Project title: DANUBEPARKS - Danube River Network of
Protected Areas – Development and Implementation of Transnational Strategies
for the Conservation of the Natural Heritage at the Danube River
Project budget: € 2,720,950
Co-financing source: European Territorial Cooperation in
South East Europe (ETC-SEE)
Project duration: March 2009 – February 2012
Summary:
By signing the “Declaration of Vienna” the basic goals of
DANUBEPARKS have been defined:
- Establishment of a network as a long-term platform for
knowledge and experience transfer
- Elaboration and implementation of joint Danube-wide
strategies and concepts
- Optimising the coherent management of the Danube natural
heritage
- Strengthening each Protected Area at the local level
through the development of a strong, joint voice for nature conservation on a
Danube-wide scale.
From 2009 – 2010 Danube River Network of Protected Areas
systematically tackled common challenges for the first time on a Danube-wide
scale, promoting intense exchange of experience, elaborating transnational strategies
and implementing demonstrative pilot projects. River dynamics being the basis
for habitat health, one focus of DANUBEPARKS is on river morphology and river
restoration.
Another important field is a strengthened habitat network
with focus on management of forests and grasslands. Conservation of flagship
species, in our case Sturgeons and White-tailed Eagle, is most illustrative of
the need for a transnational approach in nature protection. Large parts of the
Danube have been designated NATURA 2000 sites. DANUBEPARKS contributed to their
management by establishing Danube-wide monitoring systems.