In Osijek, the final plans for the restoration of the Drava River were presented as part of the LIFE RESTORE for MDD project 

Croatian Waters participated in a workshop and stakeholder forum held at the BIOS Business Incubator in Osijek, where the final plans for the restoration of the Drava River for priority sites in the Osijek-Baranja County were presented and agreed. The event was organized as part of the international project LIFE RESTORE for MDD, and brought together representatives of competent institutions, experts, spatial managers and local communities. 

The LIFE RESTORE for MDD project is a joint initiative of Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia aimed at restoring river ecosystems in the five-country UNESCO Mura–Drava–Danube Biosphere Reserve. The project is developing and preparing measures that aim to restore the natural dynamics of rivers, increase resilience to climate change and improve the condition of aquatic and wetland habitats. 

Hrvatske vode was represented at the workshop by Mario Spajić, Deputy Director of the Water Management Department for the Danube and Lower Drava. On this occasion, he emphasized that, in addition to water management and flood protection, preserving the good condition of waters and wetlands and ensuring favorable conditions for the preservation of biodiversity are among the key goals of Hrvatske vode. He also emphasized that projects such as LIFE RESTORE for MDD confirm that a partnership approach can harmonize the needs of nature protection, sustainable water management and the interests of local communities. 

The workshop presented measures to restore natural river processes, including the revitalization of river branches, the restoration of sandbanks and river habitats, and the improvement of the connection of the Drava River with the surrounding floodplains. Such measures contribute to increasing the natural water retention capacity, strengthening resilience to climate change, and reducing the risk of the consequences of droughts and floods. 

Croatian Waters actively participates in the implementation of activities that contribute to the achievement of the goals of the National Nature Restoration Plan of the Republic of Croatia and, in cooperation with competent institutions and expert partners, is working on the establishment of a sustainable model for the management of river ecosystems. 

LIFE RESTORE for MDD is the largest European project for the restoration of river ecosystems, with a total value of 20 million euros, which is co-financed by the LIFE program of the European Union. 17 partners from Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia are participating in the implementation of the project. In the Republic of Croatia, the project is being implemented by WWF Adria and the Zeleni Osijek association in cooperation with competent institutions and local stakeholders, including Croatian Waters.