12.12.03
:
Prag hebelt Veto des Umweltministers gegen Staustufen Tschechien
aus
Das tschechische
Parlament hat den Weg für den Bau weiterer Staustufen in
der Elbe freigemacht. Die Abgeordneten billigten eine Novelle,
mit der das
Veto des Umweltministeriums aufgehoben werden kann.
Umweltminister Ambrozek hatte Ende November das Vorhaben des
Verkehrsministeriums unter Hinweis auf die schützenswerte
Natur der Region
offiziell abgelehnt. Daraufhin initiierte Ex-Verkehrsminister
Schling eine
Änderung des Naturschutzgesetzes, wonach dieses nicht auf
internationale
Gewässer angewendet werden soll. Der Umweltminister sieht
die
Gesetzesnovelle im Widerspruch zum EU-Recht und hofft, dass
der Senat das
Gesetz seine Zustimmung verweigert.
Kritik aus Böhmen und Sachsen
Tschechische Umweltschützer kritisieren, dass neben den
zu erwartenden
Schäden für Flora und Fauna das Projekt ökonomisch
wenig Sinn macht. Für
umgerechnet 200 Millionen Euro sollen zwischen Usti und der
Grenze zwei
Wehre errichtet werden, die nach Meinung der Umweltorganisation
Arnika nur
eine geringfügige Verbesserung für die Schifffahrt
bringe. Auch Sachsens
Umweltminister Flath hatte sich gegen den Elbeausbau ausgesprochen.
Quelle Tagesschau MDR
mehr Infos zum Projekt
der Staustufen
10.12.03
: Prager Umweltministerium gegen Staustufen
Eine Entscheidung
des tschechischen Umweltministeriums im Zusammenhang mit dem
Ausbau der Elbe hat in Sachsen Erleichterung ausgelöst.
Das Ministerium in Prag verweigerte am Mittwoch dem Bau von
Staustufen an dem Fluss ziwschen der Stadt Usti nad Labem und
der Grenze zu Sachsen seine Zustimmung. Die Pläne des tschechischen
Verkehrsministeriums zum Bau der umstrittenen Anlagen waren
bereits mehrfach von sächsischer Seite kritisiert worden.
Schutz
bedrohter Pflanzen geht vor
Das öffentliche Interesse reiche für einen solchen
Eingriff in die Natur nicht aus, teilte der stellvertretende
Umweltminister Tschechiens, Miko, am Mittwoch mit. In der betroffenen
Region gebe es mindestens 29 bedrohte Pflanzenarten. Zudem würde
das gesamte Öko-System des Gebietes und das harmonische
Flussbett unwiederbringlich beschädigt. Jedoch machten
die Staustufen auch wirtschaftlich wenig Sinn, weil Gutachten
bewiesen, "dass sich die Investitionen nicht auszahlen".
Das Verkehrsministerium in Prag argumentiert hingegen damit,
dass die Staustufen die Elbe auch bei extremem Niedrigwasser
schiffbar machten.
Flath: Sachsen war schon immer dagegen
Sachsens Umweltminister Flath zeigte sich erleichtert. "Sachsen
hatte sich schon immer gegen den Bau der Staustufen ausgesprochen",
sagte er. Die Sprecherin des Naturschutzverbandes BUND in Sachsen,
Eckart, sagte, die Anlagen hätten dem Fluss nur geschadet.
"Die Elbe ist einer der letzten großen naturbelassenen
Ströme in Europa und das soll so bleiben."
"Die Schiffe sollten sich dem Fluss anpassen und nicht
umgekehrt."
mehr
Infos zum Projekt der Staustufen
08.12.03
: Espagne/PHN : NGOs call for sending e mail to EU Commisioners
Ecologistas
en Accion calls to send e-mails to Wallström and Barnier
in order to reject EU funding for the Spanish water transfer
plan.
http://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/phno/take_action.htm
04.12.03 : Spanish water transfer wins
Brussels' backing
The European
Commission's environment directorate has approved a big
water transfer scheme under the controversial Spanish national
hydrological plan, releasing €80 million of EU funding
for the
Jucar-Vinalopó project. A spokesperson for Margot Wallström
said: "We
expect concerns we have about the transfer's environmental impact
will
be resolved." Green group WWF said the decision "set
a dangerous
precedent" in allowing EU funding for projects that "infringe
EU laws".
"It is a very bad sign" for the main and still contested
Ebro water
transfer scheme, said Paloma Agrasot of WWF. See WWF press release
source
Environment Daily 1567, 04/12/03
http://www.environmentdaily.com/docs/31204b.doc
more information
on PHN on ERNs RiverNet Pages ( in french, spanish and english)
18.11.03
: EU DG Environment Position Paper on Flood prevention and protection
for discussion on the meeting of the Water Directors of 24/25
November 2003 in Rome.
EU DG Environment Position Paper on Flooding
for discussion on the meeting of the Water Directors of 24/25
November 2003 in Rome. (Position Paper on Flood Prevention and
Flood Protection outlining the European Commission’s point
of view)
Background:
The Water Directors of the European Union (EU), Norway, Switzerland
and Candidate Countries at their meeting on 17 & 18 June
2003 in Athens (Greece) discussed the issue of flood prevention
and protection. Agreement was achieved inter alia
· on the need for a reinforced political commitment to
flood prevention and flood protection,
· on integrated river basin management being the tool
of choice to address flood prevention and flood protection,
with experiences and achievements by International River Conventions
(Danube, Rhine, Elbe, Oder, Moselle/Mosel, Schelde/Escaut and
Meuse/Maas) being highly relevant, and
· on EU funding mechanisms being very powerful and effective
instruments for promoting investments in flood prevention schemes,
such funding to be conditional upon the existence of integrated
flood prevention plans at the basin level.
The Commission (DG Environment) was invited to discussion options
with the other Commission services and come back with a position
paper for further discussion with the Water Directors.
The Commission position on future action related to flooding
:
Following internal discussions between the various Commission
services, it has been agreed that, before the 2004 summer break,
the Commission will present a ‘package’ on flood prevention
and protection. As a minimum there will be a Communication bringing
together all the flood-related activities ongoing at EU level
(research, regional development funds, solidarity fund, environmental
actions etc). In addition the package may also contain a legislative
Proposal focusing on flood prevention and protection plans at
the level of river basins, and closely linked to the Water Framework
Directive. The document commissioned by Water Directors and
just finalised on “Best Practices in Flood Prevention,
Protection and Mitigation” will serve as a building block
in developing the proposal.
The position of DG ENV is that a legally binding instrument
on flooding would have a number of benefits:
· Improved Levels of Protection from Flood Events-improved
co-ordination and the integrated action at the level of the
river basin will ensure a higher level of flood protection.
This will bring economic, environmental and social benefits.
Improved flood protection is consistent with Sustainable Development.
· Improved River basin management cooperation: Given
that the nature of the problems are similar in water quality
management as set out by the WFD and flood prevention (across
administrative and political borders, integrated river basin
management approaches delivering the best-suited solution for
the river basin / sub-basin), and that the players/stakeholders
are the same, there is a window of opportunity to use this evolving
co-operation for addressing flood prevention and protection
as well. This would create synergies and avoid double efforts.
· A sound and predictable planning perspective: Due to
ill-considered activities of the past, economic damages caused
by flood events have considerably risen between the mid-60s
and the mid-90s (cf figures by Munich Re-Insurance Company).
Beyond the economic damages by destruction of housing, public
infrastructure and services and industrial buildings and equipment,
there is an increasing threat in particular to small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs). Even if structural damage to industries
is covered by insurance, the inability to deliver for several
weeks on contractual commitments taken results, under current
the competition situation, in those SMEs going out of business.
Coordinated planning and action within river basins and sub-basins
would provide for all involved parties a sound and predictable
planning perspective for their political, technical and financial
decisions.
What elements would be included in a legislative Proposal?
DG ENV considers that the following principles and objectives
should be incorporated into any future proposal:
· establishing a mandatory co-ordination and cooperation
on flood prevention/protection/mitigation for all river basins;
· ensuring participation of all stakeholders in the development
of such a plan (whilst not duplicating efforts already achieved),
· ensuring information and awareness on floods, thus
also promoting the objective of damage limitation;
· leaving following the principle of subsidiarity - to
decision at the level of river basin the level of protection
(protection against 5-year floods, 500-year floods…), the
deadlines for achieving the objective as well as the measures
The Next Steps
The Commission wishes to develop this legislative Proposal in
cooperation and consultation with the Water Directors and using
the multi-stakeholder process created for the Implementation
of the Water Framework Directive.
Comments in writing on this paper would be welcome until 20
December 2003. Following this, the Commission will, during January
2004, communicate to Water Directors and SCG the envisaged consultation
mechanisms and dates. Further, SCG March 2004 and May 2004 will
discuss the issue and developments.
The CIRCA information exchange system will be extended to cover
information on floods prevention and protection as well. DG
Environment would appreciate inputs to this CIRCA system, such
as documents and relevant links by Member States, regions, stakeholders
and NGOs.
13.11.03
: Too many European countries failing to manage their water
resources (WWF)
Brussels, Belgium - A new report by WWF reveals that nearly
two-thirds of the European countries surveyed are failing to
manage water resources effectively. The report, Water and Wetland
Index — Critical Issues in water policy across Europe,
assessed the water policies of 23 countries. Of these, Finland,
Switzerland, and Belgium-Flanders came out best, while Italy,
Greece, and Spain were ranked the lowest across a range of water
issues.
The WWF report found that in the majority of cases, countries
were taking ineffective measures to tackle the region's water
problems such as pollution and over-consumption. It notes that
they were taking the "easy option" of increasing water
availability rather than the "harder option" of reducing
water consumption. The report shows that six countries (Croatia,
Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey) failed to reduce
the amount of water wasted by their agricultural sectors, and
that in three of these countries (Italy, Portugal, and Spain)
farmers were not even under the constraint of having to pay
for the amount of water they use to irrigate their fields.
"Excess water consumption is a problem across Europe, where
water is often treated as an infinite resource. Without proper
management of our water consumption, Europe will soon start
to face critical problems," said Lucia de Stefano, Coordinator
of WWF's Water and Wetland Index.
The WWF report notes that the majority of the countries surveyed
had failed to improve their water management policies despite
the adoption of the new EU water law, the Water Framework Directive,
in 2000. The Directive aims to improve the management of Europe's
freshwater rivers lakes, and wetlands.
"EU countries are going to have to radically change their
water management policies if they are going to reach the standards
set in the new EU water law," said Andreas Wurzer, Head
of WWF's European Freshwater Programme. "Our findings show
that countries are doing the bare minimum to comply with the
Directive because of a lack of capacity or political will. We
need a change of attitude so that countries realize the value
of water."
to download the report :http//www.panda.org
For further
information:
Tania Paschen, WWF European Freshwater Communications Manager
Tel: +33 680 73 70 33
E-mail: tpaschen@wwf
11.11.03
: New scheme for reservoirs and desalination plants across England
Water companies have drawn up plans to construct
seven new reservoirs and six desalination plants in order to
cope with the rising demands and dwindling supplies, with plans
kept secret in order to avoid a public outcry, reports the Independent
newspaper.
The plans were uncovered by a joint investigation by the BBC’s
Countryfile programme and the Independent on Sunday. They include
two big reservoirs, near Abingdon and Canterbury, and a desalination
plant at Beckton in east London. Most of the developments are
intended to be in the South East of England.
source: Edie News / the Independent .
04.11.03
: Less acid rain over Norwegian lakes
and rivers
Norwegian lakes and rivers have become less
affected by acid rain over the past 20 years.
The greatest improvements have been registered over the eastern
part of Norway and the north western region of the country.
Twenty years ago, watercourses over a third of the country were
affected by too much acidity. Today, only one eighth of the
country has watercourses which have a too high degree of acidity.
This is shown by a report from the Norwegian Institute for Water
Research (NIVA).
The main reason for the improvement is the reduction of sulphur
and nitrogen emissions transported through the air from the
European Continent and Britain.
International agreements on reducing emissions, dating back
to the 1980s have had a positive effect, says senior engineer
Tor Johansen of the the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority
(SFT).
However, the southern and southwestern coast of Norway is still
receiving more acid rain than the nature can handle. This has
a negative effect not only on the quality of water, but also
on the vegetation in the region.
SOURCE: NORWAY POST (NRK) Rolleiv Solholm
via European Water Management News
04.11.03
: Croatia: Novo Virje dam: an ecological disaster and against
EU law
Zagreb,
Croatia - WWF, with partners Euronatur, the Drava League and
Green Action, today called on the Croatian government to stop
all further development on the ecologically disastrous Novo
Virje hydropower dam on the Drava River, and begin a process
looking for sustainable alternatives. Croatia is currently hosting
the annual Hydropower Industry meeting in Dubrovnik — a
meeting whose main outcome will be the construction of more
hydropower dams globally and which will also include the promotion
of the Croatian Novo Virje plant project.
The projected Novo Virje hydropower plant threatens to destroy
unique habitats and species populations qualifying for protection
under EU environmental legislation. As a country which has just
applied for entry into the European Union, and must therefore
comply with all EU laws, continued planning of this dam goes
directly against the requirements of EU legislation, especially
the EU Habitats and Birds Directive and the Water Framework
Directive.
“The decision to build the dam would call into question
Croatia’s true commitment to becoming a member of the European
Union as well as to fulfilling international standards and obligations,”
says Irma Popovic from Green Action. “In contrast, by pursuing
sustainable alternatives to the current project like investing
in energy efficiency or alternative energy programmes, Croatia
could put its environmental performance on track for EU membership.”
“The dam would cause flooding of more than 10 km²
of floodplain forests, an EU priority habitat which requires
special protection. It would transform the now “good ecological
status” of the river into bad, and thus into a river stretch
which goes against the requirements of the EU Water Framework
Directive,” says Arno Mohl, freshwater expert at WWF-Austria.
The groups also called on the government to take steps to protect
the Drava and Mura rivers in Croatia, and are pushing for a
trans-boundary protected biosphere. This would mean Croatia’s
cooperation with neighbouring countries Austria, Hungary, and
Slovenia to protect one of the last remaining semi-natural river
systems in Europe in a scheme which would be in accordance with
EU standards and requirements and already has backing from UNESCO.
“A hydroelectric power dam on the Drava at Novo Virje would
bring massive environmental destruction for the river landscape
and would preclude a positive outcome for the joint sustainable
development of the whole Drava river basin," says Helena
Hecimovic from the Drava League. “The Novo Virje dam is
a glaring example of a hydropower dam which is damaging on a
social, environmental and economic level, which will destroy
some beautiful and precious natural habitat and which is going
to cost more than €50 million to build. We question not
only the neccessity of the dam, but also the studies done to
justify the work and also the motivation behind building it.
Croatia should exploit its considerable potential for energy
efficiency and other renewable energy sources. This could be
included in the sustainable strategy for the whole Drava valley
which could be achieved through transboundary cooperation and
protection.
for further information:
Arno Mohl
Freshwater Officer, WWF-Austria
Tel: +43 1 488 17233
E-mail: arno.mohl@wwf.at
Bernadett Hajdu
Communication Manager, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme
Tel: +43 1 524 5370
E-mail: bhajdu@wwfdcp.org
03.11.03
: Hydro 2003 Conference: Hydropower schemes must become more
sustainable (WWF)
Dubrovnik,
Croatia At the ongoing Hydro 2003 Conference, WWF is calling
on the hydropower industry to adopt new guidelines based on
the recommendations of the independent World Commission on Dams
(WCD), to ensure that the environmental damage caused by ill-conceived
hydropower schemes is reduced.
Hydropower supplies 19 per cent of global power supplies, with
most of this coming from large dams. As a renewable energy source,
hydropower produces fewer emissions than fossil fuel sources.
However, hydropower plants can damage freshwater ecosystems,
reduce water quality and decimate fisheries. Tens of millions
of people have been displaced by dams and have often received
inadequate compensation.
WWF believes that these impacts could be substantially reduced
by the adoption of the decision-making framework proposed by
the World Commission on Dams (WCD). This suggests that all options
need to be assessed before a dam is proposed, that environmental
impacts need to be mitigated, and local people need to benefit
from the schemes. However, three years after the publication
of the WCD recommendations, there are still many schemes that
fall short of WCD principles.
WWF is particularly concerned about a new hydropower scheme
proposed by the Croatian power utility HEP, co-host of the conference.
The 138MW Novo Virje dam, to be built in the middle of a 380km
long free-flowing stretch of the Drava river, would lead to
a loss of more than 3000ha of intact river ecosystem. Furthermore,
it threatens to dry out the floodplain forests of the Hungarian
Danube-Drava National Park. WWF believes the dam project contravenes
EU environmental legislation under the Birds and Habitats Directives
and " target=newWater Framework Directive. WWF is calling
for a halt to the further development of this project and a
proper investigation of alternative options.
"The large-scale environmental destruction inflicted by
too many hydropower schemes is unacceptable," said Dr Ute
Collier, Leader of WWF’s Dams Initiative. "We call
on hydropower developers and governments to follow WWF's guiding
principles and implement the WCD recommendations to ensure that
benefits always outweigh the environmental and social costs."
For further information:
Dr Ute Collier WWF Dams Initiative Tel: +44 7901 687998
(in Croatia from 2-7 November)
Note: From 3-6 November, more than 500 delegates from 44 countries
will gather near Dubrovnik in Croatia for the annual conference
of the hydropower industry. The conference will promote the
construction of more hydropower dams.
07.11.03
: The european campaign for a new water culture and against
the spanish hydrological plan opens the "blue embassy"
on wednesday november 5 , 2003
The European Campaign for a New Water Culture is happy to invite
you to the inauguration of the "Blue Embassy" in Brussels
on November 5, 2003. "The Blue Embassy" is a European
initiative aiming to increase European awareness on the Spanish
National Hydrological Plan.
This initiative, supported by numerous Spanish organizations,
seeks to avoid that the Spanish National Hydrological Plan (SNHP)
is subsidized with substantial European funds. This plan will
provoke serious social and environmental impacts on the Delta
of the Ebro River, on several Pyrenees valleys and on Spanish
Mediterranean coast.
The "Blue Embassy" is a mobile office (a bus) which
will be circulating and coordinating initiatives in Brussels
from November 5 to December 7, 2003. At the end of the Campaign
a public rally will take place around the European institutions.
THE EVENTS OF THE INAUGURATION ARE:
- 2:30PM Press Conference, Press Room of the European Parliament
- 3:30PM Opening of the "Blue Embassy" at Place Jourdan,
near the European Parliament
Press conference and Opening will be held by the following "Honorary
Ambassadors":
- Mario Soares, ex-President of Portugal
- Reinhold Messner, mountain climber
- John Hontelez, Secretary General of B.E.E.
- Anthony Long, Director of WWF European Policy Office
- Roberto Epple, President of European Rivers Network
- Martin Rocholl, President of Friends of The Earth Europe
6:00PM Public event in the Restaurant "Amigos de Aragón",
Plac Geuex nº 1 (corner Rue des Patriotes-Rue du Noyer),
where the Campaign will be presented in details. A typical Spanish
buffet will be offered to the participants.
Contacts:
Gianluca Solera 0032 477 676 295
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
GROUPE DES VERTS/ALLIANCE LIBRE EUROPEENNE
07.11.03
: La campagne européenne pour une "nouvelle culture
de l'eau" et contre le plan hydrologique espagnol inaugure
son "ambassade bleu" le 5 novembre 2003 à Bruxelles
La Campagne
européenne pour une "Nouvelle Culture de l'Eau"
et contre le Plan Hydraulique espagnol vous invite à
l'inauguration de l' "Ambassade Bleue" qui aura lieu
à Bruxelles le 5 novembre 2003.
L' "Ambassade Bleue" est une initiative européenne
qui vise à sensibiliser l'opinion publique européenne
sur le Plan Hydraulique espagnol.
Cette initiative, soutenue par de nombreuses organisations espagnoles,
vise à empêcher que le Plan Hydraulique espagnol
soit massivement financé par des fonds européens.
Le Plan est la cause d'importants impacts négatifs au
niveau social et environnemental sur le delta de la rivière
Ebre, sur plusieurs vallées des Pyrénées
ainsi que sur la côte méditerranéenne espagnole.
L' "Ambassade Bleue" est un bureau mobile (autobus)
qui circulera et coordonnera plusieurs initiatives du 5 novembre
au 7 décembre 2003. La Campagne sera conclue par une
chaîne humaine autour des institutions européennes.
LES ÉVÉNEMENTS DE L'INAUGURATION DU 5 NOVEMBRE
SONT:
14h30 Conférence de presse, Salle de presse du Parlement
européen à Bruxelles
15h30 Inauguration de l' "Ambassade Bleue" sur la
Place Jourdan (près du PE)
La conférence de presse et l'inauguration de l'Ambassade
se feront en présence des "ambassadeurs honoraires":
Mario Soares: ex-Président de la République du
Portugal
Reinhold Messner: alpiniste
John Hontelez: Secrétaire Général de B.E.E.
Anthony Long: Directeur de WWF European Policy Office
Roberto Epple: Président de European Rivers Network
Martin Rocholl: Président des Amis de la Terre Europe
18h00 Présentation publique et en détail de la
Campagne contre le Plan au restaurant "Amigos de Aragón",
Place Geuex 1 (coin Rue des Patriotes-Rue du Noyer). Un buffet
espagnol typique sera offert aux participants.
Contact:
Gianluca Solera 0032 477 676 295
07.11.03
: LA CAMPAÑA EUROPEA POR UNA NUEVA CULTURA DEL AGUA Y
EN CONTRA DEL PLAN HIDROLÓGICO ESPAÑOL ABRE LA
"EMBAJADA AZUL" EL MIÉRCOLES 5 DE NOVIEMBRE
DE 2003
La campaña europea Por una "Nueva Cultura del
Agua" les invita a la inauguración de la "Embajada
Azul" en Bruselas el día 5 de noviembre de 2003.
La "Embajada Azul" es una iniciativa europea cuyo
objetivo es sensibilizar a la opinión pública
europea sobre el Plan Hidrológico español.
Esta iniciativa, apoyada por gran número de organizaciones
españolas, persigue el objetivo de evitar que el Plan
Hidrológico Nacional de España sea subvencionado
con cuantiosos fondos europeos. Este Plan provocará un
grave impacto social y medioambiental sobre el Delta del río
Ebro, sobre los valles de la Cordillera Pirenáica y sobre
la Costa Mediterránea de España.
La "Embajada Azul" es una oficina móvil (un
autobús) que circulará y coordinará iniciativas
varias en Bruselas del 5 de noviembre al 7 de diciembre de 2003.
Al final de esta campaña, tendrá lugar una cadena
humana en torno a las instituciones europeas.
PROGRAMA DE ACTOS DE LA INAUGURACION, 5 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2003:
- 14hrs30 Rueda de prensa, Sala de prensa del Parlamento europeo
- 15hrs30 Botadura de la Oficina Móvil de la Embajada
Azul, en la Place Jourdan, cerca del Parlamento europeo
Rueda de prensa y Botadura se celebrarán en presencia
de varias personalidades en calidad de "Embajadores Honoríficos"
:
Mario Soares, ex-Presidente de Portugal
Reinhold Messner, Himalayista
John Hontelez, Secretario General del B.E.E.
Anthony Long, Director de WWF European Policy Office
Roberto Epple, Presidente de European Rivers Network
Martin Rocholl, Presidente de Amigos de la Tierra Europa.
- 18hrs00 Acto público en el restaurante "Amigos
de Aragón", Place Geuex nº 1 (esquina Rue des
Patriotes-Rue du Noyer) donde se presentará la Campaña
en detalle. Un bufete típico español será
servido a los participantes.
Contactos:
José Luís Martinez 0034 679 213 259
Gianluca Solera 0032 477 676 295
30.10.03
: Dikes bulldozed in Danube Delta (WWF)
Tataru
Island, Ukraine The removal of more than 6km of dikes
on Tataru Island in the Danube Delta starts today, with the
goal of restoring the natural flooding regime of this part of
the Danube River. The bulldozers symbolize a new future for
the island, which is the first model site of the “A Vision
for the Ukrainian Danube Delta” project, supported by WWF.
The dikes were constructed across and around Tataru Island more
than ten years ago, in order to drain around half the 738ha
island for forestry and horticulture. Under strict forestry
laws, the local forestry service had to sell 1000m3 of wood,
3 tons of meat, 700kg of honey, 3000 muskrats, and 0.5 tons
of medicinal plants to the state every year. Pigs, sheep, horses,
and other domestic animals were kept on the island, which is
home to a unique population of mammal, bird, reptile, and amhibibian
species.
The restoration of the island to a more natural state is part
of work by WWF and Izmail Forestry, which owns Tataru Island,
on the sustainable development of the Ukrainian Danube Delta.
After the dikes have been removed, the island will again be
naturally flooded. Sustainable tourism, forestry, fishery, and
hunting will mean a new future and opportunity for nature and
also for local people. Locals and visitors will be able to experience
the Danube's natural system in its most downstream area.
The project is a real success for WWF, which has been working
in the area since 1999.
“As a part of the Lower Danube Green Corridor, the Danube
Delta in Ukraine plays a crucial role. WWF, together with its
partners in Ukraine, has developed a vision for the delta. The
change from technocratic management of the river delta to a
management and economic development that is based on the natural
potentials of the system is a real challenge for the Odessa
Oblast (South Ukraine). The work starting at Tataru Island is
a historic moment in this respect. WWF has supported the Danube
Delta project for a number of years now because we see huge
potentials for restoration and a new development of Europe’s
largest river delta,” says Frans Schepers, Manager International
Freshwater Programme at WWF-Netherlands.
The project is also a landmark in the management of Tataru for
Izmail Forestry. “While we were trying to exploit the island
with forestry, hunting, and animal grazing, we now have understood
that there is a much more promising route to development of
the region,” explains Nikolay Scezepin of Izmail Forestry.
The Odessa Oblast Water Authority also played an important role
in the development of the vision. Mr. Kichuk, Director of Odessa
Oblast Water Management Department, is convinced that this new
route for development of the delta needs to be followed.
“Water management plays a key role: we should work with
the water, and not against it," he explains. "It is
not sustainable and far too expensive to restore and maintain
the old water regime, while there is a much better alternative
as described in the vision.”
For further information:
Bernadett Hajdu, Communication Manager, WWF Danube-Carpathain
Programme
Tel: +43 1 524 547 017 E-mail: bhajdu@wwfdcp.org
Misha Nesterenko Ukraine Project Manager, WWF Danube-Carpathian
Programme
Tel\fax: +38 04 877 76779 E-mail: mnesterenko@wwfdcp.org
22.10.03
: Announcement: November 28 - December 3, 2003 Second International
Meeting of Dam-Affected People and their Allies Rasi Salai,
Thailand
Registration for Rivers for Life has
closed and we are unable to accept any more applications. Please
contact riversforlife@irn.org if you would like to be placed
on the list to receive the meeting proceedings.
Working to protect rivers? Fighting for justice? Then join us
for “Rivers for Life: the
2nd International Meeting of Dam-Affected People and their Allies
! ”
We will gather on the banks of Thailand’s Mun River in
December 2003, for a series of workshops, plenary sessions,
and a field trip, to…
Share experiences - Develop strategies - Build
solidarity -Evaluate our progress since the 1997
International Meeting of Dam-Affected People in Curitiba, Brazil
!
