Transboundary coopration on water management

Jasmin Sadiković, project manager

Association for nature and environment protection “Green Osijek”

About us

• Association for nature and environment protection Green Osijek is independent, non-government, and non-profit organization established in 1995 in Osijek, Croatia.

Scope of work:

• nature and environment conservation,

• advocacy and encouraging public for participation in decision making processes,

• sustainable development promotion through lectures, public presentations, exhibitions, round tables, conferences, printed and video materials,

• awareness raising and education about nature and environment protection,

• promotion of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency,

• networking and know how exchange with other organisations and institutions with same or similar aims in Croatia and worldwide.

Long-term programmes of association :

• Green phone 062 123 456•one

•Eco centre Zlatna Greda

• Energy education agency

Challanges of nature protection in

Eastern Croatia

Territory of Eastern Croatian is one of the best preserved natural areas of lowland rivers, not only in Croatia, but also at EU

level!

Drava and Danube confluence, natural area that extands through both sides of state borders HR - SRB

Nature Park Kopački rit – world famous wetland and the largest flooded area on the Danube

The Drava river upstream from Osijek–Natura 2000 network

Despite regulations, laws and strategies, this area is constantly under preassure of unsustainable

exploitation:

• Wastewater discharge into rivers and wild depot• River canalization , construction of river embankments• Illegallly sand and gravel exploitation• Deepening of the river basin due the waterway• Pure deforestation, and foreign types of forests• Construction of hydroelectric power plants• Draining of wetlands (there is only 20% of wetlands left on the Danube)• Overlapping jurisdiction and laws, less of comprehensive / integrated

approach to resource management• Less of inter-sectoral cooperation...

sand and gravel exploatation

Regulation of rivers for transport

River canalization– Drava near Osijek

As the EU see its rivers The trend of water management in Croatia

Our methods for cross border cooperation in river/water

management

Nature monitoring, advocacy and campaigning

Dravawatch

Current situation along Mura, Drava and Danube

•Constant deterioration of river quality: on one hand due to big projects (Danube regulation, Drava-Mura mouth, lower Drava, Pitomaca, Bolho...), on the other hand due to small scale regulation of natural river banks (new embankments/groins often only recognised when they are already built). •Protection often on paper: protection by law and agreement (Regional Park, TBR MDD...) but with less effect on ground. •Weak and no enforcement of EU standards and laws: legal requirements (EU WFD, FFHD, BD, national water and nature laws) which demands a change in river management are either not or poorly implemented.•Countown of survival of key bird species in MDD started: e.g. loss of about 80% of breeding pairs of Sand Martin in the last 6 years! Only about 6 pairs of little tern left in 2011

Decline of natural river banks and Sand martins (D. Grlica)

2005: 12000 pairs2010: 3000 pairs2013: 0 pairs ?

2005: 37 colonies2010: 22 colonies2013: 0 colonies ?

Continuous destruction (Danube, Drava; 2010-14)

How could we stop the trend of decline?

Danube-Drava-Mura Watch

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Danube-Drava-Mura RiverWatch campaign

GOALS

1. Stop further destruction of rivers2. Start with the restoration works and reverse the

trend of natural river dynamic and sediment loss

Danube-Drava-Mura RiverWatch campaign

TARGETS:•National water management bodies•National ministries responsible for water mngmnt and nature protection•EU bodies (e.g. DG XI, EU accession)

•Local communities•General public

•Target countries – countries along DDM TBR•Focus on Mura-Drava in HR/HU and Danube in HR/SR

Enforcement of sustainable development

Beginning of the cross border cooperation initiated by the association “Green Osijek”

Project of cross border cooperation and reconciliation Osijek-Sombor 1.10.2005-1.12.2006.

Coordinator: Association for nature and environment protection Green Osijek

Partners: Municipality of Osijek, Municipality of Sombor, Green Network of Vojvodina

Project is financially supported by USAID

• Green Osijek, coordinator

• Partners: Sombor city, Tourist board of Osijek – baranja County, Tourist board of Osijek - signing contract on a joint partnership project

Project: Development of cross border tourism in

Central Danube area (2007 – 2009.)

The main reasons for going on vacation to citizens of the EU in the 2008th

Reasons for choosing a destination

Results/products of the project

Adventure trail “Wetland treasure”

Build a watchtower and purchased equipment for birdwatching

Education for the 55 representatives of the local population of both countries on trends in tourism

Crosss border planning

Living DanubeStrenghthening capacities for the protection of Middle Danube ecosystems – Road to Sustainability of the

Croatia – Serbia Cross Border Region

• Duration of the project: 14.12.2012. – 14.12.2014.

• Program: IPA Cross border program Croatia-Serbia

• Load beneficiary: Green Osijek

• Partners: Green Action, Agency for protected areas Osijek – baranja county, Nature Conservation Movement of Sremska Mitrovica, Union of ecologist

Objective: to establish a cross-border cooperation in themanagement of protected areas through joint planning

process and increase public awareness and capacity of localstakeholders for nature and sustainable development.

Project activities:

• Development of joint Action plan for Middle Danube• Organisation of workshop for protected area managers, CSOs, local

governments and relevant ministries from both countries• Organisation of seminars for local communities• Development of Photo guide book “Danube for people and nature”• Setting up the exhibition “15 solutions to preserve Middle Danube” -

exhibitions in local communities• Organization of public awareness campaign• Organisation of International conference on cross border nature

management

Workshop in Zasavica, Serbia

Cross border protection of Middle Danube -Danube

Program: IPA HU – HR

Duration of the project: 1.9.2011.-30.12.2012.

Load beneficiary: Green Osijek

Partner 1.: National Park Danube Drava (HU)

Partner 2.: Agency for protected areas Osijek-baranja county (HR)

Measures: 1.1.2. Activities of environmental planning and

small activities for the improvement of natural areas

Area of implementation

Project activities:- Data base of good practice examples

- Brochure about good management of protectednatural resources

- First cross-border documentary film “Middle Danube”- New educational workshops

- New educational tools and materials

http://www.zeleni-osijek.hr/multimedija/brosura-srednje-podunavlje.pdf

http://www.zeleni-osijek.hr/multimedija/videogalerija/srednje-podunavlje---srce-europske-divljine_7

Education

Two rivers and one hill

Two rivers and one hill – new eco-tourist products along Drava, Danube and Papuk

PeriodDuration of the project: 01-04.2013. – 30.11.2014.Program: IPA HU – HR / measures: Development of infrastructurefor active and ecotourism in the river border areaLoad beneficiary: Green Osijek (HR)Partner 1.: National Park Danube - Drava (HU)Partner 2.: Public institution of Nature park Papuk (HR)

Project area

School in nature

Thank you for your attention!

Jasmin SadikovićAssociation for nature and environment protection “Green

Osijek”jasmin.sadikovic@os.t-com.hr

www.zeleni-osijek.hrwww.zlatna-greda.org