What can the EU do to promote biodiversity where it's threatened by human activities such as farming or tourism? EuroparlTV went to investigate along the banks of the Danube.

Reconnecting rivers for LIFE

Along the Danube, the 2nd largest river   of the EU, initiatives are being taken

to show that human activity can go hand   in hand with the preservation of nature.

a large Natura 2000 site in Austria   serves as a testing ground

to study reopening and reconnecting   secondary river channels,

We've excavated 200,000 m³ of material   from this branch of the river.

This material was used to bank up   the rocky riverbanks of the Danube.

The excavated material has had a positive   effect in creating nice shallow banks.

The reconnected branches   are beneficial

as they provide protection   against the waves

caused by the increasing number of   powerful tourist and transport vessels.

They also provide natural habitats   that are important for a range of species.

A high number of fish already use   the new branches for spawning,

but for the Danube   the challenge is also economic.

With its 172 million hectares of useful   agricultural land, the EU needs initiatives

to allow agriculture and biodiversity   to exist side by side with the river.

with the elaboration of a coherent strategy   on the Danube region,

focusing on the cooperation between   countries along the river,

2010 has been declared   the International year of Biodiversity,

and the time has come   to get a move on

to save the second largest river   in Europe.