Posted on marzo, 03 2011

A new regional project aiming at preparing the Danube Delta for the likely effects of climate change was  launched in March in Bucharest. “Climate proofing the Danube Delta through integrated land and water management”, a 3-years project funded by the European Union, includes three countries: Romania (Delta authorities and WWF), Ukraine (Delta authorities, WWF and Centre for regional studies), Moldova (Ecospectr), as well as the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River.

The project aims to build a basis for the adaptation of the Ukrainian, Moldovan and Romanian parts of the Danube Delta region to the changing climate conditions. The mission of the implementing partners will be to develop a trans-boundary Danube Delta Climate Change Adaptation Strategy on a basis of a study about possible climate change effects on the Danube Delta.

These can be inflow of salt-water into the Delta because the water-level of the Black Sea might raise; changes in the Danube water flow (hotter summers, wetter winters); hotter average temperatures; migration of species; and others. Counter-measures can include for example rehabiliting Delta wetlands, as they can clean pollution and regulate, to a certain extent, changes in the Danube river level. The project will also help Danube Delta villages to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions, e.g. by promoting biomass as a heating source instead of fossil fuels.

A broad awareness raising campaign on climate change adaptation will also be part of this project to offer solutions to the local communities.

The project also includes opportunities for local businesses for income and energy generation from sustainable biomass production, linked to wetlands restoration in pilot localities in the Danube Delta.

For more information, please contact:
Mr Mykhailo Nesterenko, Project Manager, WWF-DCPO:
Mob: +380503161739, e-mail: mnesterenkowwf@gmail.com