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Name / Title

BIOMURA

Case Study Region

Pomurska

Geographical coverage

 

regional level: Pomurska region

 

Type

Project

Main activity / focus

preservation of biodiversity along the river Mura

Target beneficiaries / market

regional environment – river Mura; indirectly entire population of Pomurska

Year established

2006

 

Current Funding source(s)

EU LIFE NATURE (49%), Republic of Slovenia – Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (34%), project leader (beneficiary) Institute for water of Republic of Slovenia (11%), partners:  (IZVO) Engineering for waters, (Mura VGP) Mura water management company, (ZRSVN) Institute of republic of Slovenia for Nature Protection, RRA Mura Regional Development Agency, (PRA giz) Prleška Development Agency, (DPPVN) Society of bird research and nature conservation, WWF Austria (6%)


Participants

Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning; Institute for water of Republic of Slovenia; (IZVO) Engineering for waters, (Mura VGP) Mura water management company, (ZRSVN) Institute of republic of Slovenia for Nature Protection, RRA Mura Regional Development Agency, (PRA giz) Prleška Development Agency, (DPPVN) Society of bird research and nature conservation, WWF Austria, Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia, Regional Development Agency Mura

Website

http://www.biomura.si/

 

Description

 

The project BIOMURA was chosen as our best practice in the field of nature protection as well as of specific case of sustainable management of a certain section in the regional environment – the wetlands along the river Mura.

In October 2006, Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia, signed the contract with the EC LIFE office for the five-year project ‘Conservation of the biodiversity of the Mura river in Slovenia (BIOMURA)’. The main aim of the project is to protect habitats and flora and fauna target species listed in the Habitat and Bird directives that are present in the area. Actions are being performed on 15.2 km2 large flood area of the Mura river in Slovenia. The area lies between high water protection embankments on the section Bunčani – Dokležovje – Ižakovci – Krapje – Melinci and on the main river channel in the length of 8.3 km. Following measures have been implemented: a connection of the main channel of the Mura River with side channels, provision of conditions for the adequate water level at the intake of water into side branches, local widening of the channel, sustainable maintenance of alluvial forests and side channels. The important (sustainable side) of the project is also the establishment of the two information centers – one in Murska Sobota and a second one in Mota and the construction of an information trail in Veržej. Beside the more “investment” part, the project focuses also on so called “soft” measures which include information, education and promotion of nature protection and Natura 2000 sites.

The project holds a well defined idea which is implemented through concrete activities contributing to the future sustainable use of the wetlands along the Mura river. The biggest threat to this project is the project of hydropower stations construction on Mura river which is pushed by the investor Dravske elektrarne. In case of the future implementation of these power plants our best practice BIOMURA wills potentially be endangered or even destroyed.

 

Contact details

 

Dr. Lidija Globevnik, (project manager)
Inštitut za vode Republike Slovenije
Hajdrihova 28c
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Phone: +386 (0) 1 4775 307
Email: lidija.globevnik@izvrs.si