Conservation and restoration of alluvial habitats of community interest on the Liberty Island and side channel

General

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

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

Site information

Climate zone

cool temperate moist

Type

Case Study Info

Design & implementations

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	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

Lessons, risks, implications...

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, general governance and design targets

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

Socio-economic

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.