Future restoration works in the Mura River Basin of the 5-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube (TBR MDD)
Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning
(
Government
)
#SDGAction50373
Description
The Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube (TBR MDD) is among the largest alluvial complexes in Europe, extending along the floodplains of three rivers in Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Croatia. The reserve spans over 700 km of free-flowing rivers, boasting an outstanding natural and cultural heritage of Europe and the world. This biosphere reserve (BR) is rich in rare habitats and it’s the home for many endangered species. However, many of these today threatened due to the declining state of the water and its surrounding floodplain ecosystems.
The objective of this commitment is the improvement in ecosystem restoration management in the UNESCO Mura River Biosphere Reserve, which is also part of the TBR MDD. The objectives of the latter are common in Slovenia as well as in the remaining four countries.
The objective of the Slovenian UNESCO Mura River Biosphere Reserve management authority - Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia regarding the key points of the Water Convention is taking measures on transboundary Mura River (including its border section with Austria and Croatia) to ensure ecologically reliable water management, conservation of resources and environmental protection, focusing on restoration of river and floodplain ecosystems, where necessary.
In the past, Slovenia has advocated for a restored, dynamic and ecologically connected Mura River system in several national and transboundary agendas and documents:
• The "Declaration concerning common approaches to water management, flood protection, hydropower utilization and nature and biodiversity conservation in the Drava River basin", signed as a signal for full support at the Drava River Vision Symposium, Maribor, 24 September 2008,
• The Ministerial Declaration on the preparation of the establishment of the ,,Mura–Drava-Danube Transboundary Biosphere Reserve" (MDD-TBR), signed by the Environment Ministers of all five countries in 2011;
• The "Assessment of the River and Floodplain Restoration Potential in the Transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve "Mura-Drava-Danube" in 2013,
• The Cooperation Agreement among the coop MDD partnership and managing institutions of Protected Areas forming part of the TBR MDD" (2018) including Action Plan for Habitat Restoration in Natura 2000 Site Mura (SI)and other.
• The establishment of BR along Mura, Drava, Danube in Croatia and Hungary (2012), Serbia (2017), Slovenia (2018), Austria (2019) and the TBR MDD in 2021
• The Common Work Plan for the 5-country BR as defined in the TBR MDD nomination form for UNESCO (2019);
• The Ministerial Declaration to UNESCO on the Support of the Establishment of the "5-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube", signed by the Environment Ministers of all five countries in 2020;
• The "Danube Declaration" 2022 -2027 of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (endorsed at the 4th Ministerial Meeting held on 8/2/2022) and the Danube River Basin Management Plan Update 2021.
• Outputs developed in the lifelineMDD project in 2022: River Restoration Toolbox, Synthesis report on science-based needs for action, River Restoration Strategy.
As a follow-up to the existing agreements, we, therefore, add this commitment for the implementation of necessary measures to achieve these goals.
In line with the above-mentioned documents, we propose our commitment to active managed Mura River Biosphere Reserve and to restored, dynamic and ecologically connected Mura River system, as stated in the “lifelineMDD River Restoration Strategy: A commitment for future restoration works in the 5-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube (TBR MDD)”.
We commit to:
- Establish an active management structure of the Mura River Biosphere Reserve;
- To continue operating the Forum for Mura River;
- Continue to work towards the restoration of the Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers and promote the necessity and the social and health benefits of river restoration among the local population and regional stakeholders;
- Support each other in their local work with the exchange of experience, information and know-how in river restoration;
- Seek for integrated win-win solutions in river restoration with local stakeholders;
- Raise European and other external funds as well as national resources for projects aiming at the practical implementation of river restoration;
- Participate in future transboundary river restoration projects;
- Promote and find joint synergetic solutions for difficulties in nature conservation and water management regarding restoration activities;
- Consider state-of-the-art river restoration measures, as well as international knowhow and expertise in local restoration projects;
- Consider the outcomes that were developed in the lifelineMDD project as integrated transboundary strategic framework for future river restoration in TBR MDD;
- Consider the proposed actions and recommendations in the "River Restoration Toolbox" and the "Synthesis report on science-based needs for action" (outputs of the Interreg DTP lifelineMDD project, annexed to the strategy) as a basis for future ecological restoration activities. The focus shall be on:
• Protecting and restoring river sections, wetlands and floodplains, while also considering negative impacts of current and future climate change;
• Elaborating and implementing management concepts that guarantee sustainable use of biological resources in the future and prevent overexploitation;
• Participation, education, public information, and increased scientific research regarding restoration activities;
• Following detailed, interdisciplinary planning steps, combined with hydraulic and sediment modelling for all cases of river restoration in order to determine the reasonable planning variants, the suitable combinations of measures and finally the successful implementation of the measures;
• Prioritizing restoration areas for short-, mid- and long-term pipeline development;
• Considering the large-scale catchment level for restorations for promotion of a self-dynamic river system;
• Establishing a sediment management concept to provide and remobilize sediments in the Danube, Drava and Mura basins and to improve longitudinal connectivity; activate potential sediment input from the floodplain for sufficient bedload input;
• Considering habitat needs, including habitat heterogeneity and morphological integrity, allowing continuous migration routes (fish, birds), eliminating/mitigating negative consequences/impacts of hydropeaking
• Increasing lateral dynamics and improving morphological conditions to better use and keep the sediment in the system, considering river engineering, hydraulics, flood safety and river morphology;
• "Thinking big" in river restoration with: erodible ("soft") banks, mechanical widening, initial channels/reconnection of existing channel systems, lowering of the foreland, additional input of sediment, structures to enhance erosion.
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning
- Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation
- Local communities
- Local stakeholders
- Mura Forum
- Others
SDGS & Targets
Goal 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
6.6
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
6.a
6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management
Goal 11
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
11.1
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
11.1.1
Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing
11.2
11.2.1
Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.3
11.3.1
Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
11.3.2
Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically
11.4
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
11.4.1
Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)
11.5
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
11.5.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
11.5.2
Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global domestic product (GDP)
11.5.3
(a) Damage to critical infrastructure and (b) number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters
11.6
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
11.6.1
Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities
11.6.2
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)
11.7
11.7.1
Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.7.2
Proportion of persons victim of non-sexual or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months
11.a
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
11.a.1
Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that (a) respond to population dynamics; (b) ensure balanced territorial development; and (c) increase local fiscal space
11.b
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
11.b.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
11.b.2
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
11.c
Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.1.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
13.1.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.2.1
Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.3.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
13.a
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.a.1
Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025
13.b
Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
13.b.1
Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Goal 15
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
15.1
By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
15.1.1
15.1.2
15.2
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
15.2.1
15.3
By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
15.3.1
15.4
By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
15.4.1
15.4.2
15.5
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
15.5.1
15.6
Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed
15.6.1
15.7
Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
15.7.1
15.8
By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
15.8.1
15.9
By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
15.9.1
(a) Number of countries that have established national targets in accordance with or similar to Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 in their national biodiversity strategy and action plans and the progress reported towards these targets; and (b) integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems, defined as implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting
15.a
Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
15.a.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments
15.b
Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation
15.b.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments
15.c
Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities
15.c.1
Goal 16
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
16.1
Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
16.1.1
16.1.2
16.1.3
Proportion of population subjected to (a) physical violence, (b) psychological violence and/or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months
16.1.4
Proportion of population that feel safe walking alone around the area they live after dark
16.2
End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children
16.2.1
Proportion of children aged 1–17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month
16.2.2
16.2.3
Proportion of young women and men aged 18–29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18
16.3
Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
16.3.1
Proportion of victims of (a) physical, (b) psychological and/or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized conflict resolution mechanisms
16.3.2
16.3.3
Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism
16.4
By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime
16.4.1
16.4.2
16.5
Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
16.5.1
16.5.2
16.6
Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
16.6.1
16.6.2
Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services
16.7
Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
16.7.1
Proportions of positions in national and local institutions, including (a) the legislatures; (b) the public service; and (c) the judiciary, compared to national distributions, by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups
16.7.2
16.8
Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance
16.8.1
Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations
16.9
By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration
16.9.1
16.10
Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
16.10.1
16.10.2
16.a
Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime
16.a.1
16.b
Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development
16.b.1
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Feedback
Action Network
Share
Timeline
Entity
Region
- Europe
Other beneficiaries
With the later expected joining by the ministries and different organizations of the four other countries (Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia), which together with Slovenia form the 5-country Mura-Drava-Danube Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR MDD)
Countries
Contact Information
Katja , Undersecretary in the Department for Nature Conservation, Directorate for the Environment