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“Partnership of the Year” – Living Danube Partnership for rivers and wetlands

WWF, ICPDR

By IW:LEARN

October 28^th, 2020

Republished from: https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?945241/LDP-award

Wetlands contribute in no small way to our quality of life -- indeed, to our very survival.

2020 October 9 - The Partnership of the Year Award goes to Coca-Cola for its Living Danube Partnership with WWF-Central and Eastern Europe (WWF-CEE) and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). The award was presented at today’s online Reuters Responsible Business Awards 2020.

The award was given for the Living Danube Partnership’s unique model of cross-sectoral cooperation. The Partnership brings together the public, private and non-profit sectors, including the political framework of the ICPDR and its member governments across the Danube basin; the resources and capabilities of the Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola System; and the capacity, know-how, and facilitation of WWF-CEE. The judges particularly noted the long-term commitment and complex approach of the partnership, which is now in its seventh year. Activities include river and wetland restoration activities, as well as education and awareness-raising across six countries along the world’s most international river basin.

“The Living Danube Partnership is I think unique in our region of Central and Southeastern Europe,” said Andreas Beckmann, Regional CEO of WWF-CEE. “I know of no comparable initiative in terms of size, scope, impact and duration. The flexibility of the partnership based on shared long-term objectives and trust has enabled us to achieve far more than originally planned -- leveraging nearly €20 million in support for wetland restoration initiatives across our region.”

Restoration activities involving everything from breaching dykes and re-opening river side-arms to removing unused barriers are on track to deliver 6,829 hectares (i.e. 7,422 football pitches) of restored wetlands by next year. Through communications and engagement, including social and traditional media, as well as a mobile exhibit and tour, the Partnership has reached more than 80,000 people directly and over 54 million people indirectly with a message promoting an appreciation of our rivers and wetlands and the valuable goods and ecosystem services they provide.

"This unique partnership has shown what is possible when companies and conservationists work together on a long-term strategy to tackle our growing freshwater challenges,” said Stuart Orr, Global Practice Leader Freshwater, WWF-International. “The Living Danube Partnership has transformed degraded wetlands, while simultaneously driving a new narrative around the real values of the river - highlighting why a healthy Danube is critical to people and nature and how businesses can help to restore it to health. Hopefully, this transformative partnership will be replicated far and wide."

According to the Living Danube Partnership FY2020 Report, most of the restoration projects directly supported through the Partnership have been completed.

Wetlands contribute in no small way to our quality of life -- indeed, to our very survival. Few people realize the range of products and ecosystem services that freshwater habitats like wetlands provide: not only food such as fish but also water purification, flood management, recreation, and biodiversity. But wetlands are among the most threatened habitats worldwide -- 80% of floodplains of the Danube River and its main tributaries have been lost.

Fortunately, there is a growing appreciation of rivers and wetlands, and strong government commitments to not only conserve what remains, but also restore what we have lost. The Living Danube Partnership has sought to help turn those commitments into reality. In cooperation with dozens of local stakeholders, from landowners and users to relevant authorities, the Partnership has promoted and inspired a string of initiatives demonstrating how to achieve wetland and floodplain restoration.

According to Ivan Zavadzsky, Executive Secretary of the ICPDR, the Living Danube Partnership is an exemplary project in bringing together partners, sectors, and interests to take direct positive action in the Danube River Basin and contributing directly to government commitments in the Danube River Basin Management Plan.

For more information, please contact the Regional CEO of WWF Central and Eastern Europe, Andreas Beckmann (abeckmann@wwfcee.org).

Footnotes

Cover photo: One of the aims of the partnership is to restore Danube floodplains to demonstrate the benefits of wetland systems to the public and decision makers. © Alexander Ivanov

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FootNotes

Cover photo: One of the aims of the partnership is to restore Danube floodplains to demonstrate the benefits of wetland systems to the public and decision makers. © Alexander Ivanov