In 2021, the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation organised a series of awareness-raising and educational events in the scope of the Mura Festival. We've held six events at six different locations, within the Mura Biosphere Reserve. The events were designed to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of nature conservation, cultural heritage, to promote the Mura Biosphere Reserve and the UNESCO 5-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube.

It also provided networking opportunities between professional and voluntary organisations, active in the field of nature conservation and research, education, projects and other activities in the Mura River area. The Mura festival 2021 implementation was supported by the lifelineMDD project. Because of the health and safety measures, most of the festival activities were restricted only to elementary schools and kindergartens.

Mura festival 2021 in numbers

• 6 events
• 6 locations
• 2 schools
• 3 kindergartens
• just over 500 visitors
• 3 guided nature walks
• 12 different thematic workshops
• 23 performed individual workshops
• 10 organisations
• 15 IRSNC employees
• 1 NGO fair

Mura festival background

After five successful 24 hours with the Mura River events (2015-2019), the event co-organisers decided to update the vision and objectives, involve more stakeholders, to achieve their more active participation to ensure a wider international significance and reputation. The one-day event was transformed into a “festival” series of events — Mura Festival — in order to reach and involve several different target groups.

The overall aim and purpose of the event is to popularise and raise awareness about the Mura Biosphere Reserve and its preservation among the local population, as well as the general public concerned about its importance, and furthermore, contribute to form a lasting cross-border partnership. Transforming the event into a festival based on the awareness that an informed public can help to promote and protect, and will recognise the advantages and opportunities of sustainable development, beneficial for all of them. First Mura Festival was held in 2020.

Photos by IRSNC.