People threatened

Europe's Lifeline

Where the ecosystems of the Danube are still intact, the river and its adjacent wetlands perform important functions such as water purification, flood protection, pollution reduction, and habitat provision for many species. In addition these areas are important for the fishery and tourism economies.

Drinking water. The Danube provides drinking water for over 20 million people. The Danube river also recharges the aquifers in the river basin.  Planned navigation and infrastructure projects would deepen the river channel, lowering the water table and thus threatening the drinking water supply. 

Flood management. The remaining floodplains and wetlands act like a sponge quickly absorbing water during floods and slowly releasing it afterwards.  Many of the planned navigation infrastructure projects would constrict the space for the river and would increase flood risks.  For more information on the importance of floodplains for mitigating flood risks see a study on Danube floods in 2006.

Nutrient removal. Nutrient cycling is an important service provided by intact river systems.  Excess nutrients from urban and agricultural runoff, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, can be harmful to plants and animals.  Intact river systems help to recycle excess nutrients and therefore prevent nutrient overload.

Tourism.   Danube cruises represent a growing market on the river and are getting more and more popular among tourists. In general the scenery here is an important factor for tourism and recreation in the region. The full potential for ecotourism of the Danube has not even begun to be explored.  Revenue from tourism supports many local economies.

Relaxation and recreation. The proximity of the Danube to many urban areas provides residents with a spectacular source of relaxation, swimming, boating, and other sports. 

Fishing. Recreational and commercial fishing was once an important source of livelihood along the entire Danube.  Now, over-exploitation and hydromorphological alterations have led to the significant decline of fish populations in the Upper Danube. But fishing is still a significant source of income and food, particularly on the lower parts of the river.

Economically Speaking...

The Danube River and its floodplains can also be valued in monetary units based on the ecosystem services they offer:

• Intact river stretches provide great potential for recreation and tourism worth €189 million/year.
• Nutrient retention of the Danube floodplains (i.e. water purification) is worth €368 million/year.
• The estimated current and future value of benefits from the Danube floodplains is €7,660/ha.