Extraordinary Nature Conservation Success in Hungary Saves some of the Last Remaining Danube Floodplains
WWF-Hungary’s successful petition, signed by 10,000 people, was backed up by protests from other environmental organisations and residents of Budapest. No environmentally-damaging flood control investment will be built on Hajógyári Island.
2020 September 29 – The drastic reduction of wetland areas, pollution, overexploitation of freshwater resources and alteration of wetland habitats for decades has resulted in negative impacts to the Danube Basin ecosystem and the millions who depend on it. If the planned flood control system on Hajógyári Island had been given the green light, a similar fate would have awaited this popular recreational area.
On September 23, 2020 the Hungarian Water Management Directorate withdrew its application for the project, halting the permitting procedure. The official change of heart came as the result of a concerted campaign by WWF-Hungary, other environmental organisations and Budapest residents.
If the project had gone ahead, it would have stopped the natural flooding cycle on the island that wildlife depends on. The consequences for the Danube floodplain would have been devastating for this green island in the heart of the capital and the overall ecosystem. Over 80% of the floodplains along the Danube and its main tributaries have already been lost – and with them, significant populations of fish and other valuable ecosystem goods and services. Among other things, the flood protection plans for Hajógyári Island called for felling at least 1000 trees from the valuable alluvial forest. This would have meant destruction of the island’s most valuable floodplain habitats and conversion of the natural river bank.
Not only would have wildlife protection and public welfare been degraded. Preserving green urban spaces and increasing their biological activity is in everyone’s interest, as they not only provide recreational opportunities but also regulate the microclimate, reduce urban temperatures in the summer and cut air pollution. Moreover, trees and other flora catch the dust and sequester carbon dioxide.
“The Directorate of Water Management made a good decision. Flood protection investment on Hajógyári Island would have been not only harmful to the natural values of the island, but would not have fulfilled the purpose of reducing flood risk.” In the middle of the environmental crises of the 21st century, such flood-control measures are no longer acceptable,” said Andrea Samu, Freshwater Habitats Programme Expert at WWF Hungary.
“The case of Hajógyári Island demonstrated that the power of community matters. Neither residents of Budapest nor social organisations will stay quiet when destructive investments are planned. Our petition, launched on September 17, was signed by 10,000 people in one week. We would like to thank everyone for standing up for the protection of the island,” said Katalin Sipos, Director of WWF Hungary.
A detailed proposal was submitted to the Mayor of Budapest requesting that the Island’s alluvial forest be granted protected status.
For more information:
Alexa Berende
Senior PR and Communication Officer
WWF-Hungary
[email protected]
Tel: +36 30 655 2407
Background:
In 2014, WWF Central and Eastern Europe (WWF-CEE), the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and The Coca-Cola Foundation created the Living Danube Partnership to promote river and wetland restoration across the Danube River Basin. The Danube River Basin is Europe’s second largest river basin and the most international river basin in the world. On its 2,800 km journey from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, the river passes through 10 countries and drains all or part of 19 countries. While Danube countries have made strong commitments to conserving and restoring freshwater habitats and ecosystems, achieving this in practice has proven to be challenging, requiring overcoming technical challenges as well as painstaking alignment of local landowners and interests. That is where the Living Danube Partnership comes in: the cross-sectoral partnership between WWF Central & Eastern Europe, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River and The Coca-Cola Company and Foundation, is focused on restoring and promoting rivers and wetlands across the Danube basin. The restoration projects vary from improving the water level of the unique soda lakes at Neusiedler See in Austria to reconnecting river side arms in Croatia or breaching dikes and restoring supply channels to reconnect former floodplains at Garla Mare and Vrata in Romania. The Living Danube Partnership is also promoting a movement for wetland conservation and restoration in the Danube basin, that to date has reached more than 56 million people and engaged over 86,000 people in awareness about freshwater and wetlands and their importance.
