site.btaBulgarian Academy of Sciences Presents Work on Danube Wetland Restoration Project at COP29

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) Thursday presented wetland restoration along the Danube and future activities related to biodiversity and carbon sequestration as a climate action at the COP29 Bulgarian Pavilion.

Prof Ekaterina Batchvarova, Director of the BAS Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research Institute, presented the European DAnube WETlands RESToration (DaWetRest) project, which brings together Bulgarian researchers, 25 partners and 20 associated partners from 12 European countries. The project is a concerted effort of research institutes and teams, government organizations, NGOs, small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Danube Basin covers 10% of continental Europe in 19 countries. Nearly 80 million Europeans depend on the region's surface and groundwater and on the fertile land along the valleys for drinking water, power generation, transport and agriculture. "We are trying to help people see the importance of protecting biodiversity along the Danube and the importance of nature's ability to regenerate," said Prof Batchvarova.

She explained that in the lower Danube, Bulgarian and Romanian researchers monitor the river water and wetlands. An innovation in monitoring activities is the use of a small catamaran to measure the chemical and physical characteristics of the water. Green hatcheries established under the project support the development of endemic species. The project will help identify possible ways for carbon sequestration from the wetlands, which will support climate action.

Prof Batchvarova said that in the next phase, after 2027, scientific evidence-based projects are to be developed to translate research recommendations into action.