Winners of DEF Photo Competition "Danube"
Mission
To protect the Danube River and its tributaries, their biodiversity
and resources, through enhancing co-operation among governments, non-governmental
organisations, local people and all kinds of stakeholders towards sustainable
use of natural ecosystems.
Who is DEF?
The Danube Environmental Forum (DEF) is a Danube River Basin-wide
platform of non-governmental, non-profit and politically independent
environmental organisations. DEF fulfils its mission through encouraging
cooperation among governmental and non-governmental organisations in
the Danube River region, supporting the exchange of information, and
promoting public participation in environmental decision-making.
DEF was established in 1999 and is legally based on the Memorandum of
Foundation under the legislation of the Slovak Republic.
More than 170 NGOs from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine constitute the membership. DEF has its National Focal Points in 13 states and is open to new members from all Danube countries working towards environmental protection in water-related issues.
A crucial idea of DEF is to create a Danube River Basin-wide platform of non-governmental organisations that have a common understanding in, and approach to, environmental protection of the Danube River. The core of DEF's effort is to reinforce information exchange and cooperation among national and international institutions, the NGO community and the public sector leading to sustainable development of Danube River Basin.
Download actual DEF leaflet
Winners of DEF Photo Competition
"Danube"
In December 2006 the Secretariat of Danube Environmental Forum moved from Bratislava (Slovakia) to Baja (Hungary). The organisation BITE Baja Youth Nature Protection Society, Hungary took over the responsibility for co-ordination of the DEF Network and DEF international activities. DAPHNE remained the National focal point for Slovakia.
Projects:
UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project - Phase 2
The primary focus of the relevant project component is to strengthen Danube Environmental forum network (DEF) an umbrella organisation of NGOs in the Danube River Basin, its capabilities to respond to transboundary pollution issues with a focus on nutrient reduction. Phase 1 of the project was focused on making the DEF network fully operational. Phase 2 is focused on supporting specific project activities to be implemented by the sustainable functioning network. The year 2006 was marked by the third celebration of Danube Day on June 29th. DEF Secretariat and National Focal Points played an important role in the preparation of the Danube Day celebration in 13 countries and actively co-operated with other stakeholders.
A considerable portion of the support was allocated for national activities of DEF members in 13 countries for national network strengthening, communication, capacity building, and public outreach. NGOs in all 13 Danube countries maintained the co-operation with representatives of the state authorities responsible for management of water and protection of water bodies as well as those responsible for the implementation of the EU WFD.
Co-ordinator: Helena Carska
Period: December 2003 - July 2007
Funding: UNDP/GEF
Partners: DEF National Focal Points in 11 Danubian countries
Community Action Programme promoting European
environmental NGOs
Financial assistance is provided to NGOs, which are involved in contributing to the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation in different regions in Europe. The program is supporting network organisations active at a European level working to apply the acquis communautaire in relation to the environment and sustainable development.
V 2006 DEF the Core Programme granted DEF for the third time. The aim of the financial contributions under the programme was to provide support towards the costs that DEF had to bear in carrying out annual work programme for 2006. Activities were focused mainly on implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive.
Co-ordinator: Helena Carska
Period: January 2004 - December 2004
Funding: European Commission
Partners: DEF National Focal Points in 9 Danubian countries
Community Action Programme promoting European
environmental NGOs
Financial assistance is provided to NGOs, which are involved in contributing
to the development and implementation of Community environmental policy
and legislation in different regions in Europe. The program is supporting
network organisations active at a European level working to apply the
acquis communautaire in relation to the environment and sustainable
development. In 2004 the action programme firstly granted DEF. The aim
of the financial contributions under the programme is to provide support
towards the costs that DEF had to bear in carrying out annual work programme
for 2004.
Co-ordinator: Helena Carska
Period: January 2004 - December 2004
Funding: European Commission
Partners: DEF National Focal Points in 9 Danubian countries
DEF Bulletins:
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