Danube Rivers Morphology and Revitalization - DANUBEPARKS

from 30 ha to 600.000 ha, have been designated for the protection of habitats andspecies (European Environment Agency, DG ENV E2). This number will most likelygrow when non-EU Member States, after accession, designate their NATURA2000sites. The standardized NATURA2000 rules allow EU citizens to have actions thatmight be destructive to the environment assessed via the European Commission,mostly independent of local or governmental interests. However, the implementationand adjustment of the NATURA2000 network is a long-term endeavour. Criticism hasbeen made with regard to the: (i) doubtful representativeness of the nominatedsites; (ii) the often small area coverage of the sites; (iii) the insufficient update ofthe lists of protected species and habitats, and (iv) the spatial isolation of theindividual sites.The NATURA2000, as well as other protection measures such as the RamsarConvention and the WFD, should not be regarded as the end points of the EUconservation policy (after Maiorano et al., 2007, quoted by Sommerwerk N. et al.,2010). There is urgent need to simplify and properly harmonize existing protectionconcepts and directives, as well as to incorporate them into a general natureconservation strategy. Additionally, advanced reserve network designs, such as theconcept of ‘Key Biodiversity Areas’ (KBAs), are currently under development (afterLanghammer et al., 2007; www.freshwaterbiodiversity.eu, quoted by Sommerwerk N.et al., 2010). They are envisaged to allow for a more effective protection of speciesand prioritization of sites for conservation. However, all protection categories outlinedabove focus on the preservation of the environmental status quo and consider thestructure rather than the function of ecosystems as the main conservation target.Currently, the remaining ecologically-valuable river sections of the Danube areat high risk because of large-scale navigation and flood management plans.Therefore, in 2007 the representatives of the large protection areas within eightDanubian countries launched the initiative for a Danube River Network of ProtectedAreas (‘Danubeparks’; funded by the EU SE Europe Transnational CooperationProgram, www.danubeparks.org). The main goals of this initiative are to: (i) exchangeexperiences in river restoration and invasive species control; (ii) proposemanagement strategies for sustainable sediment balances, nutrient control, inlandnavigation and hydromorphologic integrity; (iii) conserve flagship species such assturgeons and the white-tailed eagle; (iv) act as an observer within the ICPDR and toadvocate for large protected areas as part of basin-wide management strategies; (v)21