Making Lake Fertő more climate resilient

Challenge 

Fertő Lake, a jewel shared by Austria and Hungary, is facing challenges. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it's a testament to 8,000 years of harmony between people and nature, but now, climate change and misguided water management threaten its existence as we know it. We aim to revive this harmony by telling the story of the lake of how people have lived with its changing waters and to inspire a return to balance. Like a forgotten song, we want to bring back the natural rhythms of the lake, so it can thrive once more.

Objective

We will develop a large-scale nature restoration vision for Fertő Lake, considering the surrounding regions Seewinkel and Hanság. This vision, accompanied by an action plan on protecting freshwater ecosystem services which benefit society, will be promoted among key stakeholders. The project enhances Fertő Lake’s role in the Central European Green Belt and supports EU biodiversity goals. It also strengthens local knowledge and civil society capacity to advocate for sustainable hydrology.

Approach

• Understanding the past: Researching the historical relationship between communities and the lake.
• Knowledge sharing: Informing local stakeholders for better decision making.
• Community engagement: Empowering locals in water management.
• Ecosystem restoration: Promoting peatland and habitat restoration.
• Policy influence: Using EU laws relating to fresh water and habitat restoration to guide efforts.
• Collaboration: Engaging stakeholders, including local authorities and residents.
• Awareness: Highlighting nature-based solutions and the importance of sustainable water management.

Expected Results

This project aims to change the public perception of Lake Fertő and build support for a balanced approach to its use.  This will be achieved by: 1) educating at least 1,000 local residents about the lake's hydrology; 2) analysing the link between land use and hydrological changes to create a vision for restoring the human-nature symbiosis and addressing the lake's recurrent low water levels; and 3) developing a large-scale restoration concept, including peatland restoration, in line with the EU Nature Directive and focusing on state-owned land.