Justice, Peace, Integrity
of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity
of Creation
By John Paul Pezzi, Mccj
Justice, Peace, Integrity
of Creation
By John Paul Pezzi, Mccj
Justice, Peace, Integrity
of Creation
By John Paul Pezzi, Mccj
Justice, Peace, Integrity
of Creation
By John Paul Pezzi, Mccj
Europe's Amazon, the world's first transboundary biosphere reserve
WWF 23.09.2021 Aurélie Wehrlin Translated by: Jpic-jp.orgEurope now has its own Amazon rainforest. This area extends over five countries, forming the first transnational biosphere reserve in the world: "a historic step in the construction of a new era for people and nature in Europe", according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
UNESCO's designation of the Mur-Drave-Danube Biosphere Reserve represents a historic step in the construction of a new era for people and nature, at a time when the world is facing a climate crisis and a major decline in biodiversity. This reserve is an international model of conservation, resilience to climate change and sustainable development.
UNESCO officially declared the Mur-Drave-Danube cross-border area a biosphere reserve on Wednesday 15 September 2021. The initiators of the project - UNESCO, WWF, the governments of the five countries involved and local partners - point out that this reserve is an excellent European example of how nature can provide solutions, if it is protected.
WWF has been working for many years with UNESCO to achieve this recognition, in collaboration with the authorities of the five countries concerned and local partners.
The Amazon of Europe
The reserve is the first in the world to span five countries: Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. It is crossed by 700 kilometres of rivers: the Mur, the Drava and the Danube, hence its name. The total surface area of the reserve is almost one million hectares, making it the largest protected river area on the continent and earning it the nickname of the Amazon of Europe.
The area is home to exceptional biodiversity, supplies the region's inhabitants with drinking water and protects them from flooding.
Nature-based solutions
This biosphere reserve is a fine European example of how nature can provide us with solutions, if we preserve it: 900,000 people live in this area and depend on it for their livelihood. The biosphere reserve's untouched floodplains supply the inhabitants with drinking water and help protect them from flooding.
Exceptional biodiversity
With its rare alluvial forests, sand and gravel banks, islands, meandering rivers and oxbows, the new Mur-Drave-Danube reserve is home to extraordinary biodiversity. The region is home to the highest density of breeding white-tailed eagles in continental Europe, as well as otters, beavers and critically endangered sturgeons. It is also an important stopover for over 250,000 migratory birds every year.
The spectacular scenery also attracts a growing number of travellers. Europe's Amazon has the potential to develop sustainable, nature-based tourism in the region, but above all it serves as a successful model where humans can live in harmony with nature.
Amazonie d'Europe" is becoming the world's first transboundary biosphere reserve, and is also being called Europe's Amazon.
See, « Amazonie d’Europe » devient la première réserve de biosphère transfrontalière au monde and also On l’appelle l’Amazonie de l’Europe
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