Danube River Basin Study

Sili Liu

Example of international basin-wide watershed management

• Geographic Scope• Issues

Ecosystem Water Quality Groundwater• Management

History Institution Achievements

Geographic Scope801,463Km2

Second Largest

Danube River:

2,857 Km long

1.5 m wide

83 million people

Including CountriesGermany (DE)Austria (AT)Czech Republic (CZ),Slovakia (SK)Hungary (HU),Slovenia (SI)Croatia (HR)Bosnia-Herzegovina (BA)Serbia-Montenegro (CS)Romania (RO)Bulgaria (BG)Moldova (MD)Ukraine (UA) as well as Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Albania, and Macedonia (with very small shares).

Contribution of basin area of each country (%)

http://www.danubeday.org/files/dday/documents/press/Danube_River_Basin_-_Facts_and_Figures.pdf

Contribution of water from each country (%) to the Danube

http://www.danubeday.org/files/dday/documents/press/Danube_River_Basin_-_Facts_and_Figures.pdf

Issues1. Ecosystem

2,000 vascular plants

• Increasing Human Impact• Pollution from industrial,

agriculture, municipalities• Transportation • Tourism• Fishing

more than 5,000 animal species

Floodplains and wetlands are facing great pressure

Issues2. Water pollution and water quality

• Nutrients: N, P• Hazardous Substances• Eutrophication• Organic Pollution

Point Source

None Point Source

Accidental Spills

Issues3. Groundwater

• Insufficient wastewater collection and treatment on the municipal level;

• Insufficient wastewater treatment at industrial premises;

• Water pollution caused by intensive agriculture and livestock breeding;

• Inappropriate waste disposal sites.

ManagementHistory of management of the basin

• European Commission (1856)-Free Navigation• Environmental Program for the Danube River Basin

(Sofia, 1991)-Interim Task Force • Strategic Action Plan (SAP)

Interim Task Force, 1993 meeting• Strategic Action Plan Implementation Program (SIP)

(1996)• The Danube Pollution Reduction Program (DPRP)

(1997)• The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) (1998)

ManagementInstitutions

Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, SlovakiaSlovenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania

EU-WFD Directive

• Main implementing body• Promoting policies• Setting priorities and strategies• Data collection and management

ManagementFunding Partners:

• The Global Environment Facility• The European Union's PHARE and TACIS Programs• The European Bank for Reconstruction and

Development• The World Bank• Austria• Netherlands • United States• The private Barbara Gauntlett Foundation.

ManagementAchievements

• Regular meeting• Data share• Public participation• Publication• Short term and long term strategies

Discussion

What can we learn from the management system in the DRB? What advantages do you think can be applied to other international river basin?

Do you think countries that have a larger area should be more responsible for the sustainable development of the DRB?

In what way do you think the public can take part in the protection program of the DRB?