The first biosphere reserve to connect five countries in the world encompasses the largest and best-preserved river system in Central Europe and aims to create a model of international cooperation for river basin management, while building bridges between people and nature. It brings together the Lower Mura Valley Biosphere Reserve (Austria), the Mura-Drava-Danube Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Croatia and Hungary), the Bačko Podunavlje Biosphere Reserve (Serbia) and the Mura River Biosphere Reserve (Slovenia).
Designation date: 2021
Networks
Regional network: EuroMab
Serbia-Hungary: Active SEnsor monitoring Network (SeNS Wetland)
Hungaru-Austria: Interreg Project Pannonian Nature Network plus “PaNaNet+”
Ecosystem-based network:
Description
Map
Surface : 931,820 ha
- Core area: 500 ha
- Buffer zone: 32,739 ha
- Transition zone: 874,043 ha
Location: 45°59’23"N - 17°34’46’’E
Administrative Authorities
Austria: Amt der Steierm.rkischen Landesregierung
Croatia: Ministry of Environment and Energy
Hungary: BfNPD Balaton-felvid.ki Nemzeti Park Igazgat.s.g
Serbia: Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province
Slovenia: Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
Dr. Günter Köck
Austrian MAB National Committee
Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
1010 Wien
Tel.: + 43 1 526 13 01
E-mail: oeuk@unesco.at
Website ǀ Facebook ǀ Twitter
Ecological Characteristics
The area encompasses the largest and best-preserved natural river system in Central Europe and covers an area centred around the Danube and the Mura and Drava tributaries, stretching from the Alps through the Carpathian Basin to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains and linking a network of 13 major protected areas.
This unique river system provides essential ecosystem services and is essential for the survival of characteristic habitats and species.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
It is home to about 900,000 people (2021) and local businesses focus mainly on agriculture, fishing, forest, renewable energy, mobility, gravel and sand extraction and tourism.
Some local brands are produced in the transboundary biosphere reserve, for example, Sombor cheese is traditionally made from the milk of sheep that graze on the biodiversity rich alkaline meadows in the surroundings of Sombor.
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Back to World Network of Biosphere Reserves
Last updated: January 2021