On 29 April 2025, the LIFE WILDisland project was prominently featured at the international workshop “Wilde Inseln in der Donau” held at Schloss Neuburg, organized by the Landkreis Passau. The event took place within the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative set of measures for capacity building and exchange and brought together regional, national, and international stakeholders to explore opportunities for restoring Danube islands in the Bavarian section of Europe’s most important river.
The workshop presented the findings of a feasibility study, carried out in 2019 as part of the already completed INTERREG project DANUBEparksCONNECTED, which identified around 80 potential restoration sites between Neu-Ulm and Jochenstein. These locations offer promising opportunities for reviving lost island habitats, enhancing biodiversity, and restoring natural floodplain dynamics in the Bavarian section of the Danube.
Elena Kmetova-Biro, project manager of LIFE WILDisland, contributed to a panel discussion alongside representatives of the Lower Nature Conservation Authority and the Auenzentrum Neuburg/Donau. Together, they emphasized the importance of integrating scientific knowledge with practical experience and aligning regional efforts with transnational strategies for riparian conservation, improving connectivity and restoration. The LIFE WILDisland project was presented as a model of best practice in restoring dynamic island habitats and promoting long-term ecological resilience across the Danube basin. Furthermore, the project team also moderated one of the four interactive working tables organized within the workshop to inspire action and clarify the practical steps needed to prepare and implement a direct WILDisland conservation measure in the German context.
The event also highlighted the long-standing commitment of DANUBEPARK to promoting ecological connectivity and cross-border cooperation. As the coordinating body of the already completed DANUBEparksCONNECTED project, the newly established Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative, and a main driver of the ongoing LIFE WILDisland project, DANUBEPARKS can provide essential insight into river restoration across borders and sectors, demonstrating how cooperation can turn vision into action. Our organization was formally represented by its President, Dr. Vlatko Rozac and Mr. Matej Marusic as the new Secretary General.
The workshop served as a platform for knowledge exchange, aiming to inspire new actors and generate ideas for future initiatives. By promoting replicable approaches, WILDisland continues to motivate a growing range of stakeholders—from protected areas and NGOs to water management authorities and local governments—to actively contribute to river restoration efforts. We remain committed to supporting restoration efforts along the entire Danube, fostering dialogue, sharing lessons learned, and encouraging concrete action for nature and we hope that this event is just the start of new cooperation and joint initiatives.