Middle Danube

The Middle Danube DEMO, located primarily in Draž Municipality (Osijek-Baranja County), spans pilot and sibling sites in Croatia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. Characterised by a moderate continental climate and diverse reliefs, this area is rich in ecologically and economically significant ecosystems, including wetlands such as Topoljski dunavac and Šarkanj, part of the protected NATURA 2000 network, classified as crucial areas for preserving wild species and their habitats.

Middle Danube
Dunav S od Kopačkog rita

Pilot Locations

Kopački rit
Special nature reserve Gornje Podunavlje
Dunavac Tanja
Duna-Dráva National Park, Gemenc, Hungary

Sibling Locations

Nature Park Lonjsko polje
River Sava and its tributary Bosut
Bosnian Posavina
Kis Balaton
Carska bara

Challenges

Lost lateral connectivity between the Danube River and lateral canals
Decreasing biodiversity rate of targeted species
Invasive fish species
Damaged wood biomass in canals and forests
Illegal fishing and hunting
Lack of involvement of local communities into the projects for nature protection and revitalization
Lack of holistic and transnational approach in ecological-challenges solving
Lack of strategies for wetland improvement and their application in local communities