WWF launches vote for "River of the Year" in Austria

The five candidates at a glance

The Kamp is running as the representative from Lower Austria. In Upper Austria, the Vöckla is stepping up, considered a habitat for the huchen – a fish threatened with extinction, also referred to as the "King of Fish."

The candidate list reflects the diversity of domestic river landscapes: from lowland rivers to low mountain streams to alpine-influenced waters. WWF wants to use the campaign to draw attention to the importance of intact river ecosystems.

More than half of domestic fish species are considered endangered on the national Red List or have already disappeared. The organization sees the inventory as an occasion to point out the condition of the waters.

Endangered fish species in focus

Channelization, hydropower, and the climate crisis would weaken waters as a habitat, according to WWF. Such stresses affect migratory fish such as the huchen as well as rare small fish species in the nominated waters.

Each of the five candidacies, according to WWF, represents a specific river profile and its typical species community. The Lavant stands for intact fish populations, the Lafnitz for the floodplain habitats of the lowlands, the Kamp for Lower Austria's river landscape, and the Vöckla for the protection of a particularly iconic migratory fish.

With the annual vote, the organization also connects a political appeal: renaturation, dynamic river landscapes, and protection from further channelization are necessary to secure the habitat function of the waters in the long term.

Background: Stresses for rivers

The vote runs through the channels of WWF Austria. Participants can choose their favorite among the five nominated rivers and thus set a sign for water protection.

The response to the campaign is also intended, according to WWF, to serve as an indicator of how strongly awareness of domestic river habitats is anchored among the population.

Vote and outlook

The organization wants to publicly inform about the result of the vote and the evaluation of the submitted votes afterward.

With the election of the "River of the Year," WWF wants to direct attention to those waters that, through their biodiversity and ecological condition, play a special role for nature conservation in Austria.