On June 17–18, 2025, the LIFE WILDisland project proudly participated in the Austrian celebration of Danube Day 2025, held at the schlossORTH National Park Centre in the Donau-Auen National Park. Under this year’s motto “Our Danube – Our Future”, the event brought together more than 400 schoolchildren from Vienna and Lower Austria to explore the ecological, cultural, and social importance of the Danube River.
Organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK), together with viadonau, the City of Vienna – Wiener Gewässer, and the gen blue youth platform, Danube Day 2025 offered a diverse and hands-on learning experience across 10 interactive stations. From flood protection and water dynamics to biodiversity and river ecology, students discovered the many faces of the Danube through games, experiments, and creative activities.
As part of this wide-ranging programme, the LIFE WILDisland project contributed a dedicated information stand that introduced students to the animals and birds that depend on restored riverbanks and wild islands. Kids learned how near-natural Danube islands serve as key habitats for softwood forests and rare species—and as living indicators of healthy river processes. Rangers and project staff engaged with students, answering questions and encouraging young participants to think critically about the future of the river.
The event’s highlight for many was a livelyconcert by the “Donaupiraten”, and for the first time, the programme was extended into the afternoon to include children from local after-school care centres in Orth an der Donau and the surrounding region.
In an additional, special activity on June 18, the project hosted a trash collection boat excursion on the Danube for students from Vienna’s Polytechnische Schule. This hands-on environmental action combined river clean-up with education on pollution impacts and habitat conservation—making the importance of protecting riverine ecosystems both tangible and memorable for the next generation.
Danube Day has been celebrated annually since 2004 around June 29, the anniversary of the signing of the Danube River Protection Convention. It was initiated by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and aims to raise awareness for the sustainable use and preservation of the Danube and its resources.
The LIFE WILDisland project was proud to be part of this year’s event, contributing to the shared goal of educating and inspiring young people to value and protect Europe’s most international river—together for a wilder, healthier Danube.
