Unbound rivers for future generations

About this project

<p>The Danube-Odra-Elbe canal project (ie connecting three river basins through huge concrete waterworks) is a sad legacy of previous Czech governments, which promoted it despite expert opinions (many independent studies mapping ecosystem and landscape damage, soil and erosion conditions, and economic inefficiency of the whole project) and local residents (several petitions). However, even the new government's resignation from the project does not mean that people and nature can rest - there are still lobbying pressures, ambiguities in the process of land release, and already approved (or quietly being approved) steps to at least partially implementation of the plan. Thanks to the support from the project, we will monitor the transparency of the procedure by the state, appeal to the involvement of local people and open a public debate on any other decision that concerns this plan. We will inform local governments and local residents truthfully and professionally (media campaign), give them the opportunity to express their views and defend their rights (petitions and participation in processes), as well as the necessary professional, strategic and media support in protecting natural areas, landscape and their living space (information, education, legal advice). We will also offer them inspiration for further progress and alternative options for combating drought, healing the landscape, protecting biodiversity through better landscape management, sustainable agriculture and other nature-friendly measures.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The partnership from the donor country brought to the project know-how on stakeholder analysis and its use in project management. It helped to identify standpoints and needs of main stakeholder groups and adapt project activities accordingly. It also provided some rough estimation of the impact of the project to stakeholder groups. The possible cooperation was discussed in the issue of international networking in Donau river basin.

Project partners

• CBNRM Networking Donor project partner· Norway
• University of Ostrava Project partner· Czechia
• Local action group of the Poodří region Project partner· Czechia