Lessons Learnt from 20 Years of Floodplain Forest Restoration: the Lower Danube Landscape

Riparian forests, along the banks of the Danube, and floodplain forests are important habitats for birds, fish and other wildlife. They protect the riverbanks from erosion and act as a filter for water quality. Furthermore, natural floodplain and riparian forests protect coastal settlements from natural disasters, most notably from flooding.

Several actors have been involved in different restoration projects, including communities and children who have engaged in tree planting, cleaning and clearing processes, with public sector land managers from the forestry and the environment departments being the main actors.

This report describes the complex and multi-country Danube landscape characteristics, the projects carried out during the last 20 years, the actors involved and communication and governances issue. Finally, a number of lessons learnt are highlighted.