Brussels, 10/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 February, the WWF and a collective of environmental NGOs called for more ambitious action for saving the Danube's freshwater system.
In a backdrop to a ministerial meeting of the 14 Danube River basin neighbouring countries, these NGOs called for a genuine strategy in favour of biodiversity. Governments representing these countries endorsed the new Danube River Basin District Management Plan and the Flood Risk Management Plan to be executed until 2021.
NGOs stated that Flood Risk Management Plan gives priority to floodplain restoration and other nature-based measures for flood management but this is not enough. According to the NGOs, “A biodiversity strategy for the Danube basin, for example, through cooperation with the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, could lead to much better results”.
NGOs made an urgent appeal for careful, integrated planning of future infrastructure projects on hydropower or navigation, to keep rivers alive. That is why exclusions zones for projects need to be identified to avoid impacts on biodiversity.
NGOs deplore the fact that the Danube River's flagship species, which have outlived the dinosaurs, now teeter on the verge of extinction. They would also like to see more action to save the sturgeons. Therefore they have asked for cross-border cooperation to better stop illegal trade of sturgeon products (in particular caviar). NGOs also made a powerful appeal for a sturgeon-breeding programme to be set up under governmental supervision.
As to measures for reducing pollution in small settlements, NGOs highlighted the added value of nature based closed loop treatment systems for both local job markets and aquatic ecosystems. These NGOs have observer status at the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River and also call for greater transparency and an open communication culture. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)