In the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta, rewilding efforts have reconnected the life-giving waters of the River Danube with Lake Kartal. The lake’s rapid comeback — and the growing benefits this is delivering to nature and local communities — shows how powerful wetland restoration can be.
Towards wilder wetlands
Wetlands are among the most productive and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Although they cover only about 6% of the planet’s land surface, they support up to 40% of all plant and animal species. Healthy wetlands are vital to human well-being — providing food and water security, reducing flood risk, supporting tourism and jobs, and storing vast amounts of carbon.
Over the past 300 years, half of all wetlands across Europe have been lost, drained to make way for housing, industry, and agriculture. But we can still turn the tide for these critical life-support systems. Around the world, initiatives such as those led by Rewilding Europe are proving that wetland restoration is not only possible — but that it can be remarkably successful. With the right actions, wetlands can recover and flourish faster than we might expect, rebuilding natural resilience and renewing the life-giving benefits on which people and wildlife depend.
The rebirth of Lake Kartal
In the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta rewilding landscape, the revitalisation of Lake Kartal and surrounding areas is a case in point. Over the past six years — supported by funding from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes programme — the Rewilding Ukraine team and local partners have breathed new life into more than 18,000 hectares of land and water by removing dams and other barriers, clearing silted-up channels, and installing sluice pipes. By enabling a more dynamic, natural exchange of water with the Danube, this has helped reverse decades of human intervention in the landscape, which choked off large parts of the floodplain from the river.
These actions are already transforming the landscape. Water now flows freely between lakes, channels, and reedbeds once more. Wetland plants are returning, fish populations are recovering, and waterbirds are arriving in ever greater numbers. These signs of renewal show the entire system is regaining its strength and vitality.
“It has been amazing to see how quickly wetlands in the Danube Delta can become wilder,” says Rewilding Ukraine rewilding officer Oleg Dyakov. “When ecosystems here receive enough water — and when that water is clean — nature has an extraordinary ability to heal itself. Following earlier stages of restoration, we have seen different parts of the landscape bounce back almost immediately.”
Completing the loop
The final and most extensive phase of Lake Kartal restoration is now complete. In recent months, over five kilometres of the Luzarza channel at the lake’s western end have been reopened with heavy machinery, boosting the flow of water into the lake from the Danube by 40%. This intervention, which brings the water regime far closer to what it should be naturally, will revitalise around 450 hectares of floodplain — enhancing habitats for an array of fish, birds, mammals, and invertebrates. It also strengthens the natural connection between Lake Kartal and the smaller Lake Kahul through a dynamic, 11-kilometre loop of water.
“In the past, dykes and irrigation systems disconnected vast areas of floodplain from the main channels of the Danube,” explains Panas Zhechkov, Director of the Izmail Department of Water Resources, which has collaborated with the Rewilding Ukraine team on rewilding efforts for many years. “This lowered water levels and water quality, triggering algal blooms and declining fish stocks.
“The completion of this restoration work will see water levels and water quality in Lake Kartal continue to rise, while fish populations will become richer and more abundant, birds will return to feed and nest here once more, and local people will be able to rely on this water for irrigation again.”
Hope for the future
The revival of Lake Kartal is more than a local success story — it’s a powerful reminder of what is possible even in the shadow of war. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Danube Delta has faced profound uncertainty, placing additional strain on both people and nature. Yet as water flows freely once again through this unique landscape, life is returning in abundance and the connection between communities and their natural environment is becoming stronger.
In a time when conflict has disrupted livelihoods and limited the development of nature-based tourism, Lake Kartal stands as a beacon of hope. Once peace returns, healthier wetlands and richer wildlife will help draw visitors back to the Ukrainian part of the delta, supporting the growth of local economies. More abundant fish stocks and cleaner water are already providing renewed opportunities for local fishermen and farmers, helping to restore traditional livelihoods that depend on thriving ecosystems. Together, these changes show how rewilding can play a vital role in healing landscapes, enriching communities and helping to build a more resilient future for all.