Sterna-albifrons

Croatia and Hungary commit to establish Europe´s Largest River Protected Area

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0200

On 17 September 2009 the two countries have committed to establish a Trans-Boundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that will protect their shared biodiversity hotspot along the Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers. This paves the way to create Europe's largest river protection area. WWF has highlighted the leading role of the Governments of Croatia and Hungary with a Leaders for a Living Planet award.

The photo shows the signing ceremony in Barcs/Hungary:
(from left to right back to front)

Jadranka Kosor, Prime Minister/HR
Gordon Bajnaj, Prime Minister/H
Bozo Biskupic, Minister of Culture/HR
Imre Szabo, Minister of Environment and Water/H

See International Press Release

The Future of the Drava and Mura

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:10:00 +0200

The future of the Drava and the Mura Rivers could be very bright, following a recent study published by WWF and EuroNatur. The study, which is supported by various NGO partners in the countries is promoting the establishment of a transboundary Biosphere Reserve and the development and implementation of a transboundary river restoration programme. As a first step eight spots are being proposed for restoration activities. The benefits would include biodiversity protection as well as better flood protection, drinking water supply, sustainable forestry and recreation.

Let´s work together for a better future of the Lifeline Drava-Mura, for nature and people in the region.

You can Download the Drava Vision 2009 - 2020

EU-Fact Finding Mission on the Drava

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:00:00 +0100

On 27 and 28 of January 2009 the EU-Commission has started an investigation on the Drava River in Croatia. Major goal: Investigation of the planned regulation works of Croatian Waters on the Lower Drava by two independent experts and the EC. First findings proved that the project is outdated and doesn´t fulfill international standards.

The experts recommended:
- not to go on with the project as it stands now due to its big deficits.
- to start an integrated planning approach which should target several issues incl. nature protection, water management and navigation on a equal basis and in line with international standards and EU law. An expert report will be issued soon.

The mission resulted from the recent NGO complaints to the EC about the regulation and extraction projects of Croatian Waters along the Drava and Mura Rivers.

See NGO complaint from 2008

Photo credit (Lower Drava River): Darko Grlica

Drava goes International

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:20:19 +0200

An International Drava River Vision Symposium will take place from 23rd to 25th September 2008 in Maribor, Slovenia.

It´s overall goal is to improve transboundary cooperation in the field of water management and nature conservation with the perspective to secure the values and ecological functions of the Drava River.

Read more online

Dar Hrvatske za Svjetski dan voda - 22. oujak

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:50:00 +0100

PRIOPĆENJE ZA MEDIJE

Ministar Boo Bikupić stvara europsko najveće riječno zatićeno područje uz Dunav, Dravu i Muru.

Zagreb, 21. oujak 2008. U veljači 2008. godine ministar kulture, g. Boo Bikupić, potpisao je odluku o proglaenju preliminarne zatite jednog od europski najvanijih riječnih ekosustava: poplavna područja Dunava, Drave i Mure, koja čine područje veće od 150 000 ha, a predstavljaju jedinstveno prirodno i kulturno naslijeđe Republike Hrvatske.

WWF snano pozdravlja ovu odluku o zatiti europskih prirodnih bogatstava kae g. Mike Baltzer, direktor Dunavsko karpatskog programa Svjetskog fonda za prirodu (WWF). Ovime je Ministarstvo osnovalo najveći jedinstveni riječni rezervat u cijeloj Europi.

Natural Drava should become a Canal!

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:40:00 +0100

Following a new regulation plan of the Croatian Ministry responsible for Water Management (MRDFWM) twelve concerned NGOs call upon the European Commission to finally STOP further Drava destruction.

Recently, the MRDFWM has issued an extensive plan for further regulation of 56 km of the lower course of the ecological important Drava River. According to the plan the natural river course should be fixed (by embankments, groins and by cutting off natural river banks) and the natural river dynamics of the lower Drava stopped.

This new attempt clearly indicates once again the ministries ongoing resistance to comply with EU environmental law and it is against the recent agreement of the new Croatian government to protect the Drava as a Regional Park.

See Open complaint to the European Commission and Map.

New Croatian government agrees on Drava Protection!

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:50:00 +0100

The programme of the new Croatian government plans to protect the Drava as a Regional Park. On page 32 of the Programme of the Government of Croatia 2008-11 it says: - zatititi rijeke Unu, Muru, Dravu, Mrenicu, u kategoriji regionalnih parkova Rok: preventivna zatita do kraja 2008 godine, konacna zatita prema zakonskoj obvezi.

Read more online

The decree for preliminary protection of the Danube, Drava and Mura as a Regional Park, which was elaborated by the Ministry of Culture and the State Institute for Nature Protection (SINP), has recently been signed by Minister Boo Bikupic.

Read more online

This is a very important step to protect more than 250.000 ha of one of Croatia´s and overall Europe´s most valuable river ecosystem as part of the proposed Trans-Boundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve "Danube-Drava-Mura".

Croatias` plans for a Biosphere Reserve "Danube-Drava-Mura"

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:10:00 +0100

The State Institute for Nature Protection (SINP) has developed a proposal for a national Biosphere Reserve "Danube - Drava - Mura", comprising more than 250.000 ha of natural and cultural landscape along the rivers.

Read more online

Drava destruction at no end!

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:40:00 +0200

It seems that the Drava is not allowed to calm down! At the end of September 2007 a new plan for more sand extraction - 800 000 m³ in the next 2-4 years - along the meandering stretch of the lower Drava has been issued by the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. The natural Drava River within the planned Regional Park and the Kopacki Rit Nature Park is threatened. The ministries decision is a big scandal! It is against EU environmental law and undermines the plan by the Ministry of Culture to protect the Drava as a Regional Park. As a first reaction eleven international and local NGOs have immediately appealed to Commissioner Stavros Dimas and Commissioner Olli Rehn not to tolerate the ongoing ministries rejection to apply with EU law and to help to stop this plan from being implemented.

See Open letter to the European Commission and Map.

Photo credit (Drava-Danube confluence and Kopacki Rit Nature Park): Mario Romulic (www.romulic.com)

Announcement: Press conference in Koprivnica

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:20:00 +0200

TISKOVNA KONFERENCIJA POVODOM NASTAVKA RADOVA NA UNITAVANJU STANITA ZATIĆENIH PTICA NA RIJECI DRAVI Potovani, pozivamo vas na tiskovnu konferenciju u petak 21. rujna u 10 sati u Domu mladih, Ulica hrvatske dravnosti 10/I u Koprivnici. Povod za konferenciju je nastavak radova na učvrćivanju desne obale rijeke Drave kod mjesta Sigetec, koje se provodi u suprotnosti s nacionalnim i međunarodnim zakonima o okoliu. Radovima se ugroava opstanak bregunica - zatićenih ptica i prirodni tok rijeke. Isti je postupak i ranije bio zaustavljen upravo zahvaljujući pritisku javnosti i medija, a Hrvatske vode su kanjene novčanom kaznom. Ovim nadasve neodgovornim i krajnje drskim ponaanjem unitavaju se posljednje preostale kolonije, a o Hrvatskoj se na međunarodnom nivou stvara runa slika primitivnog i destruktivnog ponaanja. Uz sve to zbog nepotivanja konvencija i direktiva kojih smo potpisnici, prijete nam i međunarodne sankcije. Konferenciji će uz predstavnike Dravske lige i međunarodne mree udruga Spasimo Dravu nazočiti i predstavnici Dravnog zavoda za zatitu prirode te Hrvatskog ornitolokog drutva Nakon konferencije predviđen je obilazak terena. Srdačan pozdrav, Ivan Darko Grlica, v.r.