The still natural confluence of Mura and Drava rivers, straddling along the Croatian and Hungarian border, will not be channelled according to the latest decision by the Croatian Environmental Ministry. This is an important signal to effectively protect the core zone of the recently designated Croatian-Hungarian part of the future 5-country UNESCO Biosphere reserve “Mura-Drava-Danube”.

The “Mura-Drava” confluence is a hotspot for rare species such as black stork, little tern, otter or the last occurrence of the German Tamarisk in Croatia. All species rely on still existing natural shifting of the riverbeds and their habitats like floodplain forests, sand and gravel banks or unspoilt shores.

Preceding the wise decision of the environmental ministry, WWF, EuroNatur and the Drava League led a four year long battle against this environmental disastrous project. The plans of the Croatian and Hungarian water engineering authorities envisaged to transform the living rivers into a lifeless canal. The NGOs also raised the concern of the European Commission which commissioned an independent expert who criticised the project severely.

See video by Goran Safarek