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What is the news?
Recently, UNESCO designated Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) as the world’s first ‘five-country biosphere reserve.
The biosphere reserve covers 700 kilometres of the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers and stretches across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. The total area of the reserve — a million hectares — in the so-called ‘Amazon of Europe’, makes it the largest riverine protected area on the continent.
Why MDD was designated as a biosphere reserve?
It will advance the protection and revitalisation of the Mura-Drava-Danube area and boost sustainable business practices. It will also enhance cross-border cooperation.
The aim is to revitalize 25,000 km of rivers and protect 30 per cent of the European Union’s land area by 2030.
Why is MDD significant?
Firstly, the reserve is home to floodplain forests, gravel and sand banks, river islands, oxbows and meadows.
Secondly, it is home to continental Europe’s highest density of breeding white-tailed eagle, as well as endangered species such as the little tern, black stork, otters, beavers and sturgeons.
Thirdly, it is also an important annual resting and feeding place for more than 250,000 migratory birds, according to WWF.
Fourthly, the reserve is inhabited by almost 900,000 people too.
Source: This post is based on the article “UNESCO declares world’s first 5-country biosphere reserve in Amazon of Europe” published in the Down to Earth on 16th September 2021.
