From Convention to Action – 25 Years of the ICPDR The Flow Leading the region in water management Since its creation, the ICPDR has brought To date, 24 organisations hold observer together representatives from the highest status – representing private industry and ministerial levels, technical experts, and intergovernmental organisations – and of Cooperation members of civil society and the scientific through this status, cooperate actively with community to continuously improve the the ICPDR. state of the Basin water bodies. Through the Danube Declarations of 2004, Early river agreements Bringing the basin together A legal framework The ICPDR today 2010 and 2016, the Danube countries A history of the ICPDR Experts guide the work of the ICPDR on: have continued to cooperate ever-more As early as 1616, the Danube was After World War II, new East-West political In 1991, the countries created the Environ- The ICPDR is now the largest international closely. • River Basin Management a keystone in negotiating peace, when alliances called for a new approach mental Programme for the Danube River body of river basin management experts • Pollution Control • Ensuring naturally balanced waters There is a long history of transboundary cooperation an Austro-Turkish treaty signed in in river management. The Danube River Basin to support national actions to protect in Europe, with a mission to promote • Water Quality free from excess nutrients granted the right to Conference was held in Belgrade in 1948, the river basin. Under the programme, and coordinate sustainable water manage- in the Danube Basin, and scholars of international • Public Participation and • Preventing risks from toxic chemicals navigate the middle and lower Danube. and shifted control of navigation from countries agreed to adopt a shared ment for the benefit of all people of the Communication • Preserving healthy and sustainable law often identify the Danube Basin as the region where the non-river powers to the exclusive control environmental monitoring system, address Danube River Basin. • Information Management and river systems international organisations first evolved. The 1856 Treaty of Paris, settling of each country. liability for cross-border pollution, protect Geographic Information Systems • Managing reduced damage from floods the Crimean War, created the first – and habitats and conserve areas Under the ICPDR, the Danube countries – for many years the only – international Recognising the increasing degradation of together with the – • Safeguarding Danube resources of ecological importance. Environmental protection is a community body with significant powers on the water quality, the eight (at that time) cooperate on fundamental water for future generations. responsibility, and the active involvement of Danube. The European Commission of countries along the Danube River signed The Convention on Cooperation for the management issues. Although the ICPDR the public was one of the core principles the Danube, made up of Danube countries the Declaration of the Danube Countries Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube contracting parties are a mix of EU Member of sustainable water management as Did you know? along with major shipping powers such to Cooperate on Questions Concerning the River (Danube River Protection Convention) States and Non-Member States, all have acknowledged by the Danube River Protection The Danube passes as Great Britain and France, guaranteed Water Management of the Danube was signed on June 29, 1994 in , committed themselves to meeting the Convention when it was signed in 1994. through several large cities freedom of commerce and navigation ( Declaration) in 1985. , by eleven of the Danube Riparian requirements of the EU Water Framework including four national along the Danube River for all European States – , Bulgaria, , the Directive. This commitment was capitals: , , countries. The East-West political division of the , , , , augmented by the EU Floods Directive and Belgrade. cut the Danube Basin in two and , , and , in 2007. The ongoing goal of the ICPDR is to implement the Danube severely constrained information sharing as well as the European Community. N River Protection Convention and make it a living tool to coordinate and transnational data exchange. In 1989, NW , then in union with , NE sustainable and equitable water management, including the fall of the transformed joined the Convention in 2003, and geopolitical conditions on a global scale conservation, improvement and rational use of waters for the

Herzegovina in 2005. After seceding from W

with countries and frontiers reshaping Serbia, Montenegro became the 15th ICPDR E benefit of the Danube River Basin’s countries and people for many across Europe.

contracting party in 2008. years to come.

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1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 29 JUNE 1 JANUARY TransNational Accident 22 OCTOBER ICPDR 23 OCTOBER Danube River Austria achieves Monitoring Emergency Danube River Secretariat EU Water Protection Convention accession to the Network Warning System Protection Convention is established at the Framework Directive (DRPC) is signed by European Union (TNMN) starts (AEWS) first comes (DRPC) UN in Vienna; (WFD) is adopted eleven of the Danube into operation comes into force ICPDR Expert Groups Riparian States and the start regular meetings European Community Excessive amounts of nutrients enter Changes to the river’s structure the river from agricultural fertilisers, thus for navigation, hydropower or flood defence The Faces devastating fish stocks and clogging the can reduce flow rates and/or interrupt water with algal blooms. Industrial accidents natural sediment transport as well as the or floods flush hazardous and toxic migration routes of animals. of the River substances directly into water bodies.

Shared resources mean shared responsibility Living and working in the Danube River Basin Everyone shares responsibility for the river. The Danube countries – along with the EU – Did you know? are working together under the ICPDR One of the very earliest forms of writing (some historians People have been living along the Danube Later, the Danube formed the northern to help restore the waters of the basin and even claim the first) anywhere in and its since even the earliest border of the , and was used safeguard them for future generations. the world was created along human settlements – attracted by as a transport route for troops as well the Danube River by the Vincˇa culture, and included about the region’s rich diversity of plants and as supplies for settlements downstream. 700 characters and symbols. animals, fertile land and strategic Ways to get involved geographic position. Originating over Each group of people who have come Everyone has a say. Public participation • Danube Day 7,500 years ago, the Vincˇa culture existed to the Danube Basin have made an impact programmes allow all of the Danube • Danube Art Master along the Danube River even predating on the region through their traditions, Basin’s residents to make their voices • Danube Box civilisations in Mesopotamia or Egypt. beliefs and knowledge. At the same time, heard and get involved for their waters. • Danube Watch Many of its innovations – in writing, they have also been influenced by the • Information events farming and metallurgy – are some cultures already living in the area, and the • Public consultation of the earliest examples of technological river itself has inspired a wide range • Social media advancements, not just in Europe but of artists. in the world. Human uses of the Danube For centuries the Danube River has played a role in Today, over 80 million people in 19 countries call the • • Human impact on the river’s status the political, cultural and socio-economic development Danube River Basin home, and their lives are connected • Energy • Fisheries However, the actions of people in the Inadequately treated wastewater ends of the region. This shared resource has created region affect the status of the river and its up in the Danube, putting the drinking • Transport • Tourism through their dependence on the waters and resources ecosystems, leading to serious problems of millions of people at risk, a history of cooperation that inspires others around of the region. • Industry • Recreation for water quality and quantity, as well as and leading to problems for , the world. a critical loss of . industry and fishing.

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 First Joint ICPDR’s Flood Serbia joins 1st Danube Day Bosnia & ICPDR Expert EU Floods Directive Danube Survey Protection Expert the Danube is held on 29 June; Herzegovina Groups on Public (FD) is adopted; (JDS) is carried out; Group (FP EG) River Protection 1st Danube Basin joins the Danube Participation and “Joint Statement on Danube Watch is established Convention Analysis adopted; River Protection Information Management Inland Navigation and magazine is relaunched Czech Republic, Hungary, Convention & GIS are established; Environmental Sustainability Slovakia and Slovenia education toolkit in the DRB” concludes; join the EU Danube Box is launched ICPDR wins Thiess International Riverprize Did you know? The Danube River Basin Committed to the has been the site of many disastrous floods in the The world’s biggest river expedition past – recent massive floods occurred in 2002, 2006, future of the Danube 2010, 2013 and 2014. As a basis for sound decision-making, involving several research ships, dozens Danube countries need high quality and of scientists and an intense, six-week comparable data. The Joint Danube Survey sampling tour along the Danube and major (JDS) collects and analyses samples taken tributaries. So far, surveys have been carried Alerting downstream neighbours from the river to improve the validity and out in 2001, 2007, 2013, and 2019. The results The work of the ICPDR Accidents can happen in the blink of an The system’s warning messages comparability of water quality data received of the survey are included in each cycle of eye. But thanks to an upgraded Accident to downstream countries help national from its regular monitoring programme, the Danube River Basin Management Plan, to face the region’s challenges Emergency Warning System (AEWS), authorities put environmental protection the TransNational Monitoring Network. and help Danube countries to select the right messages about those accidents can be and public safety measures into action. The survey is always a huge undertaking, measures to solve problems in the basin. The goal of the ICPDR is to achieve a cleaner, healthier and safer Danube River just as quickly. The AEWS is activated The ICPDR Secretariat maintains the for all citizens to enjoy. whenever there is a risk of transboundary central communication system, which is Guarding against flood damage water pollution, or threshold danger levels integrated with the ICPDR information • Cleaner waters – less pollution from settlements, industry and agriculture of hazardous substances are exceeded. system Danubis. Although floods are natural events and part damage caused by floods by avoiding • Healthier waters – better ecosystems for aquatic plants & animals 290 280 • Safer waters – with less damage from floods of the water cycle, they cause massive construction of houses and industries in 270 260 damage and risk to human lives. The ICPDR present and future flood-prone areas or Achieving basin-wide goals 250 Did you know? has made flood prevention a priority from by adapting future developments to the risk In a mere 25 years, the ICPDR has reached • The Joint Danube Survey has closed Tackling pressures together It is generally safe to its very beginnings, and facilitates the of flooding), protection (by taking measures swim in the Danube, though many milestones on its path to achieving most information gaps on hazardous implementation of the EU Floods Directive. to reduce the likelihood of floods or the As a platform for cooperation, the ICPDR is local pollution hot spots the targets for cleaner, healthier and substances The Danube Flood Risk Management Plan, impact of floods in a specific location such as constantly improving the tools used to manage downstream of big cities safer waters. • Over 120 fish migration aids have been and the mouths of polluted adopted in 2016, addresses all phases of restoring flood and ) and environmental issues in the Danube River Basin. built to restore continuity and 50,000 ha tributaries should be the flood risk management cycle and focuses preparedness (providing instructions to the • Organic emissions have been cut to half of wetlands reconnected avoided. particularly on prevention (preventing public on what to do in the event of flooding). the levels of 2005 • New sewer systems have been built Assessing the status of the river • Nutrient pollution from to ensure good chemical status of has been cut by 30% Water quality in the Danube has improved the Danube and its tributaries, and provides bodies Cross-border solidarity • emissions have been cut by 10% over the years, but there is still much an overview of pollution levels as well work to be done to meet the region’s goals as long term trends for water quality in the Efficient cooperation with all neighbouring share responsibilities fairly when measures for water status. To assess trends in water basin. It is based on national monitoring countries, including coordinating joint are jointly decided for the common quality, the ICPDR oversees the Trans- programmes and, as of 2017, includes actions on transboundary during benefit, and measures should not be The work of the Danube countries and the ICPDR continues to bring National Monitoring Network (TNMN). 109 monitoring stations across the Danube flood and ice defence, is not only essential applied when their extent or impact would together all stakeholders in the region to find a balance between the needs The network carefully monitors physical, and its tributaries. to prevent floods but also to implement significantly increase flood risks in of the people living in the basin, and the needs of the river itself. chemical and biological conditions in The Solidarity Principle. Countries should the countries upstream or downstream.

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Montenegro First Danube 16 FEBRUARY Preliminary ICPDR Strategy becomes the 15th River Basin 2nd Ministerial Flood Risk on Adaptation ICPDR contracting Management Plan Meeting is held; Assessment (PDFRA) to Climate Change party after seceding (DRBMP) is adopted Flood action plans for Report is completed; is published from Serbia by the ICPDR the 17 sub-basins in Integrated River the Danube catchment Basin Management Plan area get adopted is approved Germany Czech Republic Slovakia Romania Federal Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment Ministry of Waters and Forests Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Praha Hungary Ukraine The Danube Delta is shared by Romania and The Black Sea covers an area of Ministry of Interior Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources 2 Naab Ukraine, and is Europe’s largest remaining 436,400 km , although the catchment area natural wetland, covering more than is six times larger than its surface. It is Dyje Stuttgart Hornád Moldova 5,500 km². The unique ecosystems of the supplied by a number of major rivers, such K o sˇ i c e Váh Uzhgorod Waters of Moldova Augsburg Slaná Chernivtsy Danube Delta – a labyrinthine network as the Danube, Dnieper, Rioni, Southern Wien München March Bratislava Nitra Sajó Europe’s Lifeline Hernád Tysa of river channels, shallow bays and hundreds Bug and Dniester. The Convention on the Donau Salzburg Ipel‘ Dunaj Tisza

Traun Miskolc Satu of lakes, interspersed with extensive Protection of the Black Sea Against Neusiedler Ipoly Tisa Enns Mare Moldava See / Szamos B o t o s¸ a n i Suceava Ferto˝ tó Tisza-tó Nyíregyháza Somesul marshes, reed-beds, islands and flood- Pollution (Bucharest Convention) was Rábca Baia Györ Mare Mare Duna B a r c aˇ u Rabnitz Budapest Debrecen Somes Chis¸ina˘u Rába Hortobágy- Bistrita plains – form a valuable natural buffer zone, established in 1992 by the six Black Sea Répce I a s¸ i Raab Berettyó Berettyó Graz Crisul Mures Balaton Repede filtering out pollutants from the Danube countries – Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Székesfehérvár Sebes- Crisul Austria Drau Oradea Negru The most international river in the world Zala Kecskemét Körös Napoca Târgu- N e a m t¸ B a c a˘ u Ketto˝s- Hármas- Körös M u r e s¸ River, and helping to improve water quality Russia, Turkey and Ukraine – in order Federal Ministry of Sió Körös Cluj- Mura Siret Crisul Tarnava Alb Trotus Prut Sustainability and Tourism in the vulnerable waters of the Black Sea. to control land-based sources of pollution, Maros Arad Bârlad Pécs Did you know? Kanal Dunav- Tisa Mures stop the dumping of waste and support Tisa-Dunav Focs¸ani Yalpug It is one of the continent’s most valuable From the Black Forest to the Black Sea, the Danube is a vital lifeline Kolpa T i m i s¸ o a r a Galat¸i Kugurlui Plovni Bras¸ov esma joint actions in the event of accidents The large retention Cˇ Begej habitats for wetland wildlife and bio- Bra˘ila that flows through the heart of Europe. Covering more than Timis˛ B u z aˇ u Sava Osijek Kagul Lacul (such as oil spills). areas of the Sava are Razim Râmnicu Pites¸ti Ploies¸ti diversity, but its ecosystems are affected by 800,000 km² or 10% of continental Europe, the Danube River Basin some of the most Tamiš Vâlcea B u z a˘ u Dunav Ialomita Drobeta- Lacul changes upstream, such as pollution and Una Sava Turnu Severin Sinoie effective B r cˇ k o draws water from 19 countries – making it the most international Adriatic Banja-Luka A r g e s˛ Did you know? systems in Europe. Sea Craiova Black the manipulation of water , as well Bucuresti Dunaˇrea Sea Croatia Beograd river basin in the world. Velika Dunav as by ecological changes in the delta itself. The Black Sea is the world’s C o n s t a n t¸ a Ministry of Environment Zapadna Morava Olt Morava Canal Kragujevac Ruse Dunaˇrea- most isolated sea, connected to and Energy Marea Drina N e a g r aˇ the ocean only through the Ogosta The Danube River Drava Sub-basin Sava Sub-basin Slovenia Dunav N i sˇ Istanbul Strait, a 35 km natural Ministry of the Environment Ibar Pleven channel which is as little as and Spatial Planning Source: , Germany The Drava River is the fourth largest and The Sava contributes almost 25% to the Nišava Nishava Sofia 40 m deep in places. Length: 2,860 km fourth longest Danube at 719 km Danube’s total discharge where the two Južna Ministry of Foreign Trade Morava Width: up to 1.5 km in length, and connects the to the rivers meet in Belgrade, and has the Podgorica and Economic Relations Montenegro Republic of Serbia Bulgaria Depth: 1–8 m Danube and the Black Sea. The Drava flows largest discharge of water to the Danube Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment Average discharge: 7,000 m3/s through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, where of any tributary, with about 1,564 m3/s. and Rural Development Forestry and Water Management and Water The ecosystems of the Danube River Basin are highly valuable it forms the border between Croatia and It is also the second largest sub-basin by Hungary before heading back into Croatia catchment area at 95,419 km2. Tisza Sub-basin in environmental, economic, historical and social terms, The Waters of the Danube Basin again to meet the Danube near Osijek. but they are subject to pressures and pollution from agriculture, The river rises in the mountains of The Drava has been considerably regulated The International Sava River Basin The Tisza is the longest tributary of the lems it faces. Frequent floods occur; land- industry and cities – issues which are jointly addressed by The Danube gathers the waters of more with dams constructed to generate hydro- western Slovenia, and passes through Commission was established in 2005 Danube (966 km) and the largest sub-basin, slides in the uplands have become more than 300 tributaries. electricity and channels dredged to direct the lowlands of Croatia before forming the to promote regional cooperation throughout draining an area of 157,186 km². Mountain frequent due to deforestation; and accidental the Danube Basin countries through the ICPDR.

its flow. Nevertheless, natural habitats border between Croatia and Bosnia and the Sava River Basin on issues related streams, meandering rivers and diverse pollution and accidents at tailings dams The main tributaries: Inn, Morava, along the middle and lower reaches host Herzegovina. Continuing through Serbia, to navigation, economic development, are characteristic of the Tisza (such as a cyanide spill at Aurul Drava, Tisza, Sava, Iskar, Siret, Prut unique assemblages of flora and fauna, and it reaches its with the Danube comprehensive water management and River Basin. Five countries share this beautiful in January 2000) drastically affect wildlife several endemic species. in Belgrade. environmental protection. sub-basin – Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and drinking water. Slovakia and Ukraine – along with the prob-

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 ICPDR member The Danube 2nd DRBMP ICPDR declares Severe ice events ICPDR Croatia joins Basin Analysis and 1st Danube its three pillars throughout the Strategy and Update celebrates the EU; JDS3 is Report is updated; Flood Risk Management of “cleaner, healthier region trigger to the Strategy on 25 Years of the DRPC; carried out Danube Day celebrates Plan (DFRMP) adopted and safer waters groundwork for the Adaptation to Climate JDS4 is carried out its 10th anniversary for everyone to enjoy” ICPDR comprehensive Change are published at the 3rd ICPDR Ice Report Ministerial Meeting Published by ICPDR – International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River; © Text & Photos ICPDR 2019; Contact: ICPDR Secretariat, Vienna International Centre, Wagramer Strasse 5, 1220 Vienna/Austria; www.icpdr.org; Design,Layout: Barbara Jaumann Special thanks to the 2019 Hungarian Presidency of the ICPDR and the personal contributions of 2019 ICPDR President Péter Kovács, without whom this publication would not have been possible.