lifelineMDD Protecting and restoring ecological connectivity in the Mura-Drava-Danube river corridor through cross-sectoral cooperation

5-country Biosphere Reserve Conference

Under the honorary patronage of

President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor

and Austrian Federal President Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen

the Mura-Drava-Danube river system, which was designated by UNESCO in September 2021 as the world’s first ‘5-country biosphere reserve’, represents an international model for transboundary cooperation in conservation and sustainable regional development. The first anniversary of this historic milestone was marked by a 5-country biosphere reserve conference including the final conference of the lifelineMDD project.
From 5th to 8th September 2022 representatives from all five countries and different sectors met on the Mura River, in the Austrian-Slovenian border area in Bad Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona, for a varied programme with high-level speakers, workshops, excursions to the TBR MDD area and opportunities for informal exchange. Of course, there was plenty of opportunity to celebrate with local food, drinks and music.

During the conference, the opportunities and possibilities for proper management and development of the biosphere reserve Mura-Drava-Danube (TBR MDD) were highlighted and ways of how to achieve them outlined. Compelling and successful examples from other river areas and TBRs in Europe served as source of inspiration, gave courage, stimulated ideas and increased the motivation to commit to the implementation of the TBR MDD. The TBR MDD itself, including promising results of the lifelineMDD project, was already a good source of inspiration. Past and ongoing initiatives and achievements served as a starting point and were honoured and put in the spotlight. Future potentials were identified and how to realise them discussed was discussed insensively in different sessions and panel discussions, resulting in the call for action for the TBR MDD.