Background The Romanian part of the Lower Danube, which includes the Danube Delta Biosphere reserve, is one of Europe's most outstanding freshwater regions. The hydrological dynamics of the Danube, its erosion and sedimentation processes, and its periodic flooding, have lead to the creation of numerous islands along the boundary part of the Danube between Romania (111 islands covering 11 063 ha) and Bulgaria (75 islands covering 10 713 ha). These islands host rich floodplain ecosystems including natural floodplain forest, sand banks, marshes and natural river channels. The main pressures on these natural habitats are the management practices of the floodplain forest (namely, its conversion into poplar plantations) and riverbank erosion due to ship traffic. On the shores of the Danube, most of the natural habitats disappeared a long time ago. Fortunately, on the islands, an average of 51% of this area is still covered with natural habitats (natural floodplain forest, sand banks and marshes) which are listed on Annex I of the Habitat Directive. These islands do also represent important breeding, feeding and wintering sites for globally threatened bird species, including the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), the pygmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus), the ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) and the saker falcon (Falco cherrug). Objectives The project aimed to improve the conservation status and management practice of natural and semi-natural floodplain forest on eight selected Danube islands. It planned to: Revise forestry plans and the promotion of a new approach that combines sustainable management and conservation of species and their habitats. Implement practical pilot reforestation works. Consolidate the islands shoreline with natural material to prevent excessive erosion on those sites most affected by boat traffic. Promote the islands as eco-tourism destinations and the development of a strategy. Organise training courses and seminars for foresters and other key stakeholders. As part of the new management approach, a certification model of the floodplain forest would be tested. The outstanding natural value of the islands would be communicated through the dissemination of the project results and by involving the local community in the project. Results The ‘GreenDanube’ project carried out the majority of its planned actions, but many of these achieved only part of the foreseen results. Nevertheless, the project succeeded in achieving the following results: 953.5 ha of natural and semi-natural floodplain habitats added to the protected areas on the islands 13.6 ha reforested with native species 10.7 ha afforested with native tree species 20 breeding platform for white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and 20 for saker falcon (Falco cherrug) installed on seven islands by 2008 Increase in the number of Dalmatian pelican (Pelicanus crispus) using the islands for feeding and roosting from 140 individuals before the project to around 200 individuals. The failures of the project include the lack of approval of MPs during the project duration, the late finalisation of FSC certification for floodplain forests and the failure of lobbying efforts to ban sand mining and control the speed and distance of boats to the islands. Moreover, unfavourable weather conditions (droughts and floods) damaged part of restored area. As a result only 8.52 ha of plantations of native species survived out of 13.6 ha, and from a total afforested area of 10.7 ha by native species only 8.7 ha of area survived. In addition, 100 m of bank reinforced by planting of white willows (Salix alba) was completely destroyed. Also, none of the platforms installed on the project area were used for birds nesting. Trial eradication measures of the invasive species, desert false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa), however, achieved good results on all project islands – 12.2 ha were cleared. And all eight of islands were designated as Natura 2000 sites. Public awareness activities were carried out effectively; useful dissemination materials were produced. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).