National Id
HU_06
Site name
Liberty Island and side channel
Summary
The Liberty Island is located in South-Hungary northward from Mohács at the left side of the Danube. Its length is about 3 km, its width is 150-200 meters, and its territory is 47 ha. The island and the side-arm belong to the Danube-Drava National Park and are part of the Natura 2000 network. The island is a strictly protected nature conservation area. Along the side branch, on the left side of the Danube, the local water service company has its bank filtered water wells to provide, among others, the drinking water for the settlements of South Baranya County. The island is covered by s
Light or indepth?
In-depth
Location description
Close to city of Mohacs; part of Duna-Drava National Park, Béda-Karapancsa region
Islands of the Danube and their side-arms are home to extraordinarily rich wildlife: all the species living in the side branches require milder waterflow compared to the main branch, warmer water, riparian vegetation and rambling hideouts
RBD code
Danube
Transboundary
0
Data provider
Laurice EREIFEJ – Head of WWF DCP Freshwater Programme - WWF Hungary
Source(s)
Restoration of the Liberty Island and its side-arm on the Danube - Layman’s Report
Liberty Island Life + project Final proceedings (Hungarian)
NWRM(s) implemented in the case study
Restoration and reconnection of seasonal streams
Removal of dams and other longitudinal barriers
Longitude
18.689315
Latitude
46.018883
Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Type
Case Study Info
Installation date
2013
Design contractual arrangement
Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name
Design consultation activity
Activity stage Key issues Name Comments
Design land use change
Land use change type
Design authority
Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments
NGO
WWF Hungary
It was the main beneficiary, and was responsible for the coordination, communication and the ecological purpose dredging of the silted-up sediments from the side channel.
Duna-Dráva National Park Directorate
As part of the forest management it was responsible for the transformation of hybrid poplar plantations into forests composed of native species, and the reduction of invasively spreading tree species in the project area. Apart from the forestry management it was the responsible beneficiary for purchasing the island, the conservation management and the monitoring.
Lower-Danube-valley Water Management Directorate
Responsible for the opening of the rock-fill dam.
Transdanubian Regional Waterworks Public Company
Responsible for the relocation of the hydraulical delivery pipes under the riverbed.
Financing
Coca-Cola Hungary and the Municipality of Mohács Town
Co-financing
financing funding solutions
The project was co-financed by Coca-Cola Hungary (Coca-Cola HBC Magyarország Kft., Coca-Cola Services Magyarország Kft.) and the Municipality of Mohács Town.
Transferability
However, this was a special project with the partnership of NGO, state owned directorates, municipality and drinking water supply company, there is huge potential for the reconnection of side-branches to the Danube on the whole Hungarian Danube. The experiences of Liberty Island project can be replicable in any upcoming restoration works.
Success factor(s)
Success factor type Success factor role Comments
Financing
Financing type Comments
Barrier
Barrier type Barrier role Comments
Driver
Driver type Driver role Comments
Financing share
Financing share type Share Comments
Policy target
Target purpose
Policy pressure
Pressure directive Relevant pressure
Policy area
Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments
Policy impact
Impact directive Relevant impact
Policy wider plan
Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments
Policy requirement directive
Requirement directive Specification
Costs total
Total budget: 1 795 529 €
Costs total information
EU co-financing: 1 075 896 €, 75% of eligible costs, approx.
Costs other information
The project was implemented by 4 different organisations as beneficiaries. They provided their own contribution. The risk of exchange rate changes was borne by the coordinated beneficiary. At the end, its effect was positive and it helped to keep within the planned project budget. The Financial Report was compiled by merging the internal financial progress reports, prepared by each beneficiary.

The respective costs of the different actions were as follows:
- 46% dredging
- 22,6% waterpipe relocation
- 9% buying the island
- 6,5% forestry works
- 4,4% environmental impact assessment and monitoring
- 3,2% communication
- 2,8% opening the rock-fill dam (after waterpipe relocation)
- 5,4% project management.