In the heart of Europe, along the Danube River, forests tell stories. They are stories of biodiversity, of craftsmanship passed down from father to son, of wooden churches and homes scented with fir and time. These forests, home to rare species and communities deeply connected to wood, are now at the center of a joint effort for rediscovery, conservation and sustainable use.
WWF-Romania, together with 16 partner organizations from 11 countries, has officially launched the Danube Wood(s) Route Strategy – a common plan to keep alive the local art of woodworking, protect forests and manage them responsibly. All these values will be brought together in a cultural route that tells their story along the Danube.
The strategy proposes an innovative development model: protecting forests and their biodiversity, supporting the local economy through short supply chains and value-added products, showcasing wood culture and attracting visitors through authentic experiences that respect both nature and people. It is an initiative rooted in local traditions, yet aligned with key European policies – from the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy to national and local sustainable development goals.
The document outlines concrete actions: restoring forest habitats, supporting artisans, creating thematic and interpretive routes, developing museums and cultural centers dedicated to wood, promoting local products and training guides and tourism operators in sustainability principles. All of this is designed to rebuild the link between people and forests, between tangible and living heritage, between past and future.
More than a tourist trail
The Danube Wood(s) Cultural Route will be more than a tourist trail – it will be a living network of places, people and practices that make use of local resources without depleting them. A woodcarver from Maramureș, a museum in Germany, a forestry school in Slovakia or a protected area in Serbia – all will be part of the same story, told in 12 languages but carrying one shared message: forests are identity, life and future.
WWF-Romania will coordinate actions in our country, focusing on two priority areas – Maramureș and Colinele Transilvaniei – and will actively support the creation of a route officially recognized by the Council of Europe. We will continue working with local communities, artists, NGOs, authorities and entrepreneurs who believe that sustainable means beautiful, fair and lasting.
The strategy launched now is only the beginning. In the years to come, we will build, step by step, a shared story in which the forests along the Danube are not seen merely as resources, but as places with a soul – places worth knowing, respecting and passing on to future generations.