The WILDisland initiative aims to preserve natural Danube islands
as flagship habitats for river dynamics. The Danube Wild Island Habitat
Corridor contributes to strengthen the ecological connectivity and to preserve
natural wilderness that exists in the heart of Europe.
Interactive map
The WILDisland map presents the results of the first
inventory of Danube islands: over 900 islands were identified along the Danube
River which cover an area of more than 138,000 hectares.
Due to their pristine and natural character, 147 islands
could be classified as “category A” – these are completely natural islands,
representing true river wilderness. Category B refers to islands with a high
ecological value and naturalness, but with small human alterations (forestry,
river regulation, land use, etc.). Category C presents all other islands that
are subject to major human uses but still: they also have ecological values and
functions in the Danube Habitat Corridor.
The interactive map provides some key details about each
island: size, main habitats, origin of its development, river morphology in the
respective river section as the main driver for island formation.
To preserve the wilderness character of the most natural
islands (category A), the DANUBEPARKS initiative will award them as WILDislands
– as a special and informal certification attributed together with responsible
landowners, land users and other key stakeholders.
Anchoring WILDisland
on polic level
The WILDisland initiative already received recognition from
the EU-Forum of Nature and Biodiversity Directors for establishing the
coherence of Natura 2000 sites.
A Danube-wide commitment signed by all DANUBEPARKS directors
anchors the WILDislandinitiative. The path for success has been paved, the
Danube wide commitment having already triggered the first national declerations
for the protection and non-intervention management of Danube island on policy
level.
The Danube Wild Island
Habitat Corridor in numbers
- 3,000 river kilometres
- 912 islands
- 138,000 ha of dynamic island habitats
- 147 untouched or completely natural islands
- 14,000 ha of wilderness
Protecting WILDislands
The
WILDisland initiative is currently under the umbrella of the WILDisland -
Danube Wild Island Habitat Corridor LIFE project, elaborated by DANUBEPARKS and
partners representing the waterway, hydropower and forestry sector to protect
and revitalize the last near-natural "wild" islands on the Danube.
More about the project and the tool itself can be found at: www.wildisland.danubeparks.org