Conference Overview

The Danube River is the second largest river in Europe and the world’s most international river, passing through 10 countries and four capitals, while 19 countries share the Danube River Basin (DRB). The Danube River Delta is the largest river delta wetland in Europe. The DRB is well known for its diverse landscapes, ecosystems and habitats, and unique flora and fauna, including the sturgeon species of high conservation concern at a global level. However, recent reports show that the Danube River is one of the top ten world’s most threatened rivers with many ecosystems degraded and habitats and species lost. The main pressures to DRB identified are hydromorphological alterations, pollution by organic substances, nutrients and hazardous substances, owing to river engineering, hydropower plants, navigation projects, agriculture, etc. Growing threats are also the introduction of invasive alien species, sediment balance alteration, pollution with macro- and microplastics and effects of climate change as droughts or floods, water scarcity and extreme events.

Major instruments have been developed to address these issues at European and regional levels. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (2020) aims at protecting and restoring nature, including improvement and widening of the network of protected areas, restoring freshwater and soil ecosystems, reducing pollution and addressing invasive alien species. The landmark Nature Restoration Law (2024) provides on restoration of terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems (art. 4) and restoration of the natural connectivity of rivers and natural functions of the related floodplains (art. 9). Together with other EU legislation, they support the EU’s international commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), aiming to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. At regional level, these issues are addressed within pillar 2 of the European Union Strategy for Danube Region (EUSDR): Protecting the Environment in the Danube Region, in particular, under priority areas: PA4, 5 and 6.

Many projects, actions and measures have already been implemented at DRB and further restorations are planned to improve river morphology, reduce the impacts of impoundements and hydropeaking, restore river continuity for fish migration, reconnect wetlands and floodplains, etc. Restoration of natural and semi-natural ecosystems complements the protection of ecosystems to secure water, food and health, while enhancing biodiversity and mitigating climate change and adapting to its impact. Restoration is most effective when coordinated across key stakeholders (scientists, local communities, national authorities, managers, etc.) and implemented at large scales. Therefore, transborder and transnational cooperation is crucial for implementation of protection and restoration measures in the Danube River Basin.

Recognising the importance of cooperation for protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, EU launched new Missions under ‘Horizon Europe research and innovation programme 2021–2027’. The EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ aims to protect and restore the health of freshwater and marine ecosystems through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments. To achieve its objectives, the Mission has established area-based ‘lighthouses’ in key European sea and river basins, serving as hubs for innovation and cooperation. The Danube Lighthouse projects develop concrete innovative and holistic solutions and approaches to the major challenges in the DRB. The Danube Lighthouse includes EcoDaLLi as the Coordination and Support Action (CSA) and Innovation Actions (IAs), such as: DANUBE4all, DALIA, DaWetRest and Restore4Life.

The International Association for Danube Research (IAD) was founded in 1956 with the aim of promoting and coordinating activities in the fields of limnology, water management, water protection and sustainable development in DRB. Thirteen countries are members of IAD. Participants represent scientists of various expertises, such as biology, chemistry, hydrology, geology, geography, climatology, etc. IAD provides education and training, supports the exchange of information and ideas, as well as mobility of scientists to foster cooperation and knowledge transfer within 12 expert groups. Since 1998, IAD is an observer and active participant in the work of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). IAD is a founder and active member of EUSDR PA6 task forces: Danube Sturgeon Task Force (DSTF), Danube River Invasive Alien Species Network (DIAS) and Danube Landscape Task Force. IAD is a partner in three recently approved EU Horizon projects: DANSER, SWIM, and SoS2Learn. Every second year IAD organises a scientific conference.

The Bulgarian section of IAD (IAD – Bulgaria), represented by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), has been actively involved in IAD since the establishment of the organisation. Through the years, scientists from IBER-BAS and former Institute of Zoology have led the expert groups on Zooplankon, Zoobenthos and Invasive Alien Species. Currently, IAD members are from IBER-BAS, Institute of Oceanology, BAS, CAWRI-BAS, Geological Institute, BAS, Sofia University, University of Forestry, and Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Plovdiv. Until now, IAD – Bulgaria has hosted 4 scientific conferences of IAD: Sofia 1966, Sofia 1976, Varna 1990, and Sofia 2014.

The 45th IAD Conference organised by IAD – Bulgaria will provide a forum for the presentation of long-term multidisciplinary research and activities on various topics, highlighting the importance of building innovative solutions and cooperation to protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystems in the Danube River Basin.

Scientific Topics

1. Biodiversity – from microbial communities to water birds and mammals, status and future trends for aquatic species and habitats, biotic processes, soil diversity

2. Protected areas and biodiversity conservation, ecological corridors, protection and rehabilitation of Danube sturgeons, soil restoration and protection

3. Ecosystem functions and services from source to delta, restoration and sustainable use of biological resources, ecosystem management

4. Wetlands and floodplains – ecology and restoration, reconnection to the Danube River, constraints and perspectives

5. The Danube River Delta and coastal ecosystems – challenges, restoration and management

6. Riparian landscapes – diversity, protection, management and planning

7. Hydromorphological alterations and habitat changes – mitigation and restoration of hydrological regime and river morphological conditions, river connectivity, habitat management

8. Water quality, from nutrients to toxins – pollution by organic substances, nutrients, hazardous substances, and macro- and microplastics; chemical and biological monitoring, including eDNA; sediment quality and balance alterations; integrated water management

9. Invasive alien species – priority species and pathways of introduction and spread, impact, prevention and management, restoration of damaged ecosystems

10. Climate change (droughts, floods, water scarcity, extreme events, etc.) and land-use change impacts on aquatic ecosystems, mitigation and climate change adaptation in the Danube River Basin

11. The human dimension – rivers as socio-ecological systems; long-term socio-ecological research and environmental history; sustainable development and public participation in the Danube and Black Sea Region

12. Cooperation and innovative solutions to protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystems in the Danube River Basin – policy, projects and networks, Danube and Black Sea Lighthouse, education and training, citizen science, information systems and databases, data planning and management

13. Other topics related to the Danube River and Black Sea Basin.