At the end of March, representatives from German waterway and nature conservation institutions visited Austria to gain first-hand insights into the implementation of large-scale river restoration measures along the Danube. The delegation brought together experts from WSA Donau MDK (Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt Donau MDK), the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Agency (GDWS), the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), Landeskreis Passau, Regierung von Niederbayern (HNB Niederbayern), Auenzentrum Neuburg, and DANUBEPARKS, reflecting a strong cross-sector interest in combining navigation, water management, and ecological restoration.
Hosted by the Austrian waterway administration viadonau, and the Donau-Auen National Park, the visit focused on showcasing how ambitious restoration measures can be successfully implemented without compromising navigation requirements.
Experiencing restoration in practitioners
On 24 March 2026, participa explored key project sites within the Donau-Auen National Park. The excursion included a visit to the Schwalbeninsel restoration site, where ongoing measures such as riverbank restoration and groyne adaptation demonstrate how grey infrastructure can be transformed into dynamic, nature-based solutions.
A boat tour through the floodplain further highlighted completed measures, including side-arm reconnection at the Spittelauer Arm and riverbank restoration at Thurnhaufen. These examples illustrated how restoring hydrological connectivity and allowing natural processes to unfold can significantly enhance habitat diversity while maintaining the functional requirements of the waterway.
Exchange on planning, practice, and transfer
The second day (25 March 2026) was dedicated to an in-depth exchange hosted by viadonau in Vienna. Discussions focused on institutional structures, ecological expertise within waterway management, and the German “Blaues Band” programme, which supports large-scale river restoration initiatives.
German colleagues presented their initial ideas for restoration projects along the Bavarian Danube, including plans for WILDisland-type interventions, and engaged in detailed discussions on planning approaches, levels of technical detail, long-term maintenance, and governance responsibilities.
WILDisland as a model for replication
The visit was a logical follow-up after a series of meetings and an international workshop held at Schloss Neuburg in April 2025, devoted to the practical implementation of the feasibility study, carried out in 2019 as part of the already completed INTERREG project DANUBEparksCONNECTED, which identified around 80 potential restoration sites between Neu-Ulm and Jochenstein.
It once again confirmed the commitment of all stakeholders and highlighted the WILDisland approach as a practical and transferable model for restoring ecological connectivity in heavily modified river systems. By focusing on river islands as indicators of natural dynamics and applying a “learning by doing” approach, projects implemented by NPDA and its partners demonstrate how restoration can work with the river’s natural processes — following the principle of “letting the river do the work.”
Measures such as side-arm restoration, embankment removal, and groyne adaptation not only enhance biodiversity but also contribute to more resilient river systems, effectively turning grey infrastructure into green infrastructure.
The exchange provided valuable inspiration for the development of new projects under the German Blaues Band programme, underlining the importance of international cooperation and knowledge transfer. It also demonstrated that large-scale restoration along major European rivers is not only feasible but can be implemented in a way that balances ecological, technical, and navigational objectives.