On 9 October 2026, DANUBEPARKS participated in the first consortium meeting of the LIVINGWATERS project, hosted by the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research at the University of Belgrade. The meeting brought together project partners to discuss the project’s objectives, planned activities, and opportunities for cooperation in freshwater conservation and restoration.
LIVINGWATERS aims to address key challenges affecting freshwater ecosystems through community-led learning and the implementation of nature-based solutions. Its activities will focus on tackling invasive species, improving water quality, and restoring freshwater habitats, contributing to the long-term protection of aquatic biodiversity.
Strengthening Cooperation Across Protected Areas
Alongside DANUBEPARKS, the consortium includes organisations responsible for managing three protected areas within the DANUBEPARKS Network:
- Kopački rit Nature Park in Croatia,
- Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve,
- Kraljevac Special Nature Reserve in Serbia.
The participation of these protected areas provides an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation, exchange knowledge, and share practical experience in freshwater ecosystem management. By bringing together organisations working in different parts of the Danube region, the project aims to support collaborative approaches to common environmental challenges.
Sharing Knowledge and Replicating Successful Approaches
For DANUBEPARKS, one of the key values of LIVINGWATERS lies in its potential to transfer knowledge and experience gained through the project to other protected areas across the network. Sharing successful approaches and promoting their replication will help extend the project's impact beyond the participating sites, supporting freshwater conservation and restoration throughout the Danube region.
The project also offers an opportunity to strengthen connections between protected area managers and local communities, highlighting the role of community engagement and nature-based solutions in addressing pressures on freshwater ecosystems.
We thank the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research at the University of Belgrade and all project partners for their contributions to a productive start and look forward to continued cooperation throughout the project.
This activity has received funding from the European Union through the SoS2LearnDBS project, under Grant Agreement No. 101217667.