Award for the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
The Vienna-based International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) has won the 2007 International Thiess Riverprize, one of the world's most prestigious awards for excellence in water management and protection, it was announced yesterday in Brisbane, Australia. "The management of water, a scarce resource, does not have to lead to conflicts. Instead, it can be a driving force for cooperation. The collaboration along the Danube is an outstanding example which is recognised beyond Europe's borders as well", said Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel.
The basis for cooperation among the Danube riparian states is the Convention on Co-operation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the River Danube (Danube River Protection Convention), which came into force in October 1998. Since then, the ICPDR has launched international action programmes for water protection and sustainable flood protection, a water quality monitoring network, and a warning and alarm system for accidental pollution of the Danube. A current priority of the ICPDR's work is to develop an internationally coordinated management plan by 2009 to implement the EU Water Framework Directive.
With Danube Day, which is celebrated in all the Danube riparian states on 29 June every year, the magazine "Danube Watch" and the Danube Box, an innovative education kit for children in years 4-6, the ICPDR has developed additional initiatives aimed at also involving the general public in work to protect the Danube. The ICPDR has now launched the largest expedition in the history of the Danube river: several research vessels with 18 scientists from eight countries will travel the length of the Danube river from Regenburg to the Black Sea to test the water, sediments and suspended solids and study the flora and fauna of the Danube. Daily updates on the scientific team's findings, a diary and photos of the expedition and other information are available on the ICPDR's website at www.icpdr.org/jds .
A key factor in the ICPDR's work is that the Danube is the world's most international river basin, with major differences still remaining in the economic and social development of these states. "With its work, the ICPDR not only makes a contribution to the protection of the Danube and the Black Sea; it also contributes to political stability throughout the region and brings these countries closer to the EU", emphasised Gabriel.
The Thiess Riverprize – currently valued at around 180,000 euros – is awarded annually by Australia's International River Foundation; the international prize goes to an international project while the national prize goes to an Australian community-based operation.
Further information:
- www.icpdr.org: International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
- www.bmub.bund.de/english/water-management