DANUBEparksCONNECTED

The Danube River is a green lifeline for biodiversity. While the Network of Danube
Protected Areas preserves the most valuable sites, habitat fragmentation limits efforts to
preserve a cohesive ecosystem.
DANUBEparksCONNECTED has initiated the DANUBE HABITAT CORRIDOR
campaign to counteract fragmentation. It offers Danube-wide strategies and exemplary
activities aiming to restore and maintain connectivity in all habitat elements:
– Water: The cross-sector Danube WILDisland CORRIDOR program protects the islands,
which are flagship habitats for intact river dynamics and home to characteristic species.
– Land: Natural river systems also host dry habitats, today often fragmented to isolated
patches. Under DANUBE DRY HABITAT CORRIDOR actvities such as cross-border
grazing herds to manage dry habitats and test the long-distance functionality of the habitat
corridor or the establishment of DANUBEPARKS Canyons Network will be implemented. A
fitness check of the Danube Riparian Forest Corridor will define necessary measures and
activities in cooperation with the forestry sector for further development of the Riparian
Forest corridor.
– Air: DANUBE FREE SKY ensures collision-free bird migration along the Danube flyway. In
cooperation with power line operators, technical solutions against bird collision with
electricity wires crossing the Danube will be installed.
– Fire – COMMUNICATION: The various communication measures represent the “fire” and
“spice up” our activities. For example: CYCLING THE DYKE invites stakeholders and
interested participants from the public to bike the Danube Corridor on the dykes and to visit
project results. Helping hands for the corridor management are welcome at the 1st
DANUBE VOLUNTEERS DAY. The ongoing experience and knowledge exchange of
project partners from 10 Danube countries and the cross-sectorial approach between water
management, energy, nature conservation and policy drivers stands for long-term
capitalisation of the Danube Habitat Corridor.
The transnational DANUBEPARKS Network’s know-how and experience on the ground
make it best equipped to implement an innovative project building on existing policies.