The area and its confirmation as a biosphere reserve

The Mura-Drava-Danube Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR MDD) is one of the largest alluvial complexes in Europe, stretching along the floodplains of the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers in Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Croatia . The reserve extends over more than 700 km of free-flowing rivers, benefiting from an exceptional natural and cultural heritage from Europe and the world. This transboundary biosphere reserve is rich in rare habitats such as large floodplain forests, river channels with natural steep sand and gravel banks, side river arms and dead lakes, and hinterlands with traditional cultural landscapes. They are home to the largest population of white-tailed eagles in Europe, nesting sites for many endangered bird species such as sand swallows, little terns and black storks, as well as habitats for beavers and otters, and many rare fish on a European scale, such as sturgeon. This landscape offers us a shared opportunity to pursue sustainable and nature-based development, which will also be in accordance with the principles of nature conservation and cultural heritage, and based on the active participation of the local population.

The lives of nearly a million people, as well as the survival of many species, are linked to the conservation of the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers. At a time of significant environmental change, such as climate change and loss of biodiversity, this conservation area is crucial for flood protection, climate change mitigation and the provision of clean water and fertile land, and is increasingly recognized as an area of ​​recreation and recreation, as well as the engine of sustainable development.

The TBR MDD approval provides a basis on which countries, in cooperation with local communities and other stakeholders, must establish effective coordination, implementation of integrated management and monitoring in order to achieve important environmental objectives at local level, in each Member State. and throughout the region, pursuing a sustainable and nature-based development of the whole arger area, is also important to achieve the objectives defined in the EU strategies, in particular for conservation biodiversity, water management and climate change. Successful implementation will be a model example of 5-country cooperation globally.