From Barriers to Bridges: Paving the way for river restoration in the Danube River Basin

The international seminar From Barriers to Bridges: Strategies for Reconnecting the Danube River Basin, held on September 26-27, 2024, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, was a success. Hosted by the World Fish Migration Foundation under the DANUBE4All project and in close collaboration with Revivo, the event brought together leading experts, scientists, and practitioners in river restoration to engage in meaningful discussions on reconnecting the Danube River Basin.

A successful gathering of river restoration experts

The seminar kicked off with a warm welcome from Dr. Lidija Globevnik and Dr. Helmut Habersack, setting a positive tone for the day’s events. The agenda was packed with presentations from key players in the field, such as Simon Rusjan from the University of Ljubljana, who discussed the hydraulic and hydromorphologic effects of weir removal, and Marija Smederevac-Lalić from the University of Belgrade, who highlighted the role of fish as bioindicators of ecosystem health – and who areboth part of the DANUBE4all project. Valentina Bastino, from the European Commission, joined online for a session on barrier removal and Article 9 of the recently adopted Nature Restoration Law.

The importance of barrier removal

One of the central themes of the seminar was the removal of river barriers, an essential step toward restoring natural river flows and ecosystems. Laura Wildman from Save the Sound provided valuable insights into the art and science of dam removal, emphasizing its broad impact on river health. Similarly, Pao Fernandez Garrido, former Dam Removal Europe’s facilitator and now part of the Open Rivers Programme, showcased Europe’s impressive progress over the past decade in removing obsolete dams, leading to the revitalization of numerous rivers.

Building a collaborative future for river restoration

A key feature of the seminar was the participatory working discussions. Attendees were encouraged to share their experiences, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. These discussions created a sense of collective responsibility, establishing a roadmap for future projects aimed at reconnecting freshwater ecosystems and enhancing biodiversity in the Danube River Basin.

Witnessing restoration in action at the Kamniška Bistrica River

On the second day, seminar participants embarked on a field trip to the Kamniška Bistrica River, an Alpine river in northern Slovenia. Led by experts such as Urša Koce from Birdlife Slovenia and Polona Pengal from Institute Revivo, the field trip offered participants a firsthand look at the river’s natural recovery following major flooding in August 2023. The excursion highlighted the importance of nature-based solutions in river restoration, reinforcing the key messages of the seminar.

Overall, the seminar highlighted key challenges and opportunities in river restoration, focusing on the context of the Danube River Basin. The event not only fostered new partnerships but also strengthened existing collaborations, paving the way for impactful, future projects. With expert insights, innovative solutions, and active citizen involvement, the path to restoring free-flowing rivers in Europe looks promising.

The seminar was organised by the World Fish Migration Foundation and Revivo, and made possible by the EU-funded DANUBE4all project and the US Forest Service.