Potential Applications of Water-Energy-Food Nexus Concept Through Preservation and Restoration of a Remarkable Site from Bulgarian Black Sea Coast

Abstract

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) concept is focused on the balanced management of these highly interconnected resources. It strongly emphasis on cross-sectoral and multi-level interactions, as well as resource interdependence, by highlighting the link between the extraction and use of water, energy and food. The main goal of this article is the disclosure and argumentation of a potential local area (the northern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast) for applying the Nexus approach in the context of the Water-Energy-Food tripartite nexus. In the study area, there are three main components creating the conceptual framework of the Nexus approach (the lighthouse of cape Shabla, the late antique fortress of Karia and the possibilities of using the energy from the sea waves with the supporting functions of the Shabla sea flyover). The methods of field studies, scientific analysis and synthesis, as well as geographic information systems (GIS) are applied. The results obtained and the conclusions drawn indicate that the intertwining of the multiple dimensions of sustainability, short- and medium-term interdisciplinary goals, interests and preferences along with the different perspectives of stakeholders lead to a nuanced understanding of the connectivities between environmental and social processes and issues of the WEF nexus.