On 23 April 2026, the Donau-Auen National Park celebrated its 30th anniversary with a festive event at Schloss Orth an der Donau, bringing together high-level representatives from politics, science, and nature conservation. The celebration highlighted three decades of protecting and restoring one of Central Europe’s last near-natural floodplain landscapes.
The ceremony was attended by three LIFE WILDisland partners - Kopacki rit Nature Park, Croatia, BROZ, Slovakia and viadonau, Austria. Among the official guests was Dr. Vlatko Rozac, President of the DANUBEPARKS Association, the engine behind the submission of the LIFE WILDisland project and an ubrella organization actually established by and hosted by the Donau-Auen National Park, Austria.
Looking back at the park’s development, one message stood out clearly: large-scale restoration has become a defining pillar of its success and European cooperation has been key to making it possible.
During the event, the importance of EU LIFE funding was explicitly recognised as a driving force behind the most ambitious restoration measures implemented in the Donau-Auen since its establishment. In this context, the LIFE WILDisland project was highlighted as a flagship initiative, enabling large-scale river restoration and reconnecting dynamic floodplain processes along the Danube.
Together with the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative, the project was acknowledged as one of the key milestones in the park’s recent history, strengthening international cooperation and positioning the Donau-Auen National Park as a leading example of process-based river restoration in Europe.
Current restoration efforts, including the revitalisation of Schwalbeninsel and Paradeisinsel, build directly on this foundation. These measures aim to restore natural river dynamics, improve hydrological connectivity, and support the long-term development of floodplain forests and aquatic habitats.
The anniversary event also marked the opening of the new exhibition “Im Fluss”, showcasing the ecological importance of dynamic river systems and the role of restoration in shaping resilient landscapes.
Thirty years after its establishment, the Donau-Auen National Park stands as a powerful example of how long-term protection, scientific guidance, and international cooperation can transform river landscapes. The WILDisland approach rooted in working with natural processes and “letting the river do the work”, continues to guide this development and inspire restoration efforts across the Danube basin.
Happy birthday, Donau-Auen National Park!
