via donau is not only an infrastructure operator, but also assumes responsibility for ecologically sensitive habitats on the Danube, Morava and Thaya rivers and their banks.

To meet this responsibility and improve the living conditions for the typical fauna and flora in the aquatic ecosystems, via donau follows an integrated approach.

This approach is reflected not only in the implementation of ecological projects, but also in the realisation of national and international projects to further develop the environmentally friendly transport mode of inland navigation and to increase its environmental performance.

Other major concerns include the management of shipborne waste and the development of adaptation strategies for potential climate change in the context of international research projects. In this regard, Austria’s waterway management and development company has become a driving force in Europe.

The implementation of these projects, described in greater detail below, has provided via donau with wide-ranging knowledge in semi-natural river engineering and has led the company to establish this area as one of its core competencies.

Numerous visits of international expert delegations from the fields of river engineering, ecology and navigation prove the innovative nature of the approaches which have already become reality on the Austrian part of the Danube.