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WWF Case Study: Water for life: Lessons for climate change adaptation from better management of rivers for people and nature (Danube)
Summary:
WWF commenced work in the Danube in 1992 and promoted the establishment of the Convention for the Protection of the Danube River in 1994 and European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive in 2000. In 2000 WWF secured agreement from the heads of state of Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine to restore 2,236 km2 of floodplain to form a 9,000 km2 “Lower Danube Green Corridor.” This Corridor is intended to attenuate floods, restore biodiversity, improve water quality, and enhance local livelihoods. Pilot projects to demonstrate floodplain restoration assessed in this case study are the 1993-1996 removal of the 36.8 km2 Babina and Cernovca polders in Romania, and in Ukraine in 2005-2008 the relinking of the 68 km2 Katlabuh Lake to the river and removal of the 7.5 km2 Tataru polder.
The large-scale adaptation in the Danube shows
the value of restoring the natural resilience of the environment to climate events by decommissioning under-performing water infrastructure, in this case by more safely retaining and releasing peak floods. It also highlights how replacing vulnerable monocultures
with more diverse livelihoods based on natural
ecosystems (in this case tourism, fishing, grazing and fibre production) can strengthen local economies. International agreements for better water and river management have been a powerful driver of change in the Danube.
Adaptation Experience:
Results and Learning:
Government implementation of restoration of the lower Danube floodplain has been slow: it has taken too long to appoint officials and agencies to lead the work; to develop national implementation plans; and allocate funds. Most of the funding for floodplain restoration has come from the EU, NGOs and other donor organizations. In some instances local people have not consented to restoration, and changes in land laws have hindered progress.
Making use of post-disaster policy windows is a key lesson. The policy of floodplain restoration is viewed much more favourably following the 2005 and 2006 floods, for instance, Romania is currently completing a national floodplain restoration strategy. Persistent work over more than ten years has been required to achieve the outcomes to date. Linking and drawing strength from simultaneous work at the pilot site, national, basin and European scales has been critical to achieving reforms.
Sustainability:
Reversion is unlikely because: the cost of re-building flood “protection” dykes is very high; in most cases the restored floodplains are designated as protected areas; local peoples’ livelihoods have improved; and the threat from flooding remains. Management costs of the restored floodplains are low.
Replication:
n/a
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