During the kick-off conference of the LIFE WILDisland project, the awards ceremony of the private German foundation "Living Danube" was held in Rathausplatz, Vienna. This is an international award given every 2 years to organizations that contribute to the preservation of the natural habitat along the Danube and its tributaries. The "Living Danube" foundation aims to return the land where possible to its original state and to help to restore its beauty and biological diversity.
During the ceremony, prizes for 2020 and 2022 - worth € 15,000 (€ 10,000 in cash and a gold medal worth € 5,000) - were finally awarded to the winners after a postponement due to the Covid-10 crisis.
The award for 2020 was given to the DANUBEPARKS Network of Protected Areas on the Danube river for its long-term contribution to the networking of protected area managers and work on ecological connectivity in 9 Danube countries. On behalf of DANUBEPARKS, Mr. Carl Manzano, the honorary president and founder of DANUBEPARKS, has received the award.
The second "Living Danube" foundation award (2022) went to Kopački rit Nature Park (Croatia). Management of this protected area from Croatia significantly contributed to the preservation of the natural habitat of the area between the Danube and Drava rivers and the restoration project NATURAVITA is recognized as an example of good practice due to its value and approach.
The next call for applications for the Living Danube Foundation Award will be published in early 2023.
More about the foundation at: https://environmentalrisks.danube-region.eu/the-living-danube-foundation-prize/