Resilient rivers – the place we would like to be

CCB • August 22, 2023

August 2023 - “Over several days, we explored firsthand the significance of freshwater ecosystems for nature-based water management, sustainable forestry, waterway management, environmental accident mitigation, the practical challenges of rewilding, and so much more. It was a truly immersive experience that highlighted the beauty and fragility of rivers and reinforced the need to protect these ecosystems” commented Valerie Kendall, from MKO Ireland and one of the lecturers of the 4th edition of River University, which took place in the unique Oder Delta landscape, in Germany, on 31 July-4 August 2023.


The environmental catastrophe in the Oder river in 2022 still shows its negative consequences nowadays - along with new issues and challenges - making it difficult to reach a full and smooth recovery. To experience, understand and discuss the importance and the need of an integrated water management plan in the whole basin, the participants of this year's edition of River University gathered in the Oder river basin, hosted by the co-organizer Rewilding Oder Delta.


KEY PROBLEMS IN ODRA BASIN


The biggest problems of the Oder river and its basin relates mainly to the poor quality of its surface waters and its hydromorphological transformation [1]. Above-normal amounts of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals are present in surface waters which result in poor chemical status of Oder waters.This pollution comes from fossil fuel burning, transport and industrial emissions. Relying on fossil fuels in transport, energy and heating, doesn't help the recovery. Coal mines, which still function in the trilateral Odra basin, are responsible for brine discharges that have a significant impact on the high salinity of the Oder river. Additionally, large technical investments in new dams for inland navigation and hydropower stations negatively affect the river's natural capacity to self-regulate, and by consequence contribute to the current climate crisis. 


In such a vulnerable riverine ecosystem, the concerns are high both in the Polish and German borders. 




THERE IS STILL HOPE 


Data science gives hope to the local communities: the Oder River is alive [2]. Different species of fish and conditions for breeding are present, yet it's our human work to be done to help this river to return to its full swing of life. 


A coordinated approach of the different states (Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic) is essential: responsible ministries as well as the lower authorities and intergovernmental organizations like the Helsinki Commision (HELCOM) and the International Commission on the Protection of the Oder against Pollution (ICPO) have to cooperate with each other for the management and protection of the Oder basin.


“The pressure on the Oder river is high and it’s not the only one. This is the point when catastrophe only waits to appear.”, commented Pavel Danihelka from UNECE Joint Expert Group on Water & Industrial Accidents, during River University 2023 [3].


Continuous water quality monitoring is critical for detecting and preventing pollution discharges. Still, in the entire territory of the international basin of the Odra River, this activity is not being carried out now at any locality. It was done in the period 2004-2014, helping to discover and record a number of cases of significant deterioration of the biological quality of waters, but despite the advantages the river basin management institutions stopped the activity after ten years [4]. Also, macroinvertebrates can play a role in biomonitoring, providing valuable information on the trends of biological changes based on their role in the ecosystem and unique characteristics [5].


CCB River University 2023 - Credit: Agnieszka Soboń, Rewilding Oder Delta


INPUTS FROM RIVER UNIVERSITY 2023


During the 5-days event, speakers, practitioners and guides stressed the importance of river´s resilience, the ways to improve it, and urgency to speed up the fulfillment of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) to protect our biodiversity including the Odra river waters and natural resources that rely on them.


The lectures, field visits and expert discussions revealed that there are plenty of tools available to reduce risks and avoid critical situations, e.g.:


“We strongly believe restoring ecosystems on a landscape scale is achievable when various institutions, businesses, organisations and individuals cooperate and share the same vision. We are excited to see the new collaborations that have emerged from the River University, bringing us closer to achieving this goal.”, remarked Ewa Leś and Peter Torkler, co-organizers of River University 2023.


CCB River University 2023 - Credit: Agnieszka Soboń, Rewilding Oder Delta


The Oder river is not only an infamous example of what can happen when human pressures damage the environment, but it could also represent a good example of holistic approach and joint transboundary improvements to make the recovery possible [8] and to ensure the resilience of the river.


***

Article written by Ewa Leś, CCB Eutrophication Working Area Leader & founder of River University.


NOTES

[1] CCB Report “Major Challenges For Water Management In Poland” (2023), extended analysis of the CCB report “The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region” (2023).


[2] Lecture at River University 2023: ’Dying river – what the Oder catastrophe has shown us’, Christian Wolter, IGB.


[3] Lecture at River University 2023: ‘The potential problem of chemical accidents on rivers’, Pavel Danihelka, University of Ostrava & Member of UNECE Joint Expert Group on Water & Industrial Accidents.


[4]-[7] Lecture at River University 2023: 'Accidental pollution of rivers', Přemysl Soldán, T.G. Masaryk Water Research Institute.


[5] Lecture at River University 2023: 'Benthic macroinvertebrates: tiny creatures - big environmental clues’, Valerie Kendall, MKO, Irland. 


[6] Lecture at River University 2023: 'Tools to support resilient, nature-based water management', Aaron J. Neill, Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, Durham University (UK).


[7] See note n. 4.


[8] Online article on the Green European Journal (14 August 2023): ‘Odra Disaster, One Year On: Poland’s Rivers Still Need Saving’, Ewa Leś, CCB Eutrophication Working Area Leader & founder of River University.

CCB is looking for a Network Officer to join our team at the CCB International Secretariat

By CCB • April 9, 2025
Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB is a politically independent network, uniting 27 environmental non-profit organizations, as well as partners and experts from 11 countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region by encouraging new and constructive approaches and engaging people to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. CCB Secretariat is based in Uppsala, Sweden.

Attacks on NGOs: 570+ Organisations Join Forces to Defend Civil Society

By CCB • April 7, 2025
European civil society organisations (CSOs) are currently facing an attack coming from certain Members of the European Parliament. Spearheaded by some MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP) and by far-right groups, this attack resorts to misleading arguments to fabricate a scandal. This portrayal has been amplified through the media, with notable exceptions of articles that attempted to clarify this misleading narrative. European CSOs are crucial to ensure the voices of citizens from different parts of Europe are heard in the EU institutions. Attacks against civil society are unfortunately not new and are exacerbated by this harmful idea. Furthermore, for-profit corporate lobbying is through the roof when compared to non-profit advocacy. In 2024, the 50 corporations with the largest lobbying budgets collectively spent nearly €200 million on lobbying the EU alone (66% more than in 2015). Comparing this to the funding environmental NGOs receive under the LIFE programme - €15.6 million annually of a €700 million yearly budget - truly shows the weakness of this ‘scandal’. This is why over 570 civil society organisations from 40 countries, including all EU Member States, have joined forces to call on those in power to act now and ensure that civil society is adequately funded and enabled to share our crucial perspectives . In this statement, we address: The source of this false narrative; Inaccurate claims made about how CSOs obtain and use funding; Why it’s paramount that CSOs receive sufficient funding; The need for civil dialogue to enable CSOs participation. Democracy is about the right of citizens to be collectively heard for building an inclusive society and a shared European future; properly funded independent CSOs are a crucial tool for that. We call on decision-makers to ensure civil society organisations can thrive and play their role in interacting with policy-makers in order to have a more fully informed decision-making process. Read the full statement here . -END Civil Society Europe (CSE) is the coordination of civil society organisations at EU level. Through its membership, CSE unites EU-level membership-based organisations that reach out to millions of people active in or supported by not-for-profits and civil society organisations across the EU. CSE was created by several civil society organisations as a follow-up to the European Year of Citizens and was established as an international not-for-profit under Belgian law in 2016. Since then, it has become the point of reference for EU institutions on transversal issues concerning civil dialogue and civic space.