WWF - Conservation news

The Carpathian Convention at 10: On the map, but much left to do

2013-05-20

by Andreas Beckmann

The Carpathians turn 10 years old this month. The venerable mountains have of course been around for longer – at least 66 million years in fact. But it has been only relatively recently that the Carpathians, which stretch across seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe, have really come into focus and gained a common identity as a mountain range with unique qualities, traditions and way of life, as well as challenges shared by people living across the region.

Ten years ago, on 22 May 2003, representatives of the governments of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania and Serbia put their signatures to the "Framework Convention for the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians." Over the past decade, the "Carpathian Convention," as the agreement is more often referred to, has created a common focus and framework for identity and cooperation across the region.

Record-breaking agreement

The idea for the convention was first broached in Bucharest in 2001at a summit of regional leaders organized by WWF and the Romanian government. Within two years, and with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme, the governments of the seven Carpathian countries had completed negotiations and inked the agreement. As far as conventions go, the Carpathian Convention was negotiated and agreed in record time.

The original framework convention has spawned a series of additional, more specific agreements between the member countries. In the past 10 years, the seven member states have adopted formal protocols on the protection of biodiversity, tourism and forests. Implementation strategies for these protocols have been agreed or are under development.

Protocols on cultural heritage and transportation are already well advanced. Strategic guidance on adaptation to climate change is also underway and expected to be formally adopted by ministers when they meet next year. Further agreements are expected in future, including on agriculture, energy and regional development and spatial planning.

Paper over practice?

Critics say that, to date at least, the convention has been more about meetings and paper than actual practice. Indeed, there have been many meetings, and not all have been productive.

Even where commitments have been achieved, it is fair to ask to what extent those commitments have actually changed anything. It is simply too early to know, for example, whether the Carpathian Convention commitment to protect Europe's greatest remaining areas of virgin forest will become reality. Definitions of virgin forest will be discussed in June, to be followed then by discussion of actual protection measures to be taken.

A basic problem is that the Carpathian Convention is "soft" legislation – that is, legislation without a real bite – in contrast to EU directives and regulations, where there is the real possibility of diplomatic embarrassment and even financial fines and sanctions.

Also, while most progress has been made in terms of commitments to biodiversity protection, the key to securing this protection lies in addressing pressures in other areas, such as development of infrastructure for transportation and energy. Habitat fragmentation is a major concern to the future of bears and other large carnivores, but so far, there has been limited progress in integrating wildlife migration corridors into transportation planning.

Similarly, the planned construction of thousands of hydropower stations across the Carpathian Mountains present an imminent threat to hundreds of streams and rivers. Guidance for development of these projects is urgently needed to ensure that any gains in clean energy does not come at too great a cost in terms of biodiversity and other ecosystem services.

Yet it is unclear the extent to which a Carpathian Convention protocol on energy, which in any case is in the future, could address the intense pressure from investors and related political interests.

A common home

But even relatively blunt tools can be effective – for example in focusing efforts, and mobilizing cooperation and resources.

The Carpathian Convention has spawned networks of cooperation across the mountain range. Recently, 140 protected area managers and supporters came together to meet, inspire and learn from one another. Across the Carpathians, protected area managers do important work, safeguarding many of Europe's greatest natural treasures.

Indeed, over the years, a community of people and organisations has developed around and in support of the Carpathian Mountains, from government authorities to international organisations like the United Nations Environmental Programme, which currently leads the secretariat, and non-profit organizations like WWF.

Cooperation has been fostered not only across the Carpathians, but also to the Alps, with a strong partnership with the Alpine Network of Protected Areas, and the European Academy in Bolzano, an Alpine think-tank that has been giving strong support to the Carpathian Convention secretariat.

Also not to be underestimated is the importance of creating an identity and idea, and networking behind it. Ten years ago, no one spoke of the Carpathians or saw them as one range of mountains shared by different countries. Differences prevailed over things in common. Over the past decade, this has clearly changed. The Carpathians today have become a term like the Alps, a badge of identity and pride for the countries and the people living in these areas.

Nevertheless, the Carpathian Mountains are an area of extraordinary qualities and treasures, part of WWF's Green Heart of Europe initiative, and those treasures are being lost. The extent to which they survive will be the ultimate test for the convention. A good start has been made, but much remains to be done.

Andreas Beckmann is director of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, which has been closely involved in the development of the Carpathian Convention.

Learn more about the Carpathian Convention

Bulgarian court declares illegal a ski lift in Pirin National Park

2013-05-17

Sofia, Bulgaria - WWF has welcomed the final decision of Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court to declare illegal a ski lift built in 2011 in the controversial Bansko ski zone in Pirin National Park.

The 5-member jury states that the construction of the lift does not constitute repair, replacement or reconstruction of an existing facility, as stated by the concessionaire "Yulen", but constitutes the construction of a new sports facility with the length of over 1 km. As a new construction of this length, the project should have undergone a mandatory environment impact assessment.

In 2011, environmentalists appealed the permit given by the Ministry of Environment and Water for the construction of the lift on the grounds that no environment impact assessment had been carried out. Environmentalists signaled that the lift area, including its upper and lower stations, were outside the concession area and on the territory of the National Park where construction is prohibited.

The decision of the 5-member jury of the Supreme Administrative Court is a precedent which gives a clear interpretation of the concession contract for Bansko ski zone. WWF and "For the nature" coalition of NGOs continue to push for cancellation of the concession contract with "Yulen". They are calling against any changes in the management plan of the National Park that would allow for new construction on its territory.
Additionally, WWF and "For the nature" coalition have been granted access to a report by the Ministry of Environment and Water, which makes it clear that two ski pistes and another lift in Bansko ski zone are also illegally built.

According to the official report the two pistes are not part of the concession agreement with "Yulen", nor are they part of the Management Plan of Pirin National Park, nor have they undergone any agreement procedures.

Environmentalists are calling for those government officials who have allowed for this to happen to be brought to justice. Despite being a National Park with the highest level of protection in the country, Pirin National Park sees the biggest number of breeches of legislation.

So far, more than 40,000 Bulgarians have signed a petition against the illegal consruction in Pirin National Park.

Protected White-tailed eagle falls prey to illegal poisoning in Austria

2013-05-14

Vienna - The hunting grounds of Lower Austria are currently experiencing an unprecedented series of poison attacks on wildlife.

Last December a protected White-tailed eagle was found poisoned in the vicinity of the city of Melk.

In February a man discovered a poisoned fox and a dead buzzard. The buzzard had a chunk of meat in the throat prepared with the poison.

In mid-April a marsh harrier was found dead. The bird lied next to four opened eggs. Again, it contained carbofuran - a dangerous poison long banned from use.

Flora Hejjas, Head of WWF White-tailed eagle protection program is appalled by the new wave of poisoning: "The possession and use of the pesticide carbofuran has been banned throughout the EU since 2008. But apparently the deadly substance is still circulating allowing ruthless people to illegally use it against wild animals."

The White-tailed eagle found dead in Melk was initially examined at the Veterinary University of Vienna. Although poisoning was suspected, the case was later proven in Germany – the bird was killed with carbofuran. "Because the toxicological studies often take a very long time, some suspected cases can often be confirmed only weeks or months after the death," Hejjas said.

As in the other recent cases it is suspected that hunters may be the offenders. Flora Hejjas calls on the Austrian hunting authorities to take the problem more seriously than they have done so far. "The hunting community should take effective actions against wildlife poisoning. The ban against the possession and use of carbofuran should be followed consistently and all misdemeanors should be punished."

Dr. Peter Lebersorger of the Austrian Hunters Union calls the hunters not to tolerate any illegal actions in their grounds. „Hopes for higher hunting success may incline some people to breach the law. We point out that poison use is strictly prohibited not only in the hunting – it also contradicts all principles of sportsmanship and severely damages the reputation of hunters in public!"

The carbofuran poison is absolutely fatal for humans and animals. It was repeatedly misused for the production of poison baits. These baits are illegally used against dogs, cats, foxes, martens, crows and birds of prey, causing an extremely painful death.

Renewable energy & energy efficiency in your neighbourhood

2013-05-13

Have you installed a solar energy system, a geothermal heatpump, or other renewable systems yourself? Or have you insulated your building to make it more energy efficient? repowermap.org is a WWF initiative, which promotes renewable energy and energy efficiency by showing real-world examples and related local information in each person's neighbourhood.

The initiative aims to encourage people to use renewable energy and energy efficiency and to promote know-how exchange at local level as well as across borders. Anyone who has installed a renewable energy system or constructed an energy efficient building can add their example to the map to make it visible and inspire others to take action.

"Each example is important", said Georgi Stefanov, Climate Change Expert at WWF Bulgaria. "There are thousands of examples out there. By making them visible, we are inspiring others to take action as well".

"All you need to do is go to the map and zoom in to a selected region to see all markers in that region. You can then add your own contribution to the map". Stefanov said.

A broad network of organizations, local and regional authorities and other energy actors took part in developing this map within the framework of WWF's repowermap.org initiative and in partnership with WWF Bulgaria. The initiative is supported by the European Union within the framework of the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme, as an initiative to promote renewable energies and energy efficiency by creating synergies in awareness raising between various energy actors and by facilitating information exchange for the related technologies. Within the Intelligent Energy Europe programme, the initiative aims to gather 40'000 concrete project examples for the use of renewable energies and energy efficiency and related local information, in particular in the countries Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, and Poland.

Yellow water lily returns to biggest Danube island in Bulgaria

2013-05-09

The restoration of rare plant species in the marshes of Persin Nature Park in the Bulgarian stretch of the Lower Danube is entering a new stage. Over the past few weeks, 20 Yellow water lilies were taken from Veleka river in Strandja in the south-east of Bulgaria, and transferred to two marshes on Persin island on the Danube. Conservationists at Persin Nature Park expect that gradually the number of water lilies will increase.

The marshes of Persin (Belene) island were restored four years ago. The return of the protected Yellow water lily will allow the species to re-establish itself in the wetlands of the park. In the past, the island of Persin hosted one of the biggest water lily colonies in the country, but the plant disappeared from the island because of the destruction of its wetlands.

Besides being beautiful flowers, water lilies play many useful roles in nature. A variety of rare and endangered species live off them. For example, many birds nest on their leaves on the water surface and fish hide below them.

Four more plant species are being restored in Persin Nature Park, including White water lilies.

The work is financed by the LIFE+ Programme of the European Union under a project carried out by WWF in partnership with the Executive Agency of Forestry. The project aims to protect and restore 11 habitat types in 10 of Bulgaria's nature parks. The restoration of water lilies is carried out under the supervision of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water, Rousse, and with the approval of the Ministry of Environment and Water.

Three transboundary Ramsar sites between Bulgaria and Romania officially designated

2013-05-07

Three new transboundary wetland complexes along the Danube River prepared by WWF were approved by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands.

"The designation of Lake Calarasi – Srebarna, Suhaia - Belene Islands Complex and Bistret - Ibisha Island will allow for the full protection of the bird colonies that nest and feed in Bulgaria and Romania. The two countries will be able to take coordinated, cooperative measures to better protect wetlands and migratory species, which feed, winter, nest and breed on both sides of the river," said Laurice Ereifej, head of WWF Central and Eastern Europe Freshwater Programme.

Monitoring done by WWF in the last three years shows that heron colonies that nest on the Bulgarian island of Ibisha feed in the Romanian lake of Bistret. The same goes for pygmy cormorants and pelicans nesting in the Srebarna Lake in Bulgaria that feed in the Romanian lake of Calarasi.

At the end of 2012, WWF launched a study of Bistret, Suhaia, Calarasi, Srebarna, Ibisha and Belene Islands Complex as part of the Green Borders LIFE+ EU-funded project to propose transboundary conservation measures for bird species and to designate cross-border nature reserves along the Lower Danube.

The environmental ministers of Bulgaria and Romania officially signed a proposal to create the three wetland complexes in April 2013. There are currently 16 transboundary Ramsar sites, 15 of them in the European region and one in Africa.

The Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. It is the first international agreement for the protection and sustainable use of natural resources. The mission of the Ramsar Convention is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution to sustainable development.

Notes from a conference: overcoming challenges in the Carpathians

2013-05-01

During the Second Conference of the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas (23-26 April 2013), organized by WWF, the State Nature Conservancy of Slovakia and the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas Steering Committee, representatives of protected areas from the Carpathian region met in Slovakia to exchange experience and ideas for future cooperation. Hildegard Meyer from WWF's Danube-Carpathian Programme talks about the highlights and achievements of the conference.

"Protected areas in the Carpathians have identical problems because nature and culture are so similar. Thanks to the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas (CNPA) we have a structure for networking and cooperation to solve these problems.

I am happy to say that the conference brought together around 140 people associated with various aspects of protected area work in the Carpathian region. The Carpathian protected areas have an important role to play. They conserve the outstanding natural and cultural treasures of the region – rich biodiversity, mosaic landscapes, virgin forests, and numerous cultural sites. Development takes, and has to take place, but does not necessarily go hand in hand with nature protection. How to overcome these challenges? How to find adequate opportunities for environmentally friendly development and sustainable financing in Carpathian protected areas? This was the essence of the conference. Speakers came from across Europe and from a wide range of organizations dedicated to protected area work.

The wonderful location of the meeting venue in the middle of a meadow with a view to a snowy mountain in Tatranská Javorina in the heart of the High Tatra National Park, was a true inspiration for participants.

We had a warm welcome by Rastislav Rybanic from the Slovak Ministry of Environment, Michal Adamec from the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Harald Egerer from the Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, Mircea Verghelet, the Chair of the CNPA Steering Committee, and also by Andreas Beckmann, the Director of WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme. His message was very important. He identified people taking care of their natural treasures without financial resources, among them rangers, as the key people in the region when it comes to nature protection on the ground.

Our keynote speakers Mircea Verghelet and Harald Egerer presented the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas. Maja Mikonsińska from DG Environment of the European Commission talked about the role of the EU and the Natura2000 network. L'uboš Halada from Science for the Carpathians S4C discussed the use of science in the field of nature conservation. Laszlo Potozky from the Environmental Partnership Foundation spoke about the role of environmental NGOs in protected area work. Alois Lang from IUCN WCPA Transboundary Cooperation Specialist Group noted that transboundary work on common conservation goals is of great importance. The first transboundary protected area was established in the Carpathians in 1932! This was Pieniny International Landscape Park shared by Poland and Slovakia.

One of our keynote speakers, Guido Plassmann, was from the Alpine Network of Protected Areas. They have been supporting the CNPA for quite some time. We heard how ALPARC developed into an independent organization. Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend, Global Coordinator from the Indigenous Peoples' and Community Conserved Areas and Territories, raised the issue of governance of protected areas in general. Besides the park administrations, she pointed out the value of local people's conservation activities to take care of the landscape, its natural and cultural features as heritage from their ancestors. She emphasized the importance of involving these people in the work of the administrations.

During the plenary sessions we discussed the CNPA Work Plan for 2013-2017. The focus was on conservation, networking including communications, institutional arrangements and sustainable development. We wanted to get input from the protected areas managers on their activities and future priorities. We probably spoke mostly about "wish lists" than current activities, but this is a good basis for the development of new projects.

One of the most popular workshops was "Sustainable development opportunities in and around protected areas with a focus on stakeholder support". Here Laszlo Potozky talked about the serious challenges for rural population of the Carpathians when it comes to realizing income while paying attention to nature protection.

Our workshop on connectivity - "Connectivity and continuity – ecological corridors in the Carpathians and the Alps" – was led by European Academy of Bolzano (EURAC). Based on their work in the Carpathians, they presented methods how to locate hot spots of connectivity, how to verify them, and how to overcome legal and socio-economic barriers. Additional speakers brought examples from the Cantabric-Pyrenees-Alps Great Mountain Corridor and the Alps.

Many examples from across the Carpathians and outside were presented in the workshop "Protected area management planning with a focus on cross-border cooperation". Difficulties remain in terms of different legal backgrounds, or even more difficulties when one country is an EU member, but its neighbour is not. The conclusion was that things can be moved if people are convinced and have a good network beside the legal constraints.

During the workshop "Exchange of ideas for future cooperation", led by UNEP Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, participants expressed great interest in developing intergenerational learning and a pan-Carpathian brand.

Last but not least, interest in photographing the Carpathians has grown immensely in recent years, and we awarded seven top photographers for their work.

We even managed to fit in excursions to experience nature, cultural heritage and regional development in the area."

Students from 11 countries can now apply for „European Schools for a Living Planet"

2013-04-24

Vienna - School classes from seventh to tenth grade can now apply for the school environment initiative „European Schools for a Living Planet" of WWF and ERSTE Foundation.

Pupils from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia or Ukraine are invited to develop nature conservation projects on the subjects of ecological footprint and healthy rivers. A joint cross-border eco-action in all participating countries will form the highlight of the initiative.

„Participants can look forward to an exciting exchange with school classes from eleven European countries", stated Barbara Tauscher, leader of WWF Austria's environmental education programme. „With ′European Schools for a Living Planet′ we want to show pupils the possibility to get active for their environment and to shape their future."

The participation is free. Deadline for applications is 9 July 2013. Further information and registration at the website of the initiative.

The school environment initiative starts with a one-week pupil-teacher academy in Austria from 27 September to 2 October 2013. Via workshops and outdoor activities WWF eco-pedagogues and various nature conservation experts will introduce the pupils and their class teachers to the project topics ‚Ecological Footprint – Consumption's global effects', ‚Danube – Europe's lifeline' and ‚Active citizenship – mobilising and motivating others'.

Project management, team building and public relations will be on the programme too. Until the end of the school year the pupils will have time to develop and implement their personal nature conservation projects. The project ideas and realisation is completely up to the pupils' creativity. Activities may range from street theatre performances and exhibitions to newspaper series and action plans for schools.

During the school year the progress of the nature conservation projects can be watched via the publicly accessible interactive weblog http://schools.foralivingplanet.eu. There the school classes will keep project diaries, post pictures and videos about their projects and exchange experiences.

Pupils, teachers and anyone else visiting the site can comment on every project activity. In June 2014 pupils and teachers will again gather in Romania for a big concluding event. There they will present their nature conservation activities, share their experiences with each other and develop ideas for a joint cross-border eco-action in autumn 2014.

The participation in the school environment initiative is free. In addition, the participating classes receive financial support for the implementation of their nature conservation projects. Language of the academy, the project documentation and the final event is English.

„The initiative ‚European Schools for a Living Planet' offers a very important supplement of our cross -border education projects. We are very happy, that the group of young people, who creatively engage with our environments' future in an international exchange, becomes bigger every year", states Doraja Eberle, Chairwoman of the Board of ERSTE Foundation.

Carpathian protected areas managers and stakeholders to discuss future cooperation

2013-04-18

Tatranská Javorina, Slovakia - Representatives of protected areas and other stakeholders from the Carpathian Region will meet in Slovakia next week to exchange experience and ideas for future cooperation.

The Second Conference of the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas is organized by the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas Steering Committee, together with other partners from 23-26 April 2013 in Tatranská Javorina, High Tatra National Park area.

At the same meeting venue the BioREGIO Carpathians project Midterm Conference is organized by the United Nations Environment Programme Vienna – Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention on 23 April 2013.

During the two conferences, distinguished keynote speakers will discuss a variety of perspectives on approaches and issues regarding the network of protected areas, such as the governance of protected areas, the science behind conservation, and the role of NGOs.

Among others, speakers will include representatives from the European Commission, DG Environment, the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC), and the Indigenous Peoples' and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCA).

A number of workshops on different topics, such as sustainable financing and connectivity and continuity, will be organized.

The Carpathians host Europe's largest area of old-growth forests as well as the largest remaining natural mountain beech and beech-fir forests ecosystems. The Carpathians are the last region in Europe to support viable populations of large carnivores like brown bears, wolves and lynx. The unique diversity of habitats of the Carpathians makes them a haven for globally threatened species such as the European bison, the Tatra Mountain chamois and the Imperial eagle.

WWF's work in the Carpathians
WWF has been promoting protected area designation and management in the region as well as support for the establishment of the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas.

WWF has been working for the identification and protection of high conservation value forests in the Carpathians and has been the leading force for responsible forest management, providing training and assistance for FSC certification.

WWF is also promoting a major initiative to protect the Southwest Carpathians as Europe's premier wilderness area.

About BioREGIO Carpathians project
The project BioREGIO Carpathians aims at enhancing the integrated management of protected areas and natural assets of the Carpathian Mountains. Sustainable regional development will be promoted and ecological connectivity will overcome legal and ecological barriers while considering transboundary and transnational needs. BioREGIO Carpathians is an EU project which is co - funded by the ERDF within the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme. The CNPA Conference is organized within the BioREGIO Carpathians project and the project interim results will be presented at the Medium Term Conference.

Protection of bird colonies takes flight with creation of three Ramsar wetlands

2013-04-16

Ruse, Bulgaria – The environmental ministers of Bulgaria and Romania officially signed a proposal to create three new transboundary wetland complexes along the Danube River prepared by WWF late last year. The new sites will later be considered and approved by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands.

"The new transboundary wetland complexes – Srebarna-Lake Calarasi, Belene Islands Complex-Suhaia and Ibisha Island-Bistret – will allow for the full protection of the bird colonies that nest and feed in Bulgaria and Romania. The two countries will be able to take coordinated, cooperative measures to better protect wetlands and migratory species, which feed, winter, nest and breed on both sides of the river," said Laurice Ereifej, head of WWF Central and Eastern Europe Freshwater Programme.

Monitoring done by WWF in the last three years shows that heron colonies that nest on the Bulgarian island of Ibisha feed in the Romanian lake of Bistret. The same goes for pygmy cormorants and pelicans nesting in the Srebarna Lake in Bulgaria that feed in the Romanian lake of Calarasi.

"The two countries can work on a joint strategy for wetland management that will allow for the full protection of the bird species. Bulgaria and Romania can take coordinated measures by executing common bans on logging and hunting in the region and by not allowing access to the bird colonies during breeding," said Ivan Hristov, head of Freshwater for WWF-Bulgaria.

At the end of 2012, WWF launched a study of Bistret, Suhaia, Calarasi, Srebarna, Ibisha and Belene Islands Complex as part of the Green Borders LIFE+ EU-funded project to propose transboundary conservation measures for bird species and to designate cross-border nature reserves along the Lower Danube.

Wetlands include rivers, lakes, ponds and floodplain forests, among others. They are among the most valuable ecosystems as they preserve a huge amount of biodiversity and ensure ecosystem services for humans. Wetlands play a key role in the water cycle, restore water supplies, can reduce floods, provide habitat for fish and purify surface or groundwater. In the last century, the majority of wetlands in Bulgaria and Romania have been destroyed. Their protection is a priority for WWF.

The Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. It is the first international agreement for the protection and sustainable use of natural resources. The mission of the Ramsar Convention is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution to sustainable development.

WWF asks supporters to vote for the coolest animal of a Danubian island

2013-04-15

WWF supporters in Hungary can vote for their favourite animal living on Liberty Island and in its side-arm in the Danube river. The European otter, the Black stork and the White-finned gudgeon compete with each other on a special website.

The deadline for voting is 22 May, the International Day of Biodiversity.

For the last few years WWF has been working to restore the protected island and to re-vitalise its silted up side-arm which has been blocked by a cross-dam since the 1980s.

These hydro-engineering works are WWF Hungary's largest conservation project. The aim is to bring back to life the natural floodplain forest of Liberty Island and the Danube side-arm. The works, which include dredging the sediment and the opening of the cross-dam, also help to secure drinking water for local communities.

When the river ecosystem is restored by the end of 2013, it is hoped that many native fish and bird species will return to the area, near the city of Mohacs. The WWF project is supported by both EU LIFE+ funds and corporate partners like Coca-Cola.

Hungarian celebrities support the "applications" of the European otter, the Black stork and the White-finned gudgeon in the competition – the model Fanni Weisz, the singer Janicsák Veca and the humorist Adam Kiss. Competition participants may also win prizes including photo cameras.

WWF campaign in Ukraine will raise awareness of environmental issues in the Danube Delta

2013-04-10

Odessa, Ukraine - An information campaign launched by WWF in Ukraine will educate teachers and pupils in the Danube Delta about climate change, biodiversity of the region, ecological and water footprint. The campaign "We want to live in a healthy region!" kicked off in the town of Ismail by gathering together 40 teachers who started environmental training.

Throughout the spring the teachers will give lessons on environmental topics at their schools and will gather at additional events. They will gather again in June to present the results of their classes with the winning class taking a trip to the "0 km" of the Danube Delta.

"We are very pleased with the participation of the selected teachers", said Katya Kurakina, Communications Officer at WWF in Ukraine. "They are teachers of biology, natural history and environmental management from Izmail, Kiliya, Reni and Bolgrad districts, all in the heart of the Danube Delta."

During the training, the teachers learned how to hold extra-curricular activities on environment topics, how to promote knowledge of environmental issues and how to get their pupils interested in the subject.

At the end of the training, each teacher received an information box which comprises a guide to setting up practical exercises and special events, brochures for children with information on key environmental topics, class handouts such as exercise cards with the flora and fauna of the Danube region, birdhouse building plans, origami, as well as materials for experiments, stationary and others.

The campaign materials were created by WWF in Ukraine and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve administration.

"There are practically no projects to develop environmental awareness of children in the region", Kurakina said. "School curriculum contains mainly general information that is not related to a specific region. There are no practical environmental training components, school materials are often outdated, and do not contain information on new concepts, such as ecological footprint or climate change. Schools in the region cannot afford to print their own information and visual aids, to organize trips in nature, or to participate in environmental actions. Our campaign "We want to live in a healthy region!" aims to bridge these gaps."

Another component of the campaign is to organize nature cleaning events by school pupils. To aid their effort, teachers received supplies of gloves and biodegradable garbage bags "Freken Bok" donated by the "Biosphere Corporation", partner of the campaign.

As part of the campaign, a competition for the best eco-city on the Danube will be held. During the competition, young "city planners" will be asked to submit to the jury ideas for the eco-city of their dreams.

The campaign is part of the international project "Climate proofing the Danube Delta through integrated land and water management". The project is implemented by WWF, the Danube Biosphere Reserve and Center for Regional Studies (Odessa).

The project aims to prepare the Danube Delta for the impact of climate change. It brings together three countries - Ukraine, Moldova and Romania. The project is implemented with the support of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and is financed by the ENRTP Programme of the European Commission.

Another five European bisons reintroduced in the Carpathians

2013-04-05

Bucharest, Romania – WWF welcomed the second release of five European bisons in Vanatori - Neamt Nature Park, which is the beginning of the reintroduction of the species in the Carpathian Mountains.

The first group of five bisons was released by the park administration back in March 2012.

The released animals are aged between 3 and 7. They have been raised in zoos in Western Europe. The species are monitored by radio collars to obtain data on their new habitats, movements and preferences for refuge. Monitoring of the animals released last year showed that they explored a forest area of about 2,000 ha.

Almost 200 years after the European bison disappeared from the Carpathians the first two births at large took place, indicating that the species are adapting well to the environmental conditions of Vanatori - Neamt Nature Park. Meanwhile, the animals are provided with food through special facilities before they find their own way. Experts say that a population of 20-25 bisons must be reintroduced to prove the project viable.

'WWF was one of the supporters of the reintroduction project in Vanatori – Neamt and is now aiming to replicate the success in a pilot area in the Southern Carpathians, with the help of the Rewilding Europe initiative, which aims to rewild one million hectares of land by 2020, creating 10 wildlife and wilderness areas of international quality, said Adrian Hagatis from WWF, who is in charge of the project in Romania.

The initiative is focused on making a viable business case for wild nature in places including the Southern Carpathians and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in Romania. The initiative will create favorable conditions for the return of missing native species including the bison.

In PES you pay only for the service you receive

2013-04-05

Julio Tresierra is a coordinator of a global programme for the payment for watershed services (EPWS) which is headquartered in the Netherlands. He is a Canadian citizen born in Peru who travels frequently in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, supervising and promoting new programmes in the field of payments for ecosystem services (PES).

How do you see the PES schemes in the Danube Basin, in Bulgaria and Romania, which WWF is developing?

PES is a relatively new mechanism. It has grown systematically in the last 20 years and exploded in the last 10 years. Watershed services – one of four types of PES, is the most common, while carbon sequestration is the largest in volume of transactions. The other two environmental services are biodiversity and cultural/aesthetic values. The Danube region is a prime target to start exploring the possibilities of applying PES mechanisms. In Bulgaria WWF is already developing four pilot schemes which are testing the viability of this finance mechanism. The Danube is a massive water body and 19 countries are part of its watershed. Any changes in the quantity or quality of the Danube will have a very serious impact on the land mass which is adjacent to the river. It is a river that very much defines the life of many countries and people. It provides water for domestic consumption for many important European capitals. So, if - for example - the levels of pollution and contamination grow out of control, the impacts are going to be felt immediately. Or, if for some reason a mismanagement of upstream water bodies affects the quantity of water, a significant segment of the population is going to be affected downstream. Or if you want to use the river just as a motorway to promote commerce and make it more amenable for transportation of commodities using bigger ships, then the biodiversity of the watershed is going to be affected as well. From an economic, environmental, political and social perspective, the Danube has an important role to play in the overall integration of livelihood, conservation and development.

Why are watershed PES schemes most popular?

Because water stress is becoming a serious issue all over the world. The sources of fresh water are very limited. The problem of water has to do with the quantity, quality and distribution of opportunities to get access to this water. Payment for watershed services is one way of re-establishing the equity of access to water not only within countries but also between them.

How are you going to get people to pay for services which, to them, have no value because they are currently free?

There are two positions. Firstly, the amount of water that has been taken for granted and used freely is diminishing. All of a sudden the corporate users of water - bottling, cement or energy companies –realize: "Hey, this water is really decreasing and is going to impact my business". There is an awareness of the scarcity of water which is becoming a serious concern for the large corporate users of water.

Secondly, an integrated view is developing. People are connecting the scarcity of water downstream to upstream changes. In many watersheds where we developed our EPWS Programme upstream areas are populated by poor farming communities. The actions they exert upon the land have a direct impact on the quantity and quality of water. Like it or not you have to deal with water managers upstream because those are the stewards who are going to undertake the required steps to restore the ecosystem capacity to provide the water services downstream. So the free water use is a thing of the past because of growing water scarcity on the one hand, and on the other because of the obvious connection between upstream and downstream habitats providing the foundations for agreements such as PWS.

How do you price an ecosystem service?

Valuation of ecosystem services is quite a problematic issue because people are trying to put a price tag on a service that is not entirely "marketable" by definition. There are all kinds of philosophical, ideological and scientific issues around the "marketing" of nature. There are some who are highly critical of mechanisms by which nature is "for sale", whereby nature is transformed into a market commodity. It is argued that there is the risk of misusing what nature provides by transforming it into a commodity like a car, a shirt or a table. However, we must consider that in programmes such as EPWS you provide an environmental service in such a way that you restore nature's capacity to provide such services. There is a tangible result which is a water service different than its source: nature. In addition to this there is an intangible improvement of the system itself that in the long run is going to permit the continuation of the provision of these services. A hydroelectric dam which produces "X" MW of energy needs a constant volume of water. But if something is happening upstream – deforestation, changes in the rain cycle – which is going to affect the volume of water, the hydroelectric business is going to suffer. If the volume of water is restored, the hydroelectric business is going to improve. Part of such benefit is the payment that must go upstream to pay for the restoration of the ecosystem. So the notion of improving the profitability of the downstream user and the cost of changing the land upstream are two of the main components of evaluating the ecosystem service.

So this is not a gimmick to make the business pay?

No, in PES there is the contingency principle – you pay only for the service you receive. This type of contractual association between buyers and sellers is managed by very strict regulations monitored by independent bodies.

Why is PES getting more popular?

People are becoming more environmentally aware, in general. There is much bigger concern whether because of global warming or the increased fury of nature – tornados, hurricanes, through all those manifestations people are perceiving that there is a human action which is modifying the natural cycles. This is generating an increased consciousness and awareness about the need to maintain and restore an ecosystem balance. We have to use innovative mechanisms available to us to restore balances. What used to work in the past is not working nowadays.

Can you give examples of successful PES schemes around the world?

The two most well-known cases in the developed world are the Vittel (Nestlé Waters) in north-eastern France - paying farmers to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, and the case of the Catskill Watershed Corporation where New York City Municipal Government pays for water services. In Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia there are schemes run by the governments. In Peru a scheme was started by us (The WWF - CARE Consortium) and it is now continued by the government. In China the PES approach is also being explored.

Do you believe that in the end the market will save the world?

No, we have to save the world in spite of the market, which has to be more responsible towards human needs and respect the environment. Under the global crisis people are interested in keeping their jobs. Energy production and food security are also priorities. These urgent demands place environmental regulations as secondary matters. We have to understand however to what extent environmental decay is a significant component of the economic crisis. Profits are made out of nature and people, and not the other way around. If you destroy nature, you are going to end up with empty bags.

When PES cannot help?

It is not the answer to every single environmental problem. There are many options that are much more effective. PES works under very special conditions that must be established in advance. PES cannot resolve all the problems once and for all. It is one approach among many.
It cannot resolve the managerial problems connected with the misuse of natural resources, nor the governmental and legislative limitations that prevent the manipulation of the environment to produce contracts among water users. PES cannot deal with environmental damages created by natural disasters.

How do you see the future of PES?

I think it has very significant future given its growth in the last ten years. But PES is a finance tool and must be applied in the context of sustainable development, economic growth, poverty alleviation, and food security among other structural processes. A strong political will is required to modify existing schemes because PES is challenging a lot of laws in the market.

Exclusion zones for hydropower included in Romania's Energy Strategy

2013-03-29

Bucharest, Romania – The final environmental permit of Romania's updated Energy Strategy for 2007-2020 includes "No Go"/exclusion zones for placement of hydropower installations and the requirement for pre-planning and monitoring ecological data and impacts, which represent an important step ahead towards saving valuable habitats in the country's rivers and the endangered species living there.

WWF and its partners from the Natura 2000 NGOs Coalition have long been pressing for these measures from the government. In the end they succeeded to influence the integration of important WWF demands regarding hydropower infrastructure in this legal document.

According to the environmental permit of the Energy Strategy, within the sites of the Natura 2000 network, which have been designated to protect species of fish, otters and crayfish or affected habitats, it will be not accepted to build small hydropower.

The development of the energy activities in Romania will have to be based on intermediary pre-planning at regional and river basin level, which takes into account the cumulative effect of investments. "We need to continue advocating for high ecological status according to Water Framework Directive to be included in the exclusion cirteria, together with internationally important protected areas (UNESCO and IUCN category I and II)", said Diana Popa, Water Policy Officer at WWF Romania.

The construction of small hydropower adversely affects riverbeds if no measures are taken to maintain the appropriate flow to ensure the natural conditions of life of the water species. It also affects the groundwater and hence the water sources of the local communities.

"In Romania, over 430 small hydropower installations are in various stages of planning, permitting and construction. Over a quarter of these are in or near protected areas. Construction of approximately 300 such installations has been approved without any pre-planning at river basin and regional level", Diana Popa explained.

In about three years, two Natura 2000 sites in the Romanian Fagaras Mountains, one of which designated for the protection of endangered species such as otters and different species of fish have been 'invaded' by more than 50 small hydropower installations, causing destruction of mountain rivers and species.

Experts say that the multiplication and diversification of pressure on the limited resources of rivers in the world will lead to a reduction in water supply capacity by 40% from current levels by 2030.

WWF will monitor the process of implementation of the new restrictions to all new projects in Romania including those already submitted for approval.

A third lynx was reintroduced in the Kalkalpen National Park in Austria

2013-03-26

A female lynx from Switzerland named Kora was released in the Kalkalpen National Park in Austria. It has found a new home in the protected area together with two other species reintroduced in 2011 – a male called Juro and a female called Freia. In June 2012 Freia gave birth to two cubs.

Kora reached Kalkalpen National Park in a special pet carrier, accompanied by a veterinarian. She was equipped with a radio collar.

This is the third and final release for the time being within the project "LUKA - Lynx Upper Austria Kalkalpen". It is an important step for the return of the lynx to the Alps and in the future more releases should follow. " The lynx has a chance to survive in the long term in the Alps only if the scattered animals can meet each other", says WWF lynx expert Christina Reisenbichler. Freia gave birth to two cubs in the summer of 2012.

The habitats of the lynx in the Alps are still highly fragmented and small. Therefore, WWF hopes that the project of the Kalkalpen National Park will be supported by other Austrian provinces.

"To guarantee the protection and the sustainable conservation of big cats in Austria, additional protection is also needed", says Reisenbichler. According to WWF, a management plan should take into account both the needs of the people, and a habitat large enough for the lynx.

Once extinct in many parts of Europe, the lynx rediscovered its old home some years ago. In 1996, after 150 years of absence the animal came back for the first time in the Kalkalpen region. All current lynx populations in Western and Central Europe are due to reintroduction projects.

The return of Juro, Freia and Kora was preceded by years of research of the LUKA working group. It consists of representatives of the Kalkalpen National Park, the Austrian Federal Forests, the hunters association, and the conservation organisations Naturschutzbund and WWF.

Thousands in Central and Eastern Europe celebrate Earth Hour

2013-03-23

More than 150 countries across the world, including Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Ukraine, switched off their lights for an hour today to support action to create a sustainable future for the planet by promoting better environmental awareness. Earth Hour is quickly becoming one of the biggest environmental events observed by thousands of people in the region.

In Romania the WWF team spent Earth Hour in Timişoara, the Earth Hour 2013 capital of Romania. The city won this distinction through a gruelling competition that included waste collection by citizens. Timişoara also gathered the most points for energy efficiency, environmental education and biodiversity conservation in Romania.

"Our latest survey shows that six out of ten Romanians have heard about Earth Hour and four out of ten celebrate it. These are impressive numbers that we have achieved in four short years", said Ioana Betieanu, Head of Communications at WWF in Romania. "We no longer measure the impact of Earth Hour by counting the number of cities that participate – 43 this year, but by following their evolution, seeing them embrace new ideas and actions, engaging more and more their communities."

Dalma Kovács, a popular Romanian pop and jazz singer, sang at the Earth Hour big event in Timişoara and the actor Bogdan Dumitrache celebrated Earth Hour along with the WWF team in Romania's Earth Hour Capital. More than 30 events were organized nationally too.

32 new towns joined Earth Hour in Bulgaria this year, reaching a total of 103, a record for Bulgaria. In Sofia, a series of concerts, fire-dancing acrobat acts and a theatre performance by Lux Lumina artistic group took place in the city centre. Events were organized in many other towns.

In Ukraine, 40 cities joined Earth Hour despite the severe snow storm that swept the country. Kiev, Odessa, Donetsk, Poltava, Simferopol and Kerch were among them. In Kiev the Radisson Blu hotel hosted a free yoga class followed by cosy candle-lit Earth Hour evening in their cafe.

"My favourite part organizing Earth Hour this year has been using social networks", said Katya Kurakina, Communications Officer at WWF in Ukraine. "It's really amazing to see how fast Earth Hour groups are growing."

In Serbia, the WWF team signed up 50 cities, including a bunch of ministries, all major national media and many local TV stations and other media in support of Earth Hour. The Horkestar choir performed a Belgrade event to support the local "unplugged" initiative and invited people to join the action.

In Hungary, thousands of people along with a string of athletes and other celebrities supported Earth Hour. In Budapest, the biggest candle was created to mark the day.

In Austria, the band Big City Indians donated their song "Earth is crying" as an Earth Hour song for 2013. On the night, Vienna and all provincial capitals and major cities went dark for one hour.

Organized for the fifth time in Croatia, lights went out in 48 Croatian cities, including Zagreb, Dubrovnik, a UNESCO heritage site, Split, known for the historic Palace of Diokletian, Pula, Arena, Zadar, Osijek and Rijeka.

32 municipalities supported Earth Hour in Slovenia this year. The European Commissioner for the environment Janez Potočnik, who is a Slovene, sent his best wishes to the team, while Slovene president Borut Pahor expressed his support for the event.

From Austria and Romania to Brasil: WWF criticizes dam projects around the world

2013-03-22

Bucharest, Romania - On the occasion of World Water Day, WWF has revealed that many dam projects continue to violate fundamental sustainability criteria. In the report "Seven Sins of Dam Building", numerous dam projects around the globe are given a negative review by the conservation organization. Aside from the internationally controversial Belo Monte (Brasil) and Xayaburi (Laos) dams, European projects, such as in Austria and Romania are also on the list.

"Properly planned, built, and operated dams can contribute to food and energy security. Unfortunately, short-term interests are too often the focus of decision-making", says Dr. Jian-hua Meng, Water Security specialist for WWF.

In order to guarantee acceptable levels of social and environmental sustainability, dam installations and operations should be strictly checked against sustainability criteria as formulated under the World Commission on Dams or the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol.

According to the report, the size of a dam is not necessarily the deciding factor. Though numerous mega-projects can be found on WWF's list, the cumulative impact of many small hydro projects, like for instance in Romania, cannot be underestimated.

"Not many people know that the environmental impact of small hydropower plants can be higher than that of large installations, if there are several plants in the same river system and mitigation measures are weak, as is the case in the Romanian Fagaras Mountains", said Irene Lucius, Head of Policy at the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme. "Similar disastrous projects are in the planning or implementation stage across the Danube region, from the Ukrainian Carpathians to areas in Bosnia-Herzegovina."

"While we are not opposing hydropower in the Danube region, WWF is of the opinion that some ecologically intact river stretches are of such high value to nature and local communities that conservation should always be given preference to hydropower development. There are other renewable energy sources besides hydropower that can be developed and the potential for energy saving, the most cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly alternative, is very high across the Danube region", Lucius said.

In the Danube river basin, dams can block fish migration but also the movement of river gravel, which leads to the erosion of the river bed, loss of habitats and ecosystem functioning.

"These costs to nature and society are not properly assessed, nor reflected in the cost-benefit analysis of hydropower plants. Pressures are likely to drastically increase, in particular as impacts can never be fully compensated and a wave of wrongly sited hydropower plants is in the planning stage across the Danube region", Lucius added.

For example, if the extension of the Kaunertal hydroelectric power plants is implemented in Austria as currently planned, then heavy ecological deterioration looms for three alpine valleys in the Ötztal Alps.

"What is more, many unsustainable hydropower projects are only feasible because they are being subsidized, e.g. by EU funds. Although public support for renewable energy is an important measure against climate change, these funding mechanisms must undergo a "biodiversity check", otherwise they are counter-productive", Lucius said.

More about "Seven Sins of Dam Building"

WWF reviewed nine dams. The report found that many projects commit not just one, but many grave sins of dam building. However, these errors are avoidable. Lack of capacity, economic pressure, or specific regional circumstances can no longer be presented as excuses.

According to the report, no proper outcomes can be expected when dam proponents rely on superior financial strength and political connections rather than on dialogue, transparency, and reason.

Moreover, some governments lack the capacity or independence to protect public interests. Acceptance of the project by the population is fundamental for sustainable management. Negative effects, such as relocation, destruction of cultural sites, or the collapse of local fisheries are still too often dismissed as "somebody else's problem."

Additional sins relate to environmental issues according to the WWF report. Scientific evidence and risk assessments too frequently lose out to one-sided political or economic agendas. Subsequently, dams are still planned and built in areas of high ecological importance. Biodiversity loss is still too often considered acceptable. Serious impacts, caused by a change in the natural water flow dynamics or the disappearance of wetlands, are still not given due consideration.

4,500 ha of Danube forests saved from clear-cutting in Bulgaria

2013-03-20

Sofia, Bulgaria - 4,500 ha of Danube forests, some of which protected by the European network of protected areas Natura 2000, will be preserved after the timely intervention of WWF and partnering environmental organisations. The threat to riverine forests came in October 2012 after a controversial legal amendment was introduced by the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development. The amendment has now been abolished, WWF has confirmed.

The amendment stipulated that the servitude of the Danube River dikes would be extended from the fixed 10 m to include the entire area between the river and the dikes.

"This 'minor' alternation doomed all riverine forests along the Danube", said Ivan Hristov, Head of Freshwater at WWF Bulgaria. "These forests could have been legitimately cut down".

On the same day, the Ministry of Agriculture, also responsible for forests in Bulgaria, transferred the management of the riverine areas from the state forestry companies to the state-owned company Irrigation Systems, notorious for its poor management and corrupt practices.

"The intention behind these two coordinated moves was probably to provide funds for the struggling Irrigation Systems company. By cutting down and selling the wood, they could cover some of their debts", Hristov said.

The benefits of riverine forests are rarely talked about, but environmental experts agreed that they are hugely important as hotspots of biodiversity. In addition, they have a sizable economic impact. If properly managed, they act like a barrier against floods, landslides, and various natural disasters.

"Removing these barriers would increase erosion and even compromise levees", Hristov said. "In recent years vast areas of riverine forests in the interior of the country were destroyed through questionable or bad practices. Instead of limiting flooding, we saw the opposite. The clearing of riverine forests destabilized banks and caused much damage. As a result, we had at least two major occasions of collapsed roads".

Also situated by the Danube are many of Bulgaria's poplar farms. They provide stable income for local people, an alternative to logging. They are also among the very few employers in the unemployment-stricken northwestern region of Bulgaria and along the rest of the Danube.

Danube Delta vulnerability to climate change to be tackled

2013-03-19

Odessa, Ukraine - Key stakeholders in the Danube Delta region have agreed to tackle potential consequences of climate change by signing today a Joint Statement on Climate Proofing the Danube Delta.

Representatives of the Ministry of Environment of Moldova, local authorities, regional water and forest administrations, Directors of the Ukrainian and Romanian Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and non-governmental organisations attended the official ceremony, organised by WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme in cooperation with the Center for Regional Studies and Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine).

The Joint Statement aims to strengthen cooperation between the key stakeholders in the broader Danube Delta Sub-Basin to fight the potential consequences of climate change.

Climate change already influences water quality and disturbs the balance of all ecosystems in the Delta, which in the future may significantly undermine the welfare of the local population. 100 000 people inhabiting the Danube Delta directly depend on the water and natural resources of the region.

The Joint Statement is based on and includes the main findings of the climate vulnerability assessment of the region which was developed in the framework of the three-year EC-funded project "Climate proofing the Danube Delta through integrated land and water management".

In addition, the conclusions and recommendations of the vulnerability assessment were recommended for integration into spatial planning, land and water management and public policy activities. Communication of the findings to local communities and authorities in Ukraine, Romania and Moldova was underlined as being of prime importance.

"The Joint Statement signed today and the Climate Adaptation Strategy which is being developed will help the governments and environmental organisations of the three countries to see the scale of the upcoming change, the challenges it presents and to tailor adaptation measures accordingly. These two documents will become the basis for a systemic approach to solving the problem, which is more effective than single measures", said Mykhailo Nesterenko, WWF Danube Delta Project Coordinator in Ukraine.

The UN has named climate change as one of the biggest challenges to human development of the 21st century. Increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels, and change in general climate patterns are some of the impacts that will likely affect not only the social and economic sides of life, but also natural ecosystems.

The project "Climate proofing the Danube Delta through integrated land and water management" is financed by the ENRTP Programme of the European Commission.