Today, September 17, 2025, the 1st Stakeholder Forum for Pilot Area II (the Drava River between Martinci Miholjački (HR) and Barcs (HU) – rkm 105–152) was held at the Drava Story Visitor Centre in Noskovci as part of the LIFE RESTORE for MDD project.
The forum brought together project partners, representatives of local and regional authorities, local associations from Virovitica-Podravina County, and members of the project team from the The Public Institution for the Management of Protected Parts of Nature and the Ecological Network of Virovitica Podravina County.
After welcome remarks by Tatjana Arnold-Sabo, Director of JU Priroda VPŽ, and Lisa Wolf, Project Manager from WWF Austria, the Lead Partner of the project, Vladimir Ajhler, Chief Nature Warden at JU Priroda VPŽ, presented the activities of the LIFE RESTORE for MDD project, the approach to developing river restoration plans for three pilot areas along the Mura and Drava rivers, and the identification of potential sites suitable for future restoration activities.
Through constructive group discussions, participants defined priority restoration objectives for the Drava River section in question and discussed possibilities for aligning restoration measures with the needs of local communities, nature conservation requirements, and water management demands.
The Forum served as an important platform for connecting key stakeholders, exchanging knowledge and experience, and laying the groundwork for the next steps in developing the restoration plan.
In conclusion, participants expressed their satisfaction with the Forum and their willingness to continue cooperation and take an active part in the upcoming phases of the project.
The project is co-financed by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
