Wetland restoration and remeandering in SPA Dunajské luhy (Slovakia) and SPA Szigetkoz (Hungary)

In the past, the Danube inland delta represented one of the largest and most diverse natural wetland complexes in central Europe. Large parts of it have been destroyed over the past few decades. Habitat loss and destruction is continuing as a result of earlier river regulation and poor area management. The decreasing habitat quality and several other factors (e.g. unregulated human disturbance) have led to major decreases in the populations of the typical floodplain bird species (black stork, night heron, little egret, sand martin etc.). Urgent actions are needed to recover or maintain the quality and quantity of the floodplain avifauna.