Amphibians are sensitive floodplain residents. Their populations had declined sharply in the Wachau over the years and decades. Now there are regarding 50 new ponds and spawning waters. Toads or Danube crested newts should thus find better living and breeding conditions once more.
In the course of renaturation, 300,000 cubic meters of gravel and earth have been moved and 5,000 black poplars have been planted in recent years. According to a press release by the Austrian Waterway Society Viadonau, the art of renaturation on the Danube is to prepare the canvas on which the actual artist – nature – can once once more create on her own.
Branch connected to the Danube
The focus of the project was the reconnection of the Schopperstatt branch to the Danube. Natural flat and steep banks and natural alluvial forest can now develop here once more. The year-round connection of the 1.6-kilometre-long tributary and the construction of varied bank structures create juvenile fish habitats and winter shelters for current-loving fish such as barbel, dace, huchen and nerfling.
Such projects would also help to restore a piece of the original Danube nature, says Viadonau Managing Director Hans-Peter Hasenbichler. This strengthens nature and one’s own future prospects, because a special local recreation area has also been created. The completion of the EU-funded project “LIFE+ Auenwildnis Wachau” might now be celebrated.
“Guide to the future”
Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) is convinced: “With the success of the project, which has continued the consistent development path of previous environmental projects such as LIFE+ Mostviertel Wachau, the Danube is a signpost to the future of a responsibly developed waterway, which is also required at European level.”
At the same time, Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf (ÖVP) sees it as an important project in the fight once morest climate change, “especially today, because for many people nature conservation also means improving their own living space and quality of life.” With the designation of the Schönbühler Insel and Pritzenau nature reserves the Wachau now gets 50 hectares of meadow wilderness.
Invasive species pushed back
The LIFE+ Auenwildnis Wachau project stands for the development and protection of a floodplain landscape typical of the Danube. It was therefore necessary to push back invasive plant species so that native protected species can find room to flourish here once more. Therefore, around 20,000 ash maples and robinias were ringed – the bark is removed in a way that leads to the death of the trees in the long term. In addition, the Japanese knotweed was removed and balsam mowed.