Renaturation of the Paradeis Island
Danube4all, Danuberest & Lost Paradeis
3 project - one goal: Protection and restoration of the natural treasure Paradeis Island on the Danube east of Vienna
Paradeis Island (river kilometers 1905.3–1903.5) is one of the best-preserved islands in Austria’s Donau-Auen National Park, situated in one of the last free-flowing sections of the Upper Danube. The island is home to a diverse range of aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. For a long time, Paradeis island was a key breeding ground for the little ringed plover along the Upper Danube, unfortunately it has recently lost significance due to progressive sedimentation.
Together with the Danubeparks association (Network of Protected Areas), Donau-Auen National Park, and BROZ (Slovak nature conservation association), viadonau is planning the revitalization of this special natural treasure as part of the following three projects:
- “Danube4all” (funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe program)
- “DanubeRest” (funded by the EU’s Interreg SK-AT program)
- “Lost Paradeis” (funded by the Open Rivers Programme)
At national level, the project is funded by viadonau on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) and is element of the Catalogue of Measures for the Danube east of Vienna.
The project aims to create natural bank structures in the area of Paradeis Island. Therefore hard bank reinforcements will be removed and regulation structures (groynes) optimized, for instance, by lowering the groyne roots. Thereby a well-structured riparian landscape can be achieved. In total, hydraulic structures with a combined length of approximately 2.7 km are being removed.
These measures are intended to improve a side channel behind Paradeis island, ensuring it maintains water flow even during low-water periods. The revitalization measures also include improvements to the inlet connecting to the "Große Binn" side-arm system.
| Construction work is currently underway, and hard stone bank reinforcements are being removed. |
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The revitalization measures at Paradeis Island are being implemented as part of the following three international projects:
DANUBE4all
DANUBE4all
DANUBE4all - Restoration of the Daube river basin waters for ecosystems and people from mountains to coast
Type of project measure: Riverbank renaturation
Funding program: Horizon Europe
Project duration: 1.1.2023 - 31.12.2027
Consortium:
Lead: BOKU University - Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and River Research (IWA)
Partner: viadonau (AT), DanubeParks (AT) & further 21 partner & 24 strategic partner from 14 countries
Total budget: EUR 8,42 Mio
EU-funding: EUR 7,97 Mio
Restoration of the Danube River Basin Waters for Ecosystems and People from Mountains to Coast
The vision of DANUBE4all is to jointly work on sustainable and interdisciplinary restoration pathways for the Danube River Basin (DRB). This will build on an underlying science-to-people approach (i.e., societal co-creation), which actively integrates inhabitants’ interests and empowers Danube stakeholders, from local communities, SMEs, investors, policy makers to business sector.
The overall aim of DANUBE4all is the combined societal co-creation and science-based development of a Danube Basin Restoration Action Plan that
- improves ecological status and biodiversity as well as ecosystem connectivity,
- reduces flood and drought risk,
- and enhances sediment continuity.
The project contributes to the achievement of the EU mission " Restore our ocean and waters by 2030".
At three demonstration sites on the Upper and Middle Danube as well as in the Delta nature-based solutions will be implemented and GIS and citizen science tools will be provided for upscaling the findings to the whole Danube River Basin.
viadonau, together with the association Danubeparks (Network of Protected Areas), is planning to implement one of the three demonstration sites on the Austrian Danube in form of bank restoration and thus provides essential inputs for the (further-)development of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the field of river basin management.
Core mesaures:
- Riverbank restoration / removal of riverbank re-inforcement over a river-length of 1.3 kilometers
- Improving of Paradeis Island
The project contributes to achieving the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030".
Danuberest
DANUBEREST
DANUBEREST – Best-Practice restoration measures for transboundary floodplain corridors
Type of measure: Riverbank renaturation
Funding program: INTERREG Slowakei - Österreich
Project duration: 1.10.2025 - 30.09.2028
Consortium:
Lead: BROZ (SK); Partner: viadonau (AT), Donau-Auen national park (AT)
Total budget: EUR 2,51 Mio
EU-funding: EUR 2 Mio
Best-Practice Restoration measures for transboundary floodplain corridors
The main goal is to contribute to the improvement of riverine habitats and neighboring wetlands in the Slovak-Austrian border region, as part of an ecologically functional Alpine-Carpathian corridor. Project activities include the revitalization of Danube side channels, the restoration of natural riverbanks, and ecological enhancements designed to boost biodiversity, restore river dynamics, and strengthen resilience against climate change along this stretch of the Danube. The project aims to mitigate or reverse the negative impacts of extensive river regulation measures carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries (such as channel straightening, the blocking off of side channels, the construction of barriers, and the draining or backfilling of wetlands).
The DANUBEREST project is led by the Slovak organization BROZ, implemented in cooperation with viadonau and the Donau-Auen National Park. This joint project underlines their long-standing commitment to the Slovak-Austrian border region and strengthens collaboration on restoration efforts along both banks of the Danube. The project enables the extension of riverbank restoration carried out by DANUBE4all by one kilometer.
Key measure:
- Restoration of riverbanks/ removal of riverbnk re-inforcement along an 1.2 kilometer river-stretch
As part of the project, the Donau-Auen National Park is carrying out the revitalization of the Kaiserau wetlands along the Schwechat River.
Further information
Lost Paradeis
Lost Paradeis – Dynamic Danube side-channel restoration, Austria
Type of project measure: Groyne removal & groyne root adaptation
Funding programm: Open Rivers Programme
Project duration: 1.1.2025- 30.11.2026
Consortium:
Lead: DanubeParks (AT) with partner viadonau (AT)
Total budget: EUR 0,3 Mio
Funding: EUR 0,15 Mio
Dynamic Danube side-channel restoration, Austria
The program aims to remove dams and barriers in order to restore natural river courses and biodiversity. As part of this revitalization, groyne roots are being removed and a side channel created.
This side channel improves fish habitats by offering protection against waves and providing a mosaic of diverse microhabitats, including shallow-water zones and gravel banks. The measure aims to restore natural dynamic processes, improve ecological and hydrological conditions, and foster the unique ecosystem services of the riparian zone.
Key measures:
- Creation of a side channel with reduced flow velocity
- Lowering of 14 groyne roots between the Danube bank and Paradeis Island
