A new report highlights restoration efforts across the Danube Delta’s wetlands and steppes in Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, showcasing key actions to restore natural processes, habitats and biodiversity.
Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in partnership with Arcadia. Additional funding was provided by the EU LIFE programme, WWF Netherlands, and Rewilding Europe.
This project has also received support from Frumushika-Nova cluster, Feldmann Ecopark, and Vylkove-Pelican Tour (all in Ukraine), and Play4Nature.
Project summary
Europe’s largest natural river delta, the Danube Delta is home to large populations of breeding birds, including 16 globally and nationally threatened species. Changes to the natural flows of river systems and industrial infrastructure – e.g., dykes, sluices, and drained polders – have undermined natural processes including flooding, erosion, sedimentation, water circulation, and water purification. Collectively, these degraded important natural resources and reduced biodiversity.
To counteract these problems, Rewilding Europe employs rewilding principles in Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova to restore landscapes and encourage a nature-based economy. Actions such as habitat restoration and wildlife comeback are already helping restore the Delta’s unique environment, and its amazing biodiversity, for future generations.