Return of the Imperial Eagles: Renaturation brings new life to the Danube floodplains!

Return of the Imperial Eagles: Renaturation brings new life to the Danube floodplains!

Significant progress has been made in the area of ​​renaturation in the Danube-Auen National Park, which stretches from Vienna to the Slovakian border. The Johler Arm near Hainburg, which recently had higher water, is an example of the positive effects of renaturation measures. A few years ago, the water level was increased through targeted dredging work after the branch of the Danube had almost silted up. But the challenges of climate change and invasive species remain. However, the Johler Arm currently carries little water, which again raises questions about sustainable management. The return of the beaver and the imperial eagle, which are now re-establishing themselves in the region after 200 years, are encouraging signs for biodiversity. The national park will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2024, an occasion that highlights both the successes and challenges in preserving this valuable floodplain landscape. According to kleinezeitung.at, around four breeding pairs of imperial eagles and around six breeding pairs of sea eagles can be observed in the national park every year.

The renaturation of the area, which is also under EU protection, pursues a sustainable strategy to preserve the ecologically valuable floodplain landscape on the south bank of the Danube between Haslau and Regelsbrunn. The Dynamic LIFE Lines Danube program, the planning work for which is nearing completion, aims to reconnect the Danube's tributaries more closely to the main river. As donauauen.at reports, an important step is being taken to improve the habitat situation for fish and other aquatic creatures with an investment of 10.7 million euros, around 60% of which is financed by the EU. The measures that have already been carried out on the Spittelau Arm show that renaturation can have positive results for flora and fauna.

Challenges and solutions

The floodplain landscapes are characterized by periodic changes of flooding and drought, which promotes their structural and habitat diversity. These “biodiversity hotspots” provide numerous ecosystem services. Nevertheless, the silting waters are increasingly being affected by the negative effects of power plants and regulation, which, according to themenspezial.eskp.de, urgently needs to be actively addressed. The dismantling of safety-relevant bank structures and the creation of flow-through tributaries are essential measures to improve the habitat for wildlife and optimize flood drainage.

The National Park Institute is also committed to research and education about ecosystems and biodiversity. Workshops and overnight accommodations for school classes are offered to raise awareness of the environment. A new Christian Doppler research laboratory at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, which was founded on March 7th, is also intended to support the scientific monitoring of the renaturation measures.