Case study:The Babina Restoration Project

Until the 20th century vast areas of the Danube Delta faced only minimal human impacts through extensive fishery and reed harvesting. Since then the Danube Delta has undergone multiple human impacts like embankment, channelization and drainage. Moreover, large areas were diked and the polders used for agriculture. The Babina polder (2.100 ha) was reconnected to the Danube in 1994 and recovery has been monitored by the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development. Within a few years a redevelopment of the site-specific biodiversity occurred and ecosystem services like nutrient retention and fish recruitment became obvious. Additionally, the reconnected polder enable reed harvesting, grazing, fishing and ecotourism.