DANUBE4all at I.S.Rivers International Conference 2025!

Colleagues Martin Pusch, Gabriela Costea and Pippa de Kinder of the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin recently represented DANUBE4all at the I.S.Rivers conference in Lyon, France.

I.S.Rivers is a unique event in Europe that offers the opportunity to gain a global perspective on river management and restoration practices and discover the latest advancements in knowledge, methodologies, and decision-support tools that integrate research outcomes for sustainable river management. The conference also aims to foster a cross-fertilisation of approaches and encourage dialogue among river stakeholders.

💡 Engagement through play...

As part of their citizen science work in the DANUBE4all project, Gabriela (scientific staff researcher and former museum curator) and Pippa (researcher in Freshwater Ecology) at the Berlin based institute, presented their approach to Danube Ecosystem Education through the development of the Blue Danube Travelling Exhibition Concept. The contribution entitled 'Assembling River Perspectives: Using a Jigsaw Puzzle to Co-Create a Travelling Danube Exhibition' was authored by Gabriela, Pippa, Martin and Waheed Abdul.

Gabriela tells us more,

Poster of the Danube Jigsaw concept (Costea, De Kinder)

"Sustainable river and floodplain restoration depends on the active participation of stakeholders and citizens. To support this, we adopted a co-creation approach to gather public input in shaping a travelling exhibition on the Danube River, with a strong focus on environmental education and river-floodplain management.

Using an interactive and collaborative DANUBE4all Puzzle Wall as an engaging and innovative methodology, we collected ideas from over 300 participants across 10 locations in the upper, middle, and lower Danube regions. The large-format puzzle map of the Danube basin enabled participants to share insights and express preferences for key messages, core topics, and preferred visual formats — symbolising the collective responsibility and shared effort required to tackle the urgent challenges facing this vital river system."

🌱 Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for river restoration...

The process behind the 'DANUBE4all Manual on Nature-based Solutions (NbS)' was also presented at the I.S Rivers conference by Dr. Martin Pusch, senior researcher at IGB. The report, released last summer, presents a series of nature-based solutions (NbS) for the Danube River Basin identified by DANUBE4all researchers, led by Dr. Pusch, that can help reduce human impacts, manage natural risks such as floods, and support a range of ecosystem services. The report also highlights ways these solutions can bring economic benefits.

Photos courtesy Gabriela Costea

The manual includes an easy-to-use guide to help practitioners identify and apply the best NbS for specific river and floodplain management challenges. It also summarizes the most suitable NbS found in scientific studies, previous EU projects, and practical experience - including solutions for reducing the environmental impact of dams and hydropower plants.

Overall, the manual offers clear guidance and decision support for planning and implementing NbS in river and floodplain projects, helping tackle today’s environmental challenges in a more sustainable and integrated way.