Ukraine learns from Austria’s experience in water management and climate adaptation

A delegation of the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine visited Vienna on October 7–9, 2025, within the TAIEX study visit, to learn from Austria’s experience in water management and climate change adaptation.

The visit was organized with the support of the Austrian Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management of Austria.

The program focused on Austria’s approach to monitoring surface and groundwater, assessing the impacts of climate change, and aligning River Basin Management Plans with the EU Water Framework Directive and the National Climate Adaptation Strategy.

Participants studied nature-based solutions for river restoration — including a field visit to the Liesing River, where the restored section demonstrated increased biodiversity, improved flood resilience after the 2024 flood, and benefits for local communities.

At the Vienna University of Technology, researchers presented the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS), part of the EU Space Programme, showing how satellite monitoring supports flood and drought response and climate risk modeling.

The delegation also visited the Marchfeld Canal Authority, learning about the interaction between surface and groundwater and technologies for groundwater recharge in agricultural regions.

The tour concluded with a visit to a sturgeon breeding station in Vienna, highlighting biodiversity protection and fish restoration in the Danube Basin. (Source: State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine)

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research:

“Austria’s example shows that effective water management under climate stress requires integrated governance, ecological infrastructure, and scientific monitoring.
These principles are highly relevant for Ukraine, particularly in the Danube Basin, where flood and drought management must go hand in hand with ecosystem restoration,”
— stated IDR experts.