The Public Institution for Nature Protection of Osijek-Baranja County has successfully completed the project “Riparia: Restoring River Nesting Grounds”, implemented between June 2025 and June 2026. The project represents another successful action supported through the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative, following a series of local conservation efforts already carried out across the Danube Region.
The project received support through the Initiative’s pilot measure Category RRI-1, dedicated to the identification, preparation and implementation of restoration actions in the Danube Region. Funding was made available through the European Environment Initiative (EURENI), supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).
The main objectives of the project were the identification, monitoring and restoration of natural steep riverbanks along the Drava and Danube rivers, which provide essential nesting habitats for three strictly protected bird species: the sand martin (Riparia riparia), the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) and the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).
During 2025, comprehensive field surveys and habitat mapping were carried out in cooperation with the Drava Natural History Society. The work covered 140 km of the Drava River (rkm 104–0) and 36 km of the Danube River (rkm 1383–1347). As a result, nine potential restoration sites were identified – seven along the Drava and two along the Danube – and expert recommendations were prepared to support their restoration and long-term conservation.
Based on the survey results, practical restoration measures were implemented shortly before the beginning of the nesting season. Together with volunteers from the ZOA Association of Biology Students, restoration works were carried out at two sites on the Drava River near Podravska Moslavina. Activities included the removal of vegetation that limits natural erosion processes, as well as the creation and maintenance of steep vertical riverbanks used by sand martins for nesting colonies.
The project also brought together key stakeholders through a dedicated workshop focused on the future restoration of riverbank habitats along the Drava and Danube. Discussions highlighted the importance of cooperation between nature conservation institutions, river managers and local stakeholders, as well as the need to integrate restoration measures into regular river management practices.
Natural steep riverbanks have become increasingly rare due to river regulation, reduced erosion processes and progressive vegetation overgrowth. By restoring these habitats, the project contributes directly to the conservation of riverine biodiversity and supports the natural dynamics of the Drava and Danube rivers.
The results of the project provide valuable information on the current status of riverbank nesting habitats along the Drava and Danube rivers and contribute to a better understanding of the conservation needs of these specialised bird species.
DANUBEPARKS and the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative congratulate the project team and all contributing partners on the successful implementation of this restoration action. Their commitment and collaborative efforts have contributed significantly to the protection and restoration of valuable riverine habitats in the Danube Region.
Through the restoration of natural riverbank habitats and the conservation of species that depend on them, the project also contributes to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan 2025–2034 at the regional level, particularly the goal of addressing and reversing wetland loss. As another successful action supported through the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative, it demonstrates how local restoration efforts can contribute to broader wetland conservation objectives across the Danube Basin.