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Ecotourism in the
Danube–Drava National Park

 

 

The rich natural heritage along the Drava and the mosaic of diverse cultural expression has to be preserved

 

Credit: D. Reeder
Impressions from the Drava Day held in
Spetember 2002 in Koprivnica (Croatia)

With about 250 km of almost untouched riverine landscape, rich in wildlife, many unspoiled habitats and high biodiversity, the Hungary–Croatia stretch of the Drava is the most natural and fascinating section of this beautiful transboundary river. This stretch of the river is surrounded by lush riparian forests, mysterious dark green backwaters, and a dynamic river system creating river islands and shingle bars, and eroding cliffs. The border between the two countries is itself extraordinary.
It was established one thousand years ago along the river’s course, and has remained unchanged even as the river changed course. As a result, there are patches of Croatian territory on the Hungarian bank, and Hungarian enclaves on the Croatian side. During the decades of communism, the river corridor was heavily defended and inaccessible. In the absence of human interference, nature thrived. One can still travel long distances downriver without seeing a single building. The challenge now is to conserve the rich natural heritage which has survived—and the mosaic of diverse cultural expression it shaped—in the face of rapid, often inappropriate, economic development.
On the Hungarian side, the Danube–Drava National Park is doing a fine job of protecting valuable habitats along the river. The park’s management plan includes provisions for ecotourism, which neatly dovetails into the network of protected areas. The Croatian Drava is almost completely unprotected, apart from the wonderful Kopacki Rit Nature Park at the confluence of the Drava with the Danube. However, in Croatia, very strong support for sustainable development comes from NGOs and local communities.

Credit: D. Reeder
Conserving the rich natural heritage and
the mosaic of diverse cultural expression

The Drava League is a coalition of local Croatian NGOs, formed in early 2001 in response to the threat of a new dam on the Drava. Entirely composed of volunteers, and having very little outside funding, this group is a shining example of citizens’ action. Not only does the Drava League actively oppose the dam and other inappropriate development along the river; it also monitors the endangered species and implements environmental education projects. The League does not only say ‘no’ to development. It proposes an attractive sustainable alternative: an ‘ecotourism trail’, connecting sites of natural and cultural importance on both sides of the border. The League has already established 88km of signposted cycle-trails, and the current level of 7,000 visitor-days per year is expected to rise substantially, thus providing a significant source of income to this otherwise almost entirely agricultural area.
This Drava region is a vital component of Europe’s natural heritage, and has a bright future — if only we can act quickly enough to protect the beautiful, natural parts of the river which remain.

 

Author: David Reeder