Restoring floodplain habitats and rural livelihoods along the Slovak-Hungarian Danube

Two centuries of dam construction, river regulation and intensive land use have severely affected the Danube inland delta in the Slovak-Hungarian border region, including between Dobrohošť and Sap in Slovakia. Old river branches have been cut off, floodplain wetlands have dried out, invasive species have colonised forest habitats, and traditional low-intensity land uses have declined. This has affected biodiversity dramatically, eroded the rural livelihoods these ecosystems used to sustain and weakened the region's ability to buffer floods and adapt to climate change. 

The ‘LIFE Danube floodplains’ project addressed these challenges with a combination of hydrological engineering, forest and grassland restoration, revival of traditional practices, and public engagement.

The project improved the water regime on 1 805 hectares of the Danube inland delta through controlled flooding. It reconstructed seven weirs and culverts, restored 9 570 metres of three main river branches, re-wetted old branches and wetlands, and recreated conditions for amphibian reproduction and fish spawning.

Forest habitats were restored on 128 hectares by removal of invasive species (tree of heaven, Japanese knotweed, box elder and white ash) and planting 73 900 native tree seedlings. These included common alder, wild cherry, European hornbeam, European ash, and grey, white and black poplar, mostly grown in project nurseries. 

Grassland habitats were revived on 82 hectares through extensive grazing in cooperation with local agricultural cooperatives and traditional willow pollarding was reintroduced.

The project created rural employment for tractor drivers, shepherds, horse handlers, visitor guides and forestry workers, and engaged the public through interpretation boards, a children's storybook, field visits, interactive exhibitions, family days, festivals and nature camps.

Nature restoration on this scale takes time. The nine-year project horizon and EUR 6 million budget made it possible to combine hydrological engineering, forest planting, grassland revival and reintroduction of traditional practices into one coherent programme.

The project was a partnership between a non-governmental organisation and state institutions, which enhanced the feasibility of achieving the objectives and created a strong knowledge and communication foundation for future activities.

Reviving extensive grazing and willow pollarding in cooperation with local agricultural cooperatives and creating direct rural employment (for shepherds, tractor drivers, forestry workers and guides) tied nature restoration to rural economic and social sustainability.

Most of the 73 900 tree seedlings planted were grown in project nurseries which ensured forest restoration used native species, reduced costs and built local expertise.

Measures to engage the public, such as interpretation boards, a children's storybook, family days, festivals, exhibitions and nature camps, helped build lasting local support for continued conservation.