LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Danube

Date of latest update: 2023-11-06

Description

Description (EN):

LENA´s main objective is to strengthen joint and integrated approaches and policies for the conservation and sustainable use of protected areas, in particular Natura 2000 sites, along the Danube and its tributaries, while creating new income opportunities in the nature-based economic sector and upscaling impacts across the region. The following project specific objectives will support the achievement of the project main objective: 1) Foster knowledge generation and empowerment through pilot actions 2) develop tools for sustainable resource use in protected areas and 3) improve framework conditions for sustainable use of protected areas. This will contribute to conserving, protecting and developing natural heritage in the region by a) gaining the buy-in of local stakeholders to nature conservation, b) empowering local entrepreneurs to profit from natural heritage sites in a way that protects natural resources, c) creating shared know-how about effective sustainable use approaches for protected areas, and d) shaping policies for a better enabling framework for sustainable use of protected areas. To address the identified needs and challenges and contribute to EUSDR and Europe-wide policies implementation, LENA works with 13 partners from 7 Danube countries (BG, DE, HU, HR, RO, RS and SI) and 11 protected areas (encompassing more than 15 Natura 2000 sites), embedded in rural communities with a population close to half a million people. The partners’ expertise in innovative approaches for nature-friendly economic development will be transnationally tested and transferred, resulting in 24 learning interactions, 5 pilot actions, development of 4 tools and 1 strategic document. These tangible outputs will ensure long-lasting conditions for improved sustainable livelihoods in protected areas and will lead to strengthened cohesion in the Danube region. LENA’s ASPs such as DANUBEPARKS or the Centre for Regional Studies enable expanding and upscaling of results.

Achievements (EN):

PROTECTED AREAS – NATURE RESERVES, NATIONAL PARKS, NATURA 2000 SITES, AND SO ON – ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF NATURE CONSERVATION EFFORTS ALONG THE DANUBE. BUT DUE TO THEIR STATUS, THESE AREAS ARE OFTEN REGARDED AS HAMPERING LOCAL DEVELOPMENT. TAPPING INTO THEIR ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, LENA PROJECT HELPS DEVELOP A NATURE-BASED ECONOMY TO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES. There are 70 national parks and more than 1000 Natura 2000 areas in the Danube region. On one hand, protected areas deliver multiple benefits, but at the same time, also exclude many activities, depriving local communities of potential sources of income. How can biodiversity conservation in the protected areas support livelihoods of the people living around them? CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE: Covering more than 375,000 ha of protected areas in the Danube region, including more than 14 Natura 2000 sites, the “LENA” project (Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region) aimed to improve local livelihoods for approximately half a million people that live in communities with low income (monthly income ranging between 200 and 500 EUR). A wide range of activities across Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia were carried out showcasing different opportunities using the Danube region’s rich biodiversity in a sustainable way. For instance, a number of reports and analyses were produced with focus on fish, wild plants and agriculture and distributed to the target groups with useful information and practical advice on sustainable practices for food production, business planning, marketing, etc. Additionally, several capacity-building workshops were organized at the project pilot sites: Szatmár-Beregi Nature Park, Hungary, Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Bulgaria, Deliblato Sands, Serbia and Gorenjska region, Triglav National Park, Slovenia. Altogether, 80 relevant stakeholders attended the workshops, including representatives from local collectors, processing and trading companies, university experts, protected area authorities and local politicians. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY ASSESSMENT: Next to introducting opportunities in wild harvest and trade, the project also focused on exploiting the potential protected areas have for tourism. Around 90 people were trained and certified as Danube Guides and new e-bikes routes were created, connecting natural landmarks and tourist highlights. LENA partners implemented activities also on policy level – a profound analysis on the nature-based business and green jobs was elaborated as well as recommendations for strategic actions to create an integrated approach for nature protection, natural resources management and “green” jobs creation. The recommendations were disseminated among decision-makers in all countries involved in the project.

Website: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/

Expected Results (EN): Intensity of cooperation of key actors in the programme area in order to strengthen sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage and resources (survey based composite indicator)

Expected Outputs (EN):

The project will result in strengthened stakeholder cooperation in the field of integrated protected area management and natural resource use along the Danube and its main tributaries Tisza and Sava, on promotion of nature-based entrepreneurship and sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage. More specifically, 13 local and regional authorities, NGOs, public and private development agencies and protected area management bodies, as well as local rural communities in 11 protected areas in 7 countries will have 24 learning interactions through pilot actions, tools and strategies development. These tangible outputs, integrating best practices from concrete pilot testing into wider guidelines and the policy framework, ensure a greater durability of undertaken activities, subsisting well beyond the project timespan. LENA project outputs will enable long-lasting conditions for improved sustainable livelihoods in protected areas, granting a better integrated management of EU Natura 2000 sites along the Danube. The inclusion of different levels, stakeholders and pilots contributes to a greater transferability of the project outputs to other Danube countries. The involvement of ASPs such as DANUBEPARKS or the Centre for Regional Studies enables a wider regional and stakeholder-wise dissemination of the outputs.

Thematic information

Sustainable management of natural resources Waterways, lakes and rivers

Specific Objective: Foster sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage and resources (short title). Strengthen joint and integrated approaches to preserve and manage the diversity of natural and cultural heritage and resources in the Danube region as a basis for sustainable development and growth strategies

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06c) Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage

Partners (13)

Lead Partner: Сдружение "ВВФ - Световен фонд за дивата природа, Дунавско-Карпатска програма България"

Address: Ivan Vazov Str. 38, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

Legal status: private

Total budget: EUR 305 110.00

ERDF budget: EUR 259 343.50

Stadt Tuttlingen

Name: Stadt Tuttlingen

Address: Rathausstraße 1, 78532 Tuttlingen, Germany

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 314 925.00

ERDF budget: EUR 267 686.25

Donaubüro gemeinnützige GmbH

Name: Donaubüro gemeinnützige GmbH

Address: Kronengasse 4/3, 89073 Ulm 4/3, 89073 Ulm, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.donaubuero.de

Total budget: EUR 314 250.00

ERDF budget: EUR 267 112.50

”Asociația Programul Dunăre-Carpați Romania”

Name: ”Asociația Programul Dunăre-Carpați Romania”

Address: Dumitru Zosima street 38, 11536 Bucharest, Romania

Legal status: private

Total budget: EUR 241 866.90

ERDF budget: EUR 205 586.86

Nyugat-Pannon Terület- és Gazdaságfejlesztési Szolgáltató Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.

Name: Nyugat-Pannon Terület- és Gazdaságfejlesztési Szolgáltató Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.

Address: Horváth Boldizsár krt. 9., 9700 Szombathely, Hungary

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.westpannon.hu

Total budget: EUR 204 650.00

ERDF budget: EUR 173 952.50

BSC, poslovno podporni center d.o.o., Kranj, Regionalna razvojna agencija

Name: BSC, poslovno podporni center d.o.o., Kranj, Regionalna razvojna agencija

Address: Cesta Staneta Žagarja 37, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.bsc-kranj.si/home

Total budget: EUR 203 200.00

ERDF budget: EUR 172 720.00

ГМО-ФРЕЕ Дунав Соја

Name: ГМО-ФРЕЕ Дунав Соја

Address: Vase Stajić 8/19, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

Legal status: private

Total budget: EUR 198 135.00

IPA2 budget: EUR 168 414.75

WWF Világ Természeti Alap Magyarország Alapítvány

Name: WWF Világ Természeti Alap Magyarország Alapítvány

Address: Álmos vezér útja 69/a, 1141 Budapest, Hungary

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.wwf.hu

Total budget: EUR 179 988.07

ERDF budget: EUR 152 989.86

Vukovarsko-srijemska županija

Name: Vukovarsko-srijemska županija

Address: Županijska 9, 32000 Vukovar, Croatia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.vusz.hr

Total budget: EUR 151 304.50

ERDF budget: EUR 128 608.82

Община Иваново

Name: Община Иваново

Address: str. Opimpiyska 75, 7088 Ivanovo, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 96 727.50

ERDF budget: EUR 82 218.38

Consiliul Județean Giurgiu

Name: Consiliul Județean Giurgiu

Address: București street 10, 80045 București street, no 10, 080045 Giurgiu, Romania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.cjgiurgiu.ro

Total budget: EUR 91 927.05

ERDF budget: EUR 78 137.99

RNP ROMSILVA - Administrația Parcului Natural Comana R.A.

Name: RNP ROMSILVA - Administrația Parcului Natural Comana R.A.

Address: Gellu Naum st. 608Comana, Romania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.comanaparc.ro

Total budget: EUR 80 599.20

ERDF budget: EUR 68 509.32

Община Белене

Name: Община Белене

Address: Bulgaria Str. 35, 5930 Belene, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.belene.bg

Total budget: EUR 73 607.50

ERDF budget: EUR 62 566.38

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

City of Tuttlingen

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

Donaubüro gemeinnützige GmbH

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

World Wildlife Fund for Nature Danube-Carpathian Programme Bulgaria

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

WWF - World Wide Fund for Nature, Danube-Carpathian Programme Romania

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

West Pannon Regional and Economic Development Public Nonprofit Ltd

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

BSC, Business Support Centre Ltd, Kranj, Regional Development Agency of Gorenjska

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

GMO FREE-Danube Soya

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

WWF - World Wildlife Fund for Nature Hungary

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

Vukovar-Srijem County

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

Ivanovo Municipality

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

Giurgiu County Council – GCC

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

Romsilva National Forest Administration - Comana Nature Park Administration

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

Belene Municipality

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Project acronym: DTP1-189-2.2 - LENA

Project start date: 2017-01-01

Project end date: 2019-06-30

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 456 290.72

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 087 847.11

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 919 432.36.
IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 168 414.75.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Brochures / magazines / manuals

Final Brochure

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/lena

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2019-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Reports

Strategies for management of natural resources

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/lena

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2019-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Danube

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-09-22

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

155 / 155 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 582 / 1 582 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.interreg-danube.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-10-06, 2023-01-10 and 2024-01-30.

Languages

Contact Form

LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

Description

Thematic information

Partners (13)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer