The Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative (RRI), established through the LIFE WILDisland project and coordinated by DANUBEPARKS, was presented as an example of international cooperation and best practice during the official celebration marking 50 years of the Ramsar Convention in Germany.
The high-level event, held on 29 June 2026 in Konstanz and organised by the Global Nature Fund (GNF) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUKN) and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), brought together around 100 representatives from governments, conservation organisations, protected areas, and academia to reflect on five decades of wetland conservation and discuss future challenges and opportunities.
Opening speeches by Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Baden-Württemberg's Minister for the Environment Thekla Walker, and Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, highlighted the growing importance of wetlands as natural carbon sinks, biodiversity hotspots, and key ecosystems for climate adaptation, flood protection, and sustainable water management.
The Danube WILDisland RRI was represented by Anita Cheneshkova, Coordinator of the Initiative at the DANUBEPARKS Regional Office in Bulgaria, and Elena Kmetova-Biro, LIFE WILDisland Project Manager at Donau-Auen National Park, Austria. As part of the official programme, Elena Kmetova-Biro participated in a panel discussion together with Dr Musonda Mumba and other international experts, presenting the role of Ramsar Regional Initiatives in strengthening international cooperation and highlighting the experience gained through the Danube WILDisland RRI.
The event also provided an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences with wetland experts from across Europe, strengthen existing partnerships, and discuss future cooperation under the Ramsar Convention. During the afternoon, participants visited the internationally important Ramsar Site "Lake Constance: Wollmatinger Ried – Gierenmoos and Mindelsee", where practical examples of wetland conservation and management demonstrated the importance of healthy wetlands for biodiversity, climate resilience, and water management.
The Initiative represents one of the major long-term achievements of the LIFE WILDisland project. Developed by the project partnership together with DANUBEPARKS, the project coordinated the preparation of the Ramsar application, drafted the Initiative's Terms of Reference, secured support letters from all ten Danube countries, and facilitated the designation of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) as the formal host organisation. Officially recognised by the Ramsar Convention in 2024, the Initiative today provides a permanent platform for cooperation on the protection, restoration, and wise use of wetlands, floodplains, and river islands throughout the Danube Basin.
Germany continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to international wetland conservation by actively supporting the further development of the RRI. Through dedicated financial support through the EURENI programme, Germany contributes to the operation of the RRI coordination office, the preparation of new international projects, and the implementation of 7 pilot restoration measures and numerous awareness campaigns, helping to translate international cooperation into practical conservation action.
The anniversary celebration once again demonstrated that protecting wetlands requires long-term commitment, strong international partnerships, and the exchange of knowledge and experience. The Danube WILDisland RRI stands as a lasting legacy of the LIFE WILDisland project, showing how a successful LIFE project can create a permanent international platform for cooperation that continues to inspire new restoration initiatives and strengthen wetland conservation throughout the Danube Basin.
Photo credit: Udo Gattenlöhner/GFN