The second-longest European river after the Volga, the Danube is one of the world's most important rivers in terms of its geographical and historical significance. In recent history, it has served as a major international waterway and numerous cities, including four capitals, have been founded on its banks. The 2826km-long Danube has a watershed measuring 801,093 km2 that is now shared between 19 countries, from its source in the Black Forest to the Black Sea, into which it pumps an average of 827 km3 of water a year.

This book describes and explains key landscape values interactions (geographical, cultural and natural heritage). It also identifies the threats and various types of human impact affecting this system in all the countries of the Danube River Basin, based on the investigations and perspectives of a team of experienced naturalists, and in the context of the early 21st century, in which the human-nature relationship is still far from balanced. These studies demonstrate how biodiversity, conservation and ecological studies can help us successfully promote mutual cooperation and combine our efforts to address problems as a responsible continent.

- Introduction. - Overview of the Environment and Vegetation of the Danube Basin. - The Habitats Along the Upper Danube in Germany and Changes to Them Induced by Human Impacts. - The Upper Engadine: Headwater Region of the River Inn. A Swiss Hot Spot of Plant Diversity and Premium Tourism Region. - Vegetation and Flora Near the Danube in Austria. - Italy in the Danube Geography: Territory, Landscape, Environment, Vegetation, Fauna, Culture, Human Management and Outlooks for the Future. - Forest Vegetation Along the Mura River in Slovenia. - The Response of Fish Assemblages to Human Impacts Along the Lower Stretch of the Rivers Morava and Dyje (Danube River Basin, Czech Republic). - Human Impacts on the Dobra River (Croatia). - Anthropogenic Impact and Environmental Quality of Different Tributaries of the River VRBAS (Bosnia and Herzegovina). - Assessment of Long-Term Changes in the Szigetköz Floodplain of the Danube River. - Anthropogenic Pressures on Watercourses of the Danube River Basin in Montenegro. - Human Impacts on Fish Fauna in the Danube River in Serbia: Current Status and Ecological Implications. - Assessment of the Aquatic Ecosystem in the Slovak Stretch of the Danube River. - State and Changes of Natural Environment in Polish Part of the Danube River Basin Poland. - Pressures and Impacts on Ecological Status of Surface Water Bodies in Ukrainian Part of the Danube River Basin. - Drina River (Sava's Tributary of Danube River) and Human Impact in Albania. - Characteristics of the Danube Drainage Area in the Republic of Macedonia. - Long-Term Changes in the Ecological Conditions of the Iskar River (Danube River Basin, Bulgaria). - Human Impact Effects on Târnava River Basin Aquatic Biodiversity (Transylvania, Romania).