DANUBEPARKS Participates in the DANUBE4all Annual Meeting in Ulm, Germany
From 12 to 16 May 2025, representatives of DANUBEPARKS took part in the DANUBE4all Annual Meeting, held in Ulm, Germany. The event brought together project partners from across the Danube Region for a week of productive discussions, knowledge sharing, and field visits, reinforcing collaborative efforts toward river restoration and stakeholder engagement.
The Annual Meeting served as a key moment for the DANUBE4all consortium to assess progress and align strategies across all Work Packages. Detailed presentations offered insights into ongoing research, citizen engagement approaches, and technical developments, enabling greater coordination and integration of partner activities.
A highlight of the meeting was the series of excursions that showcased both the natural and engineered aspects of the Upper Danube. Participants visited:
- The Source(s) of the Danube, reflecting on the river’s origin and cultural symbolism;
- The dramatic Danube Gorge in the Swabian Jura, a striking example of geological and ecological significance;
- The Danube Sinkhole, a unique natural phenomenon highlighting the complexity of river systems;
- And several fishpasses at hydropower plants and restoration sites, demonstrating practical solutions to ecological connectivity challenges.
These site visits not only provided real-world context to the scientific and technical discussions but also reinforced the importance of continued, collaborative action for river health and biodiversity.
DANUBEPARKS left the meeting deeply inspired and fully committed to advancing restoration efforts at its designated DANUBE4all Demo Sites, where on-the-ground activities are set to begin in the coming very soon. These demo sites will showcase integrated river restoration, community involvement, and policy alignment along the Danube.
Participation in the DANUBE4all Annual Meeting reaffirms DANUBEPARKS' role as a key regional actor in large-scale conservation and restoration efforts, working to reconnect nature and people along one of Europe's great rivers.