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Project

DANUBEPARKS - Danube River Network of Protected Areas – Development and Implementation of Transnational Strategies for the Conservation of the Natural Heritage at the Danube River

Towards a Danube River Network of Protected Areas

The natural Danube River sections and large wetlands are part of our common European natural heritage. Danube Protected Areas represent unique natural areas in a transnational ecosystem.

The enlargement of the European Union created a new general set-up along the Danube River. The economic development has intensified pressure on remaining natural flood plains and river sections, whereas NATURA 2000 and Water Framework Directive still wait for full implementation.

Based on existing co-operation, representatives of Protected Areas launched an appeal for the establishment of a Danube River Network as a platform for continuous transnational co-operation (Declaration of Tulcea, April 2007).

The ETC -South East Europe project DANUBEPARKS

Within the framework of the EU funding program ETC -South East Europe (SEE), 12 Protected Area administrations from Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania successfully submitted the DANUBEPARKS project.

For the official launch of DANUBEPARKS all project partners signed the Declaration of Vienna on June 9th 2009 to set forth the goals of the new network and to avow the objectives of the sustainable collaboration. The total EU funding sums up to 2.7 million Euros for a total implementation time of 3 years (up to February 2012).

Lead Partner:

  • Donau-Auen National Park, Austria

Project Partners:

  • BROZ – Regional Association for Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development, Slovakia

  • State Nature Conservancy, Slovakia

  • Duna-Drava National Park, Hungary

  • Duna-Ipoly National Park, Hungary

  • Kalimok Brushlen Protected Area, Bulgaria

  • Persina Nature Park Directorate, Bulgaria

  • Regional Inspecorate of Environment and Waters -Ruse, Bulgaria

  • Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority, Romania

Network Partners:

  • Nature Park Kopacki Rit, Croatia

  • Institute for Nature Conservation representing the Nature Reserve Gornje Podunavlje, Serbia

  • City of Ingolstadt and Auenzentrum Neuburg representing the Danube Floodplain Restoration Area Neuburg Ingolstadt, Germany

Observer Partners:

  • ICPDR – International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River

  • Ministry of Environment and Water, State Secretary for Nature and Environment

  • Protection, Hungary

  • Provincial Secretariat for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development,

  • Serbia

  • State Forestry Agency, Bulgaria

  • Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Serbia

  • via donau -Austrian Waterway Company

  • Ministry of Environment and Water, Bulgaria

  • Ministry of Environment, Romania

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Austria

  • Ministry of Culture, Croatia

Goals, Visions and Activities of DANUBEPARKS:

DANUBEPARKS has been established to foster conservation agendas on transnational level and to raise the capacity of single Protected Areas by the

  • development and implementation of joint transnational conservation strategies

  • coherent management practice and

  • Common corporate identity of Danube Protected Areas.

Expected internal effects include a transfer of knowledge and experience serving as the base for the elaboration of joint management and conservation plans and the implementation of pilot projects of Danube-wide significance. The overall goals are to improve the ecological situation of the Danube wetlands and the habitat for flagship species, as well as strengthening the regional development by fostering nature tourism and cultural exchange.

In terms of external effects, joint PR initiatives and collaborative conferences of international significance will help to strengthen the voice of Danube Protected Areas on international level.

Further steps and future development of DANUBEPARKS:

The long term concept of DANUBEPARKS includes further Protected Areas along the Danube and its larger tributaries. All Danube Protected Areas are invited to join the network; all stakeholders are welcome to play an active role in the Danube River Network of Protected Areas.

DANUBEPARKS Contact Information

Georg Frank - Project Manager DANUBEPARKS

g.frank@danubeparks.org

Tel. +43 (0)2212-3450-19, Fax: DW 17

Mobil +43 (0)676-84223528

Nationalpark Donau-Auen GmbH

Schloss Orth, 2304 Orth an der Donau, Österreich

www.danubeparks.org

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