Project start: 01.05.2025
Project end: 31.12.2028
Sponsor: European Union

DANUBE_lifelines supports the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity. Key elements are knowledge creation, demonstrating effective solutions, and co-creation with stakeholders. The project generates new insights and perspectives on fish migration, habitat quality and migration corridors, improving the status of migratory fish species in the Danube River Basin. It demonstrates measures for protecting and restoring habitat availability, accessibility and connectivity through removing barriers and pressures, combined with nature-based solutions. Engagement with local actors and national stakeholder groups, training and communication activities, and the development of an action plan and roadmap for replication and scale-up are integral. DANUBE_lifelines applies a transboundary, multi-scale and multi-actor approach, covering several relevant migratory fish species. A basin-wide perspective highlights the restoration and conservation needs of migratory fish and their habitats across the Danube, including tributaries. Solutions are tailored to local needs in the Upper Danube, the Middle Danube and the Lower Danube/Delta. Integrated approaches are pursued, demonstration activities are learned from and applied, and conservation of species such as Danube salmon, Pontic shad and sturgeons is improved. Key outputs include the Danube Fish Migration and Connectivity Atlas, identification of hotspot and strict conservation areas, efficiency of restoration measures, mapping the contribution of the Danube Basin to the 25,000 km free-flowing rivers target, an action plan for habitat restoration and conservation, and guidelines and recommendations for replicability.