Danube Basin welcomes NWRM initiative in Szentendre
At the end of January 2014 the 1st Danube Region Workshop focusing on NWRM took place in Hungary. It brought together practitioners and relevant stakeholders from the Danube River Basin (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria), from other regional networks (Baltic, Western, Mediterranean), as well as representatives from the EUSDR, UN FAO, international organizations as ICPDR, ISRBC, WWF, GWP and IAD.
The workshop gave an opportunity among others for knowledge sharing, co-thinking, coordination of activities and cooperation. Information was presented for already implemented case studies covering among others: reconnection of oxbow lakes and wetlands, wetland restoration and pollution control, construction of wetlands, floodplain restoration etc. During the thematic group sessions, main challenges faced in the region and demands and expectations for the practical guidance were shared. Participants identified the needs of authorities and key stakeholders regarding the preparation of the second WFD management cycle and the development of the 2nd DRBM Plan. During the closing session fruitful discussion took place on possible synergies and coordinated actions between the project and the ICPDR.
The workshop agenda was enriched with a study visit focusing on the possibility of water retention, nature conservation and sustainable landscape management in the Budapest agglomeration.
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