Special Side Event has been organised to the EUSDR Annual Forum on the 17th of October to further highlight environmental-related topics The seminar was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture (1055 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos square 11).
The „EUSDR Environmental Pillar - Stakeholder Seminar” has been realized in cooperation with EUSDR PA4 (water quality), PA5 (environmental risks) and PA6 (biodiversity) priority areas. The event consisted of a discussion concerning future challenges in the field of water quality and environmental risks. The seminar was to present a snapshot of the diverse nature of environmental challenges the Danube Region countries are facing with the aim of generating a discussion around how to achieve balanced and long term economic development.
The seminar aimed to draw attention to the importance of ongoing joint cooperation’s - on an organizational and sector-specific level - while also discussing those future challenges where joint actions are needed to mitigate the threats to the environment and the natural values of the region.
The Stakeholder seminar has been opened by the Hungarian State Secretary in charge of environment and nature conservation.
In the presentation of Eleonora Musco the Carpathian Convention COP5 meeting that has been held at Lillafüred on the previous week (http://www.carpathianconvention.org/tl_files/carpathiancon/Downloads/03%20Meetings%20and%20Events/COP/2017_COP5_Lillafuered/home.html#head ) had special role. Findings and resolutions were introduced, as well as the report titled „Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Carpathian Mountains” .
Gusztáv Csomor gave a review on the Danube Transnational Programme . Aims and results were in the focus. The presenter highlighted the importance of the co-operation and of the synergies.
Georg Frank on behalf of the DANUBEPARKS encharmed the audience by wonderful photos and also by a short by amazing film. Details of financing and co-operation were discussed, as well as their EU NATURA 2000 Award. The expert detailed the role of Danube as a habitat-corridor . It has special roles during the ice ages, as the connected areas were already free from ice, thus connecting populations there had special importance. Recently this role gains more and more attention as the climate change results further migration of species and shifting of habitats.
At the end of the presentation a little gadget has been introduced, that – within the Danube Free Sky Program - can save life of birds from electric shock when accessing electric cables.
Milan Dimkic, colleague of Jaroslav Černi Institute has introduced the state of art in water management in Serbia, and also its Water Management Strategy. Hyrdological relations, situation of water sector, water quality issues and questions of floods were all detailed together with the callenges of financial background.
Miklós Marton, colleague of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture choose the so called Pecha Kucha format for his presentation on Green Economy. This is a popular format for PowerPoint presentation when 20 slides can be shown, each with 20 seconds. Of course this frame is not for deep scientific adventures, but can be great for recognizing correlations and embracing the core of each issues. The introduced National Park Products generated diverse reactions: one of the expert loudly realized that he had not had lunch yet. Others preferred the example of reusing worn out jeans , or the Farmers Market system.
Sabina Bokal, colleague of Global Water Partnership CEE gave overview on the Integrated Drought Management Programme and its background cooperation. The presentation yielded special attention to drought experiences in the Danube Region, to the integrated approaches and to the good examples.
Csaba Mózes, colleague of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture gave an enjoyable and spectacular presentation on the relationship between water and forests. Water is not only the basic of life but also a product to be sold. Can be blessing and can be devastating – the beauty and the beast together. The recycling of water is of basic knowledge, but the role of forests in it is a pretty subtle issue…
Ádám Kovács, colleague of the ICPDR highlighted the connection between agriculture and Danube river, including the ICPDR suggestions for sustainable agriculture. It looks to be a must harmonizing agriculture and the measures for water quality.
Georghe Constantin, colleague of Ministry of Waters and Forest, Romania took presentation about sustainable flood protection measures. Principles, vulnerable areas were introduced, together with informative maps. It has been stated that in certain cases only the evacuation can be the answer. We have to live together with flood risks, while spatial planning also must pay great attention to these concerns.
Sándor Szalai, professor of Szent István University showed great maps for giving overview on recent climate extremes. He admitted that in some cases the previously forecasted climate trends are not reflected in recent monitored data, but it is still true that the frequency of climate extremes is expected. Developing the monitoring, and also of the modelling systems is suggestable, as Danube Region is among the most vulnerable regions of Europe in the context of climate change.
Károly Gombás, colleague of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary gave a verbal report on the activities of the Priority Area 5 of the EUSDR. Seed Money Facility gained special attention as a possibility to finance relevant projects.
Ádám Kovács, colleague of the ICPDR in his second presentation drew attention towards accidental pollution. Two local cases made the presentation more tangible: cyanic pollution of Baia Mare (2000) and red mud flood at Kolontár (2010). For avoiding accidents an alerting system must be deployed. In the case of Danube River the AEWS system () has been elaborated. As the presenter stated: in the context of water the three most important elements are oil refinery, chemical industry and industrial sludge reservoir.
Dániel Nagy, colleague of National Food Chain Safety Office of Hungary made report on recent forest fires and their prevention. The FIRELIVE project elaborated education program for children for delivering main messages. Due to surveys 99% of forest fires are from human negligence, so awareness and sensibility has key importance. As a result of climate change the fire-prone area is longer and longer (now in Hungary it is from February until October). As the intensity of forest fire is higher now, respond tactic must be changed as well.
Oroszi Viktor, colleague of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary highlighted the education on flood protection. He showed results of a study on Geography schoolbooks of several countries. The study showed that flood is not-, or not properly mentioned in the books – even in countries that are considered to be especially vulnerable. He also mentioned the English language homepage on the environmental risks in the Danube Region .
Dr. Cristina Sadu, colleague of Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy made report on the Sturgeon 2000 project . It was especially emphasized that this project has strong connections with all priority areas of the Danube Region Strategy. The urgent aims were all introduced, and it was announced that everyone is welcomed when joining to the project in its implementation.
Gábor Bordós, colleague of Wessling Hungary gave overview on water quality monitoring. Microplastic is a relatively new area of data capturing, and reaction measures are even more kind of new born. However, Danube River conveys some 6 – 66 kilograms of micropastics in certain parts, thus representing serious issues.
Presentations are available here:
10. Climate extremes and challenges by Sándor Szalai, Szent István University
13. Forest fires (FIRELIFE project) by Dániel Nagy, National Food Chain Safety Office of Hungary
The event has been summarized by the moderator, Zsuzsanna Kocsis-Kupper as following:
Policy integration –capitalization of real results to be shared DTP
Habitat connectivity needed-examples of cross- border grazing
Non EU countries require large amount of funding for water investments
Integrated drought management is needed-regional cooperation is a must
Decouple future activities in agriculture
Further attention to forest, floods, fire, accidental pollution
Share real project results
Integration of environmental issues to be tackled
Further extreme events are expected, Danube is the most affected region in Europe
EUSDR assistance is welcomed- capitalization, project preparation assistance, avoid duplications
Public to be aware of accident challenges, transparency and access for accident prevention (over 100 hot spots: oil terminals, chemical industry and tailing management facilities)
Paradigm change and integrated fire management needed to prevent forest fires
Education cooperation-training for experts necessary for floods, cooperation with water institutions should be sustained, Danube hydrology discussions to be reestablished
Wild sturgeons-- urgent measures needed
Microplastics recent challenges in the Danube watershed: last 10 years scientific interest increasing, sampling set up benefits, good basis for standardization: effects on food change is not yet known
Articles on the event:
A környezetvédelem a kiegyensúlyozott fejlődést segíti