Some fantastic news from Europe! Three rivers stretching 700km through five European countries (Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia) and a total area of almost 1 million hectares in the so-called ‘Amazon of Europe’ have been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. This designation is great news because it means that this important environment, which sustains an extraordinary diversity of wildlife and supports the livelihoods of 900,000 people, becomes the largest river-based protected area in Europe. Efforts will now be made to protect nature and ensure its sustainable use – supporting wildlife ranging from critically endangered sturgeons to more than 250,000 migratory birds a year, while benefitting people who rely on it for drinking water, flood protection and more. The creation of the world’s first five-nation biosphere reserve is the result of many years of dedicated work by WWF and partners.
© Matevž Lenarčič
