WWF
Brussels, Belgium – Tomorrow the European Commission will publish plans to increase navigation on the Danube River, as part of their EU Strategy for the Danube Region. However this decision could result in significant negative impacts on the river’s unique environment without bringing the expected economic benefit to the region, WWF warns.
While acknowledging the inclusion of a number of environmental targets, including the protection of Danube sturgeon and improved water quality, WWF criticises the decision to increase navigation on the Danube by removing the so-called bottlenecks, obstacles to navigation during low water level. This usually involves deepening and widening the fairway with the help of old-fashioned and expensive infrastructures.
“Heavy investments in diking and dredging the Danube have been justified by various officials with reference to the Rhine river. But the Rhineland has very different conditions from the Danube area, with an industrial base that has developed over centuries and not just thanks to the river. Expecting an economic miracle from investments in Danube navigation is a myth, and potentially a very costly mistake.” said Andreas Beckmann, Director of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme.
The current focus of the proposed strategy on expensive and out-dated approaches to increase navigation risks not only waste money but destroy valuable biodiversity and associated ecosystem services, from flood protection to water purification.
“Solutions for improving inland navigation without changing drastically the nature of the river are available and are less costly in financial as well as ecological terms. We need to invest in innovative ship design that fit the existing depth of the river, better information systems, and nature friendly infrastructure.” added Beckmann.
WWF is calling on Danube countries and on Hungary as next leader of the EU Council to seize the opportunity of the Strategy to bring short and long term benefits to its population by using its enormous natural and cultural assets in a sustainable way.
For further information:
Stefania Campogianni, Media and Communication Officer, WWF European Policy Office, tel: +32 2 743 88 15, mob. +32 (0)499 539736, email: [email protected]
Andreas Beckmann, Director, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, mob: +43 676 84 27 28 216, email:[email protected]
Irene Lucius, Head of Policy, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, mob: +43 676 84 27 28215, email:[email protected]
Sergey Moroz, Freshwater Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office, mob: +32 499 539734, email:[email protected]