© M

ich

el R

ogg

o /

WW

F-C

anon

Danube Region Strategy Conference,

04 March 2011, Budapest

Danube Region Strategy – nature conservation aspects

Gábor Figeczky, acting director

WWF Hungary

Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects

• Preserve the ecological status and ecosystem services of the Danube;

• Handle the effects of climate change;

• Social, economic and ecological demands are in balance in all projects;

Horizontal aspects

Strategic goals

• Preserve and develop the status of– Nature conservation– Water management

• Climate change: mitigation and adaptation• Sustainable economic development• Co-operation along the Danube

Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects

Ecological values, water management

• Conservation and sustainable management of Natura 2000 habitats, least human

impact possible and man-made infrastructure in nature protection zones;

Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects

Plans in line with this principle:

• ecological restoration along the

Danube using Water Framework

Directive recommendations;

• giving more space to the river;

• restoration of habitats with high

conversation value and of protected

species populations

Plans not in line with this principle:

• development of navigation route

• river engineering works

• other infrastructure projects

Navigation

• One single SEA for the inland navigation plan on the Danube. Transboundary effects should be assessed with a harmonised, basin-wide methodology

• Research and development of ships for the Danube river - feasibility studies, build and test prototypes of such ships

• Sustainable Danube navigation should include adapting the fairway to the natural profile and dynamics of the river, improving information and forecasting systems, fleet modernisation programmes Grasp too much

© Barabás, Bényi

Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects

17 August 2010 - 6

• Maintain functioning ecosystem processes (water and sediment flows)• socio-economic needs of regional and local economies

respected• all legal requirements met,

– Water Framework Directive: Danube RBMP

– Natura 2000 sites mgmt plans

Demands for river engineering projects to improve Danube waterway

• no need for new dams or barrages on waterways which prevent longitudinal connectivity

Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects

• Specific issues for Hungary:

– Give real alternatives for the Government before any decision – less

structural works, narrower navigation route

– Cost-benefit analysis – Analysing cost-effectiveness is not enough

– Ecological compensation measures are not good solutions - we need more

data to estimate the effects of navigation and maintenance of waterways

• It is never too late to find alternatives

Nature conservation

• Nature conservation areas to be in a network• Common nature conservation principles among Danube

countries – common targets of restoration• Common vision for preserving biodiversity (based on

WWF’s Living Planet Report)• Less infrastrucure in restoration works

Presentation to Company Name 17 August 2010 - 9

Water management

• Common projects for the implementation of WFD• Common solutions for floods and draughts• Find solution for transboundary effects:

– Sediment transport– Water supply, water retention (Szigetköz)– Longitudinal connectivity of dams (Iron Gate)

• Reducing water footprint

Water quality• Reduce nutrient emissions from the agricultural sector. Nutrient waste is a

major challenge for water quality and health of ecosystems in the river and

the sea.

• Promote a legislative ban on phosphate containing detergents in Europe.

Phosphates have a major impact on the health of river and marine

ecosystems, but could be replaced relatively easily and cheaply.

• Continue investment in sewage treatment.

Promoting a low-carbon economy

• Promote energy efficiency, particularly in buildings, which account for 40% of energy used, and

• Promote development of an interconnected, “smart” grid for the region. Increasing the interconnectivity of the regional electricity market is key to the expansion of localised energy

• production as well as for “smarter” control of demand and decentralised supply.

• Plan the development of the renewable energy sector carefully and basin-wide, in order to optimise renewable energy production.

Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects

Thank you for your attention!