Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia - Over three very intensive days, between 24-26th of November, the mid-term conference of project lifelineMDD took place, online, with the participation of over 100 registered guests. The busy conference schedule spread over three days, including one and a half days of an intensive scientific conference (the first, focused on the UNESCO 5-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube – TBR MDD), and, on two half-days, a workshop for stakeholder involvement and management of the Lower Mura Valley Biosphere Reserve (Austria).

Scientific project partners (and conference co-host) BOKU (University of Natural resources and Life Sciences, Vienna), IRSNC (Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation),  INCVP (Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina province, Serbia), and co-host and project lead WWF Austria presented their first results of the studies conducted within the TBR MDD on biotic elements and abiotic framework conditions. The first results of the field survey and analysis of collected data on fish and river birds in the 5-country river corridor were presented. Also, preliminary results of the studies on sediment balance and sediment mobilization were presented. A combined hydrology and climate change study focused on the river system formed by the Mura, Drava, and Danube, has been commissioned within the project and its first results have shown wide-ranging changes to be expected throughout the biosphere reserve if no action is taken.

In the frame of two interesting panel discussions, combined results of the studies were jointly analysed further and valuable takeaways were proposed. Most importantly, the urgent need for joint action towards integrated restoration was emphasized, as well as the message of hope: there is plenty of evidence, that river restoration can be very successful, therefore there is the potential for recovery of the rivers if targeted restoration action is taken towards their improvement.

Partners IRSNC co-hosted over two half days a workshop dedicated to building bridges, i.e. stakeholder involvement for the management of the biosphere reserve, as well as the elaboration of a management Plan for the Lower Mura valley Biosphere reserve in Austria. In spite of the online setting, lively discussions took place among a varied group of different stakeholders. Results and outcomes of the group works will be further processed and two further workshops will be held to complete the process.

You can check and download all presentations on the link. The conference report is also available on the link.

Special thanks to Housatonic for the graphic recording of all exciting discussions.