People and Wildlife: Coexistence in the Danube Delta Continues

The work on ensuring harmonious coexistence between people and wildlife in the Danube Delta continues. Recently, the Rewilding Ukraine team held another meeting with farmers and residents of Vylkove, distributing protective garden nets for household plots and small agricultural lands.

This practical measure helps residents safeguard their crops while allowing wildlife — particularly deer and fallow deer that actively move around the Delta — to live safely near human settlements. The installation of these protective barriers is the result of long-standing cooperation, and now even more Vylkove households can benefit from this support.

The initiative is strengthened by the Memorandum of Cooperation between Rewilding Ukraine and the Vylkove City Council, which reinforces joint efforts on coexistence and sustainable use of natural territories.

IDR Comment

The successful coexistence of people and wildlife in the Danube Delta is a key prerequisite for the sustainable development of the Lower Danube region. The delta is not only a biodiversity hotspot but also a territory where conservation priorities must be balanced with local community interests.

1)      The approach implemented in Vylkove aligns with leading European practices, as it promotes:

2)      Conflict prevention through low-cost, effective tools (protective nets, wildlife movement monitoring);

3)      Community participation in decision-making and co-management of natural resources;

4)      An ecosystem-based approach emphasizing shared use of the landscape;

5)      Trust-building between conservation organizations and local residents.

Such micro-interventions have strategic value for a region that is at once cross-border, ecologically sensitive, and socially diverse. They reduce tensions, strengthen public support for conservation initiatives, and lay the groundwork for broader landscape-scale projects.

The Institute of Danube Research supports community-based approaches aimed at developing model coexistence areas in the Ukrainian part of the delta, preparing analytical materials on effective mechanisms for preventing human-wildlife conflicts.

Integrating these tools into local development strategies, decentralized governance frameworks, and cross-border environmental programs.

Small steps — such as protecting gardens and household plots — ultimately shape a comprehensive model of peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife in the Danube Delta.