UNDP | GEF
DANUBE
REGIONAL
PROJECT
DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
WORKING FOR THE DANUBE AND
ITS PEOPLE

MORE THAN
JUST A RIVER?
The Danube River, Europe's second longest, stretches 2,870 km
from Germany's Black Forest to the Danube Delta and Black Sea.
The Danube River Basin is Europe's second largest with an area of
801,463 km2. Now including the territories of 19 countries, it is the
world's most international river basin -- home to 81 million people
with a variety of languages and histories.
Countless other rivers drain from the basin into the Danube River such
as the Morava in the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia; the Tisza
in Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine; the Sava in Slovenia,
Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro; and the
Prut River in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.
The basin shows a tremendous diversity of habitats and ecosystems
through which rivers and streams flow, from glaciated mountain tops
to forested valleys and wet lowlands. Many remain relatively untouched
with species of outstanding ecological value. Many areas, including
wetlands, also provide beneficial services such as flood protection
and water purification.
Unfortunately, over the last 150 years, many of the basin's natural
assets and functions were impacted by human activities. Some 80%
of the Danube's wetlands and floodplains were lost. Pollution remains
a serious problem for both the Danube Basin and Black Sea,
especially from nutrients from agriculture, municipal wastewater
(human waste and detergents) and industry.
Toxic substances are a key threat, made worse by mining accidents and
floods. Navigation, hydropower dams, river channelling, gravel extraction,
groundwater exploitation and climate change also pose key threats.

THE BIG PICTURE
The Danube Regional Project (DRP) is part of the larger USD $95
The Partnership includes three components. The first is the DRP.
million `GEF Strategic Partnership for Nutrient Reduction in the
The second is the `Black Sea Ecosystem Recovery Regional Project'
Danube/Black Sea Basin' approved in 2001. The Partnership targets
for the six Black Sea littoral countries. The third is the `Investment
assistance at 17 Danube and Black Sea countries to address trans-
Fund for Nutrient Reduction' implemented by the World Bank, geared
boundary concerns from nutrient pollution. One of GEF's largest and
to supporting single country investment projects for nutrient reduction
perhaps most ambitious water-related projects in the world, its long-
as well as wetland and floodplain restoration.
term objective is for countries to take measures to reduce nutrients
and hazardous substance pollution to levels necessary to permit Black
Having cooperated in numerous joint efforts, the GEF Strategic
Sea ecosystems to recover to 1960s conditions.
Partnership, ICPDR, EC and Danube countries can take credit for
recent demonstrable water quality and ecosystem improvements
Its intermediate objective includes the implementation of urgent
in the Danube and Black Sea ecosystems over the last decade.
control measures to reduce nutrient discharges to the Black Sea to
levels at or below those observed in 1997. The Partnership also aims
to help prevent the renewed ecosystem deterioration that might occur
with expected future economic improvement in Danube and Black Sea
countries.

UNDP-GEF AND ITS PARTNERS
The Global Environment Facility (GEF), established in 1991, helps
Danube NGOs: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are
countries to work together, set priorities and implement joint actions.
significantly involved in Danube issues, from raising public awareness
The Danube Basin was the first regional trans-boundary waters project
to lobbying for policy reform to carrying out field demonstration
funded by the GEF. Since 1991, GEF projects for the Danube have
projects and public actions.
been implemented by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). On December 1, 2001, the `Danube Regional Project (DRP)'
European Union: Environmental improvements in the Danube
was launched.
countries have been driven through the EU's environmental directives
which all current and future EU Member States are obliged to fulfil.
KEY PARTNERS ARE:
The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to achieve a "good
status" of all European waters and ecosystems by 2015. It obliges
Danube Countries: In 1998, the `Danube River Protection
every EU river basin to develop a `River Basin Analysis' by 2004
Convention', the major legal instrument for transboundary water
followed by a `River Basin Management Plan (RBMP)' by 2009.
management in the basin, came into force. Today, 13 countries
(and the EU) are `Contracting Parties' to the Convention: Austria,
ICPDR: The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany,
River (ICPDR) is a trans-national body, established in 1998, mandated by
Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine.
the Danube countries to implement the Danube River Protection Con-
vention and EU WFD. It is the legally responsible institution for further
development of Danube water management and regional cooperation.

DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT SOLUTIONS
The DRP's main goal is to strengthen the capacity of the ICPDR
KEY DRP ACTIVITIES
and Danube countries to cooperate in fulfilling their commitments
HAVE SUPPORTED PARTNERS IN:
to implement the Danube River Protection Convention and WFD.
Reducing nutrient pollution is especially important given downstream
Reducing nutrient pollution,especially through the introduction
problems in the Black Sea and the fact that nutrient pollution is one
and application of `best agricultural practices' and demonstration
of four key issues that could prevent Danube countries from meeting
projects on farms, advising governments on how to reduce the
the WFD requirements.
use of phosphates in laundry detergents, and providing guidance
on how to best manage wetlands to absorb pollution.
Enhancing public awareness and participation,through
assistance to ICPDR products and activities (e.g. Danube Watch
Danube Day), strengthening the Danube Environment Forum NGO
network, financial grants to NGOs, strategic communications and
media outreach.
Conserving wetlands,including protection and restoration efforts,
and through encouraging water managers to include wetlands in
their planning activities.

Developing a Danube River Basin Management Plan,
including valuable contributions to the `Danube River Basin Analysis
2004'. Importantly, a clear win-win situation has resulted after
15 years of interventions geared to improving integrated river basin
management planning by UNDP-GEF, ICPDR, EU and the Danube
countries.
Municipal wastewater management,especially through providing
utility managers with decision-making tools for pricing and investing.
Upgrading information systems,especially the Trans-National
Monitoring Network for water quality, the Accident Emergency
Warning System, and the web-based information system (DANUBIS)
for improving public awareness.