Regional Grants Projects Funded - Round One (Total: USD 207,754)   Addressing Nutrient and Toxic Pollution in the Sub-basins of the Morava, Mura and Ogosta rivers USD 45,300 NGOs: Leader: DAPHNE - Centre for Applied Ecology, Slovakia Partners: Centre for Environmental Information and Education, Bulgaria; Ecological Centre of Pomurje, Slovenia Project Leader: Andrea Vicenikova, Slovakia   Project Summary: The main goal of the project is to raise awareness on water pollution and its consequences in three selected river basins — Morava River (Slovakia), Mura River (Slovenia) and Ogosta River (Bulgaria) — and to contribute to the reduction of nutrient pollution. The project will promote the sub-basin approach to dealing with pollution problems and will serve as a model for addressing problems in a river basin, including both technical issues and public participation. The project will be targeted at local people, local stakeholders (local authorities, farmers, water authorities and local NGOs) and on school children in the three target basins. Please see the project website for more information, including updates as the project progresses. The Prut Basin Wide Approach for Nutrient Reduction And Cross Border Cooperation (PBWA) USD 35,000 NGOs: Leader: Eco Counselling Center Galati, Romania Partners: Ecological Movement of Moldova Project Leader: Mirela Leonte, Romania   Project Summary: On the borders of Central and Eastern European countries such as between Romania, Moldolva and Ukraine, problems of cross-border pollution, managing natural resources (especially affecting rivers and lakes straddling the borders) requires a wide range of actions concerned with developing new approaches at different levels, including: studies to assess current conditions and resources, environmental education, awareness raising; information in schools, enterprises, community organisations, and within the community; pilot actions in conservation, waste management, etc.; development of new production techniques and products which are more environmentally friendly; promoting actions to reduce waste and find new ways to recycle waste; joint planning and coordination of services to deal with emergencies, such as spillage; harmonisation of the targets and basic principles, based on which trans-boundary water management is developed; and involving the public in the development of water protection policy as water protection is a task of the community and serves public welfare. Please see the project website for more information, including updates as the project progresses. The Support and Promotion of Ecological Agriculture in the Production Areas Located in The Danube Basin USD 35,000 NGOs: Leader: PRO BIO Association of Organic Farmers, Czech Republic Partners: Information Centre for the Development of Moravske Kopanice, p.b.c., Czech Rep.; Terra’s, Serbia and Montenegro; Ekotrend, Slovakia Project Leader: Dipl. Ing. Jiri Urban, Czech Republic   Project Summary: The Danube Basin is a traditional area of intensive farming. The original agriculture in all the relevant countries has been converted into intensive industrial farming (conventional agriculture), with an extended use of industrial fertilisers and chemical pesticides. Conventional farming causes erosion and is a large source of pollution of both groundwater and surface water. It is impossible to reduce the amount of these polluting substances without a change in the farming practices. One solution can be the expansion of ecological farming (EA) into production areas in the Danube basin. The aims of this project are to disseminate EA in the significant agricultural areas of the Danube basin, promote EA among farmers and teachers, students, university management, advisors, state administration officials and consumers, and acquaint these target groups with the risks involved in conventional agriculture from the point of view of damaging the environment (especially in view of water pollution). Please see the project website for more information, including updates as the project progresses. Danube-Elbe-Oder Canal: Grassroot-National-European Campaign to Prevent the Biggest Wetland Loss Threat in Central Europe USD 32,484 NGOs: Leader: Hnuti Duha - Friends of the Earth Czech Republic Partners: Friends of the Earth Slovakia Project Leader: Pavel Pribyl, Czech Republic   Project Summary: The project aims to protect some of the most important wetlands in the Danube basin from the Danube-Oder-Elbe Canal. This waterway project is a threat to the Morova River floodplains, including several Ramsar sites and key habitats of endangered species. Remaining natural parts of the Morova River so far eliminate much of the pollution from agriculture, industry and households by serving as natural filters that trap sediments and capture pollutants. The project will be carried on local, natioanl and international levels. Please see the project website for more information, including updates as the project progresses. Networking the River Coalitions for Healthy Watershed USD 49,970 NGOs: Leader: SOSNA Civic Association, Slovakia Partners: HOLOCEN Nature Protection Organisation, Hungary; Ecological Association Green Osijek, Croatia; Transylvanian Carpathia Society Satu Mare (EKE), Romania Project Leader: Stefan Szabo, Slovakia   Project Summary: The aim of the project is to support better environmental management and more effective cooperation in watershed protection among different stakeholders and subjects through river-based networks, focused on reducting river pollution and improving its quality. Its main activities will be to establish river coalitions, transfer know-how among the partners, and define and complete concrete activities in river protection. Please see the project website for more information, including updates as the project progresses.

Regional Grants Projects Funded - Round Two Introduction to the Danube Regional Project Grants Programme Introduction to Regional Grants Danube Regional Project National Grants Bringing NGOs into the flow - First round of regional grants for the Danube Regional Project (PDF - 3 MB) A part of the: