinization of its adjacent territories; periodic deterioration of the sea water quality within the coastal recreation area of Odesa, prohibition of swimming at certain beaches after heavy downpours because of influx into the sea of untreated stormwater runoff coming from the city. The research demonstrates that all these problems are interconnected to a certain extent and can be solved comprehensively in the course of implementation of a single strategy of environmental protection measures that are defined and substantiated in this article. The key and high-priority element of such strategy consists in modernization of sewage treatment facilities and introduction of modern technologies of advanced wastewater purification at BTS "Pivnichna”. It is recommended to include the constituent elements of the strategy into the Action plan to achieve and maintain the "good" environmental status of the Azov and Black Seas for the period 2022-2027 being jointly developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine alongside with interested executive central and local bodies as part of implementation of the Marine Environmental Protection Strategy of Ukraine.

Ecological and ichthyotoxicological state of the southern water area of Lake Ladoga

The southern water area of Lake Ladoga, which includes three lips (Shlisselburgskaya, Volkhovskaya and Svirskaya) is a place of spawning, feeding and fishing of various species of fish. The hydrological features of the lips – shallow water and the presence of extensive littoral zones, makes them particularly susceptible to pollutants coming in various ways – aerogenic, with surface runoff and wastewater. The results of the fish study showed that they are massively affected by toxicosis, their natural reproduction is disrupted, which affects the state of their populations and the structure of the fish population as a whole. Fish are integral bioindicators of water quality, their condition allows us to assess the level of pollution of individual water areas. It has shown that the level of pollution of the southern water area of the lake has not changed in recent decades, which is due to the presence of pollution sources and the entry of pollutants by aerogenic means and surface runoff. Some improvement in the ecological state and increase in the fishery potential of the southern water area is associated with environmental protection measures, factory reproduction of fish and reclamation of spawning grounds.

Problems of Sustainable Development of the Economy of the Regions of Ukraine: Ecological and Economic Study of Iron Ore Surface Utilization of Krivorizh

The purpose of the article is to study the problem of sustainable development on the example of the Kryvorizh region, namely: the level and specificity of landscape destruction in Kryvorizh as a result of the long-term development of iron ore deposits. The research methodology is based on the use of general scientific and specific methods, in particular: analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, modeling, systematization and generalization. The scientific novelty of the obtained results lies in the well-founded essence of environmental pollution and environmental violations, it was concluded that the current environmental tax does not correspond to the definition of the tax.It is proposed to provide the new payment with the performance of a penal-incentive function, which must be considered as a theoretical concept.The article determines that Kryvorizhia belongs to the most ecologically dangerous territories in Ukraine, where large areas of land have been withdrawn from agricultural use. The authors proposed in the Tax Code of Ukraine to limit preferential taxation for placing on the territory of each ton of mining waste and to raise the tax rate to the objective level of the III class of danger, which is due to the content of highly toxic heavy metals in the composition of this waste. To replace the name and mechanism of payment for environmental pollution, damage to the health of the population in the Tax Code of Ukraine. It is proposed to give the new payment a punitive and stimulating function, which must be considered as a new theoretical concept. Conclusions. The problem of cleaning excessively polluted territory and air in Kryvorizha, in the perspective of improving the landscape structure of the region, can be solved by state measures, joint active activities of regional and city authorities, scientists and the local public.First of all, the state needs to legitimize, that is, at the legislative level, significantly increase the financial responsibility of business entities for violating the requirements of the environmental protection legislation of Ukraine and the recommendations of international environmental programs. Key words: resources, mining industry;mining enterprise;mining and beneficiation plant;environmental protection measures.

Assessment of the environmental quality of Lake Skadar and its ur-ban surroundings in Montenegro

Lake Skadar on the Balkan Peninsula faces many ecological challenges. The lake is located in the border area between Mon-tenegro and Albania and its ecosystem interacts with important and highly populated urban centres such as Podgorica and Bar. Despite the crucial role the lake plays in the sustainability of the ecosystem and the health of the population, there is a lack of environmental quality assessment and data-based analysis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess both the wa-ter quality of Lake Skadar and the air pollution in Podgorica and Bar in the period from 2011 to 2018. To assess water qual-ity, the Water Quality Index (WQI) model, i.e. the SWQI method, was used, which was calculated based on 10 parameters of physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of water from 9 hydrological stations (oxygen saturation, biochemical oxygen consumption for 5 days, ammonium ions, pH, total nitrogen oxides, orthophosphates, suspended solids, tempera-ture, electrical conductivity and coliform bacteria). In addition, air quality in the two cities was assessed using timeseries of PM10 concentrations. The results showed that the water quality of Lake Skadar was of good to high quality (WQI 79-95), while the air quality in Podgorica and Bar was a serious public health problem, especially in the cold seasons in Podgorica (i.e. the average seasonal and daily PM10 concentrations were often > 40 and > 50 µg/m3). These results are of great practi-cal importance for environmental management and support decision makers in applying certain environmental protection measures and strategies.