Towards a climate neutral EU:
efficient allocation of EU funds

Restoration of river ecosystems: example of river Mura in Slovenia

Organisation: Umanotera Website: https://www.umanotera.org/ Added: September 29, 2023
Project start date: March 01, 2020
Project end date: November 30, 2023

Narrative

Despite the fact that the state of ecosystems in Slovenia is deteriorating - in particular aquatic ecosystems - there is a significant lack of nature restoration, rehabilitation and rewilding projects in Slovenia. The project Natura Mura is one of the few bright exceptions. It addresses some of the key challenges for nature conservation and the provision of ecosystem services in the river Mura floodplain, such as the changing hydro-morphological conditions of the Mura River, climate change, intensification of floodplain use, the emergence of non-native invasive species and diseases, the abandonment of extensive grasslands, uncontrolled visitation and the lack of adequate interpretation infrastructure. The main objective of the Natura Mura project is to improve the conservation status of 3 target habitat types and 12 target species of Natura 2000 sites along the Mura River through the following main activities: a. restoring river dynamics and aquatic habitats; b. maintenance and restoration of floodplain forests; c. maintenance and restoration of wet grasslands; d. establishing a comprehensive interpretation in the Natura 2000 Mura area.


Financial data

€ 4.571.854,99, 80% co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.


Recommendations

Rapid biodiversity loss, reflected in shrinking populations and extinction of animal, plant and fungi species, represent a crisis equivalent to climate change, threatening humanity's existence on the Earth. Despite the facts that the state of ecosystems in Slovenia is deteriorating - in particular aquatic ecosystems - and that preserved nature is crucial for mitigation of and adaptation to the consequences of climate change and overall long term social resilience, there is a significant lack of ecosystems restoration, rehabilitation and rewilding projects in Slovenia. We need more comprehensive nature restoration and rewilding projects. Project Natura Mura can serve as an example, however even this project could be further improved by extension of activities to the whole watercourse, as currently only some microlocations of river Mura are subject to above mentioned activities.


Information sources

https://natura-mura.eu/

Other info

https://natura-mura.eu/o-projektu/

European Climate Initiative (EUKI)
This project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI). EUKI is a project financing instrument by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The EUKI competition for project ideas is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. It is the overarching goal of the EUKI to foster climate cooperation within the European Union (EU) in order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.