Project
SUMMARY OF PROJECT LIFE20 NAT/AT/000063 LIFE WILDISLAND
The Danube Transnational Programme was implemented as part of a previous project called DANUBEparksCONNECTED, and the first comprehensive inventory of the Danube islands covering the entire section of the Danube, with a nature conservation approach, was completed. The results of this work can also be viewed on an online interface ( http://wildisland.danubeparks.org ), where interested parties can search the data of the 912 islands as they wish.
During the implementation of the above-mentioned tender on the topic of the Danube as an ecological corridor, the participating partners gradually became aware that a subsequent joint project should somehow focus on these extremely valuable habitats of the Danube. The basic idea, and with it the name, was given by the fact that among the Danube islands there are still some that have remained in an almost untouched state, and they rightly deserve the adjective “wild”. At the same time, unfortunately, most of them are characterized by the fact that their original natural state has deteriorated to a greater or lesser extent due to various human influences (e.g. forestry, shipping, real estate development, flood protection etc.).
The aim of the LIFEWILDisland project is to enhance the naturalness and “wild” character of numerous Danube islands from the German city of Neuburg to the Danube Delta by focusing on two key intervention areas: firstly, by improving the hydrological conditions of the islands’ environment, i.e., the natural dynamics of the Danube; and secondly, by preserving and restoring the most characteristic habitat type of the islands and the river’s floodplain, the softwood riparian forests (91E0). Key conservation activities include the implementation of several side-arm reconstructions along the Danube, the removal of groynes and guiding structures, afforestation with native tree species, and the improvement of the naturalness of the forests on the Danube islands through forest structure transformation and the control of invasive species (e.g., boxelder maple, green ash, tree of heaven).
In addition, the project partners pay special attention to monitoring the results of individual conservation interventions as main project activities, as well as providing comprehensive information to the local populations in the regions affected by the interventions. During the implementation of the project, the partners will also carry out numerous actions (workshops, study tours, etc.) for the professional public.
The project, which runs until August 31, 2027, involves a total of 15 project partners (national parks, nature parks, other conservation organizations, water management authorities, and forestry agencies) representing all Danube countries. From Hungary, three national park directorates and one water management directorate participate in the partnership, covering the entire Hungarian section of the Danube’s protected and Natura 2000 areas.
The islands affected by the project interventions are shown on the attached map. (download)
PROJECT DURATION:
September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2027.
The total budget of the project is 14,481,262 EUR, of which the European Union provides 9,243,061 EUR as direct funding to the partners. The remaining budgetary needs are covered by the project partners themselves, the respective states involved as co-financing bodies, and other financing partners and sponsors.
