We could now gladly inform, that the main project objective – to restore the key natural habitats of Danube floodplains and to introduce sound sustainable management – was achieved. This was done by restoring forest, grassland, wetland and river habitats within the project areas, while most of the expected results were exceeded. Long-term benefits are guaranteed due to the negotiated improvements in the operational manual of simulated floods in the Slovak Danube inland delta, land acquired for nature conservation and implementation of several key large conservation actions in Slovakia and Hungary.
During the last project year, there were so many highlights concerning water regime restoration – renewal of Vojčianske side arm, opening of side arm below the D2a weir or restoration of the side arm in Kráľovská lúka also with its two branches, together resulting in free flowing of 9,570 m of river branches, while 7 technical objects were installed or reconstructed. Fish migration was improved thank to removal of barriers in the stream (partial demolition of old B weir, reconstruction of E3 weir). Thanks to more effective management of simulated floods, water regime was improved on 1,805 ha of Danube floodplains. 12 wetlands restored on 64.09 ha. Together 81,64 h of wet meadows were restored thanks to re-grassing, mowing and extensive grazing. 366 pollard willows, as unique hot sports of biodiversity, were restored and 387 more were planted. Gene pool of valuable native trees was established, seedlings cultivated and together 59,400 trees were planted in Slovakia and 14,500 in Hungary. After-planting care was secured and also invasive species were removed (113.67 ha in Slovakia, 14.81 ha in Hungary). Effect of all the concrete conservation activities was examined by regular monitoring of biota. Moreover hydrological monitoring was carried out through the whole project and impact of project was also inspected by socio-economic, media and ecosystem functions monitoring.
Beside the concrete restoration actions and sustainable management in the field, lot of effort was put into a promotion of the project actions, environmental education and information activities. Dissemination activities appeared as a very powerful tool to not only inform expert and layman public about conservation issues but also to achieve more of the project objectives. In addition to the variety of usual promotional materials (e.g. T-shirts, stickers, calendars) and information materials (e.g. leaflets, brochures, notice boards) we also came up with an innovative educational material, a story book for children. Personal meetings also helped to spread the information – excursions in the field, public presentations, guiding of interactive exhibitions, organizing Family Days, leading outdoor tours and training and accompanying camps for children in nature. The project was intensively medially exposed, especially during the public events and press conferences connected to the festive openings of the restored river branches.
You can learn more about the implemented project activities in the Layman Report And at the end, it is an honor for us to thank our partners and stakeholders who help to successful completion of this project and its mission. However, our initiative to revive the heart of the Danube Floodplains does not end with the completion of this project. BROZ, together with its partners, continues to restore of valuable habitats and species in the Danube region within the framework of many other projects that follow up on the results of the LIFE Danube Floodplains project.