NGOs join forces to save a living Danube threatened by inland navigation plans
Ruse – The most prominent environmental NGOs active in the Danube basin stand united in their opposition to plans that aim at improving inland navigation at the expense of nature and local economies. On the occasion of an international workshop taking place on the banks of the Danube River in Ruse, Bulgaria, sponsored by WWF, the global conservation organisation, and IAD, the International Association for Danube Research, NGOs adopted their common position “Save the Danube as a lifeline! Steps towards sustainable navigation” and discussed with local and park authorities as well as scientists recent findings and how to cooperate further on the issue.
Bulldozers bring life to the Danube Delta
A WWF project puts earth moving equipment to work removing a section of dike on Ermakov Island in the Danube Delta of Ukraine, promising new life to the island.
Protection for Tysa Floodplain Forests -- Ukraine's riverine "jungle"
Some of Europe's last remaining floodplain forests on the Upper Tysa river in northwestern Ukraine are now under protection. In August, the Transcarpathian Regional Assembly of Transcarpathia (Zakarpatskaya Oblast) voted to formally establish the protected area of Prytysianski, including 10,600 ha of floodplain forests in the Upper Tysa floodplain. Protection of the area caps six years of work by researchers and WWF in the area.
Change of leadership at WWF-DCPO
Michael Baltzer, director of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme (WWF-DCPO) since 2005, left the organisation in July 2009 to head WWF's global tiger conservation efforts based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is replaced at WWF-DCPO by Andreas Beckmann, who had been serving the organisation as Deputy Director since 2005.
Danube Day -- fears amidst the celebrations
Amidst this year's celebrations of Danube Day, WWF is concerned about persisting threats to the Danube as a living river. Government and EU plans to remove “bottlenecks” for navigation could impact up to 1,000 km of the river’s most natural sections.
EU Council continues stalemate on climate change
On the crucial issues leading to the Copenhagen climate summit, the European Council kept the EU in a holding pattern. The EU appears to feel the burden is on developing countries to describe in detail why they deserve any support to tackle climate change, prior to making any pledge - a sure way to impede progress. The Council has once again failed to put a figure on the table on the actual support it is prepared to commit to, or detail the mechanisms for raising it.
Wilderness in the Heart of Europe
WWF launches initiative to promote and restore wilderness areas in Europe.
Europe's wilderness
Relatively little wilderness remains in densely settled Europe. Efforts are now underway to save the continent’s last remaining wilderness areas.
Award winning ads follow closely on Earth Hour in Kyiv
New WWF advertisements have appeared around Kyiv in the wake of Earth Hour, the global climate action. The social ads, which were developed pro bono by Ogilvy Kyiv, draw attention to the collateral damage that our everyday actions like leaving on unneeded lights have on nature and wildlife.
Measuring the environmental achievements of EU neighbouring countries
The implementation of the environmental commitments of the European Neighbourhood Policy is lagging behind in all neighbouring countries.