International Danube Day 2026 was marked across the DANUBEPARKS network with a variety of activities dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of the Danube River and its unique natural heritage. Many of this year’s events were supported through the EURENI Programme of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) and the Danube WILDisland Regional Ramsar Initiative, helping local communities strengthen their connection with the river and its biodiversity.
In Croatia, the DANUBEPARKS Secretariat, together with Kopački Rit Nature Park, dedicated this year’s celebration to citizen science – demonstrating how ordinary people can actively contribute to environmental monitoring and nature conservation.
As part of the event, participants tested the Danube River Walk methodology, developed within the DANUBE4all project. The methodology encourages citizens to explore river environments through a combination of observation, environmental monitoring and hands-on learning, helping people better understand the ecological value of the Danube and its wetlands.
Using the Danube River Walk approach, participants took part in a series of practical field activities, including water quality monitoring at Lake Sakadaš. Working together, they collected water samples and analysed them using the Drinkable Rivers methodology, measuring key indicators such as pH, electrical conductivity, nitrates, phosphates and other parameters that provide valuable information about the condition of freshwater habitats.