The Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative, established through the LIFE WILDisland project, has been honoured with the Excellence Award 2026 by Stiftung Naturerbe Donau in recognition of its outstanding contribution to international cooperation for wetland conservation along the Danube.
The award was presented on 27 June 2026 at Schloss Grünau in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany, during the Living Danube Award ceremony, organised every two years around International Danube Day. The Living Danube Awards recognise individuals and initiatives that make an outstanding contribution to the protection and preservation of the Danube's natural heritage.
The event brought together representatives of conservation organisations, public institutions, and protected areas from across the Danube region. Participants were welcomed by Johann Habermeyer, Deputy District Administrator of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, while the awards were presented by Dieter von Brühl, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Stiftung Naturerbe Donau. The laudatory speeches were delivered by Ulrike Strohmeier from the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment.
The distinction recognises one of the most important long-term achievements of the LIFE WILDisland project. The Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative was conceived and developed within the project, which coordinated the preparation of the application to the Ramsar Convention, drafted the Initiative's Terms of Reference, collected support letters from all ten Danube countries, and secured the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) as the formal host organisation. Officially recognised by the Ramsar Convention in 2024, the Initiative now provides a permanent framework for protecting, restoring, and promoting the wise use of wetlands, floodplains, and river islands throughout the Danube Basin.
The Initiative builds upon the long-standing experience of DANUBEPARKS, which has connected protected areas across national borders for almost two decades and strengthened cooperation along the Danube. Through the Ramsar Regional Initiative, countries, institutions, experts, and local stakeholders now have a common platform to exchange knowledge, develop joint projects, and work towards shared conservation goals. The Excellence Award therefore recognises not only the Initiative itself, but also the power of international cooperation as one of the most effective tools for conserving Europe's second-longest river.
The LIFE WILDisland partnership would like to express its sincere gratitude to Stiftung Naturerbe Donau for this recognition. We also warmly thank all members of the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative, the national Ramsar Focal Points, ICPDR, partner organisations, supporters, and friends whose commitment, expertise, and dedication made this achievement possible.
We would also like to congratulate the other award recipients for their remarkable conservation work. The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) received the Excellence Award 2026 for its dedicated efforts to conserve the Dalmatian Pelican in Bulgaria, while WWF Bulgaria was honoured with the prestigious Living Danube Award for its long-standing work to protect Danube sturgeons.
The LIFE WILDisland project remains committed to supporting the further development of the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative, strengthening international cooperation and helping to secure a healthier future for the Danube's unique wetlands, floodplains, and river islands.
