The ultimate goal of the Horizon Europe Innovative Action project “Danube Wetlands and flood plains Restoration through systemic, community engaged and sustainable innovation actions - DaWetRest” is driven by challenges in the Danube River Basin which negatively affect wetlands, floodplains, coastal wetlands and salt marshes, as well as DaWetRest’s partners ambition and commitment, expressed in the following MAIN GOAL: address the challenges by preparing and implementing science, citizen and nature-based solutions leading to an effective, sustainable, engaging and lucrative protection, restoration and management of wetlands, floodplains, coastal wetlands and salt marshes in the Danube River Basin.
The achievement of the goal above is intended through reaching the following objectives:
1. Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030
One of the focuses of DaWetRest is to improve the linkage between the Danube River and the neighboring wetlands through the reconnecting of the existing canals with the Danube main channel. This action will support all objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive in a) ensure the condition for the normal biological cycles of natural wetlands-river inhabitants, such as invertebrates, fish, aquatic flora and fauna, b) improve hydro-morphological quality, c) improve physical and chemical parameters and d) decrease water pollutants. Besides, the envisioned green hatchery complex in the Middle Danube is a nature-based solution for biodiversity improvement, which will contribute to the EU Biodiversity Strategy, in line with the increase of waterfowls in wetlands using its products as natural food for vulnerable and endangered waterfowls. By implementing this innovation action, a methodology for freshwater monitoring will be developed in the Lower Danube, which will contribute to the improvement and control of freshwater ecosystems in line with the respective Mission “Oceans and Water” objective. The DaWetRest project will engage with relevant stakeholders from Danube River Basin, and other parts of Europe to connect with the Mission Charter and further engage with actions for a successful implementation of the Mission and its four lighthouses.
2: Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil
DaWetRest strongly contributes to the elimination and prevention of pollution of waters addressing objectives of the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan for Air, Water and Soil. During the project implementation, a Strategy, based on the Middle Danube Demonstration Site, will be developed where recommendations of nature-based solutions’ replication in pilot, sibling and associated regions will be given. The Lower Danube Demonstration Site will contribute to this objective by implementing a new methodology for carbon sequestration monitoring, as well as several models for the connectivity restoration between the wetlands and the Danube River. The most important contribution of the Danube Delta Demonstration Site is based on the implementation of nature-based solutions in carbon sequestration by using reed management, in order to increase carbon sequestration capacity in the Basin. All three pilot activities planned for the Delta will contribute to this objective since they are strictly focused on restoring lateral connectivity which will save salt marshes habitats by reducing the hydrodynamic effects, improving water and soil quality.
3: Make the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular, in line with the European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Communication on a new approach for a Sustainable Blue Economy
This objective will be addressed by business models that will be developed during the project implementation and presented by the Business support tool which will refer to the business opportunities in the Danube Basin local communities with the focus on carbon-neutral, ecological acceptable and nature-based solutions application for the promotion of circular blue economy at a local scale. Besides, the knowledge transfer projected during the project implementation will ensure the popularization of the blue economy among a diverse set of stakeholders, from the citizen representatives of local communities to the policy-making sector.
