Federal Environment Ministry Project List for the Implementation of the
EU Danube Strategy
I. Nature conservation: European flood plain network along the Danube
Priority has been attached to the protection of the Danube as a natural habitat.
Transnational cooperation is indispensible for the conservation of biological diversity,
in the fight against climate change and in flood protection. A model nature
conservation project of the German government is geared towards long-term
conservation of the Danube river flood plains in Bavaria, an internationally significant
area vital for nature conservation which constitutes a functionally interconnected
band of habitats typical for flood plains. The project also aims at improving natural
processes in specific areas.
Project description
Within the framework of this project approx. 700 hectares of flood plains are to be
established in the so-called Swabian Danube valley in order to restore natural
conditions as far as possible. The project area is part of Germany's largest
interconnected riparian forest area and constitutes an important element in the
Central European flood plain network between Central Europe and the Black Sea.
The project goal is to improve the natural dynamics in riparian forests along the
Danube river, to ensure and increase flooding frequencies on flood plains and to
optimise the biological functionalities of the Danube, its flood plains and the
respective flora and fauna.
Project executing agency: "Donautal Aktiv" Association
Duration: 2009 to 2019
Financial volume: 9.728 million euro
Funding provider: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and
Nuclear Safety (Federal funds: €7,296,462 = 75%), Free State of Bavaria and
Donautal Aktiv e. V. Association (Land funds and own resources: €2,432,154 =
25%).
II. Transboundary risk management in the Danube delta
The dangers linked to oil exploration can be seen from the latest events in the US.
Joint responsibility for protecting people, the environment and the climate before,
during and after industrial incidents in the Danube delta is a vital concern.
Technology and information transfer into Eastern and South-Eastern European
countries should help to substantially reduce the risk of incidents and contribute to
transboundary emergency preparedness.
Project description
A transnational project with Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine is geared
towards establishing transnational incident management, improving industrial risk
potential prevention, developing harmonised safety standards for industrial plants
and minimising impacts in case of an incident through joint crisis management. To
meet these goals, measures are being taken to prepare the introduction of safety
technologies in these countries, in particular with a view to the experience gained in
this field in Germany.
Project executing agency: Germany, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova
Duration: 2010-2013
Financial volume: ca. 700,000 euro
Funding provider: UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial
Accidents; financing of project application by Germany
III. Flood protection in the Danube region
Flood protection is a central water management issue. EC Directive 2007/60/EC on
the assessment and management of flood risks must be implemented in EU countries
in the coming years. For this purpose coordination within river basins is necessary.
In coordination with the Land Baden-Württemberg the Federal Environment Ministry
subcontracted the preparation of an INTERREG IV B project application for the
Maritsa river basin in Bulgaria. Within the framework of this project, flood risk maps
are to be drawn up to support policy makers and administrations in their decisionmaking process on future investments and land use. The project is to be developed
together with other partner countries. Initial talks have been held with competent
experts in Bulgaria.