Meeting of Ministry of Culture and WWF/Green Action

Background

The meeting was based on the recent discussions and developments on ministry and NGO (WWF, Drava League, Green Action, Drava Federation, DOOPS-Birdlife Slovenia, Euronatur) level, regarding the future protection and management of the transboundary Drava and Mura Rivers.

Regarding two letters signed by Minister Božo Biškupić and posted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Presidents Office of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and forwarded to the NGOs, the Ministry of Culture is strongly committed to a better protection of the rivers.

Aim of the meeting

NGOs have asked the Ministry for a meeting in order to gain a better mutual understanding of the current situation and to discuss the next steps for better protection of the rivers.

This has included:

• update of each other about current protection proposals on national and international level in part. the planned “Regional Park Drava-Mura” and the proposed Transboundary UNESCO “Biosphere Reserve Danube-Drava-Mura”
• clarification of next steps in the implementation of the proposals and ways of possible cooperation between the Ministry and NGOs