The Danube basin is the second largest river basin in Europe with a total area of 801.463 square kilometres. More than 80 million people live in the Danube basin, including the residents of the Republic of Serbia, who rely on this water resource in their daily lives.
Despite its enormous value as a source of water, a habitat for plant and animal species, a basis for agriculture, industry and tourism, the Danube and its tributaries have been exposed to systemic degradation caused by collective human activities for decades. Inadequate management of natural resources, pollution from industry, intensive agriculture and unregulated tourism have left profound consequences. Today, as much as 56% of the Danube River is designated as highly modified, meaning that some sections have lost the ability to regain good ecological status.
The reference point for most projects dealing with the restoration of the Danube basin is the return to the condition of the Danube in the period during the 1950s, when the Danube had the characteristics of a healthy and stable water system. This was the period before the implementation of large engineering projects that significantly changed the ecosystem characteristics of this river. The path to this goal is multifaceted and requires the coordination of experts from several fields and their continuous cooperation.
Sixth DALIA project consortium meeting
Representatives of the Institute for Development and Innovation attended the DALIA consortium meeting held on 15 and 16 September in a small village in northeastern Hungary, Bodrogkerestúr. Partners from 22 partner organisations from 8 countries were present at the meeting. Among the partners were representatives of universities, research institutes, public institutions, as well as non-governmental organisations.
The participants of the meeting presented their project activities in the previous period, as well as the upcoming steps in the implementation of project activities.
Special emphasis was placed on connecting scientific knowledge and practice, through innovative approaches that support long-term ecological and socio-economic stability in the Danube Basin.
The Institute for Development and Innovation, through the DALIA project, as well as other projects implemented within the framework of the “Green and Digital Transformation” program, emphasises the importance of adequate management of natural resources. It is necessary for the preservation of the environment, the quality of people’s lives and the sustainable development of the community.
